FRANCE’S CHIRAC PAYS HOMAGE TO ARMENIAN “GENOCIDE” MEMORIAL
Agence France Presse — English
September 30, 2006 Saturday 7:45 AM GMT
French president Jacques Chirac attended a solemn ceremony at
Armenia’s monument to the 1915-1917 massacres of Armenians at the
hands of Ottoman Turks in a move likely to irritate neighboring Turkey.
Accompanied by his wife Bernadette, Chirac is on the first ever visit
of a French president to the impoverished Caucasus nation, which is
at odds with its Turkic neighbors Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Chirac placed flowers at the towering Tsitsernakaberd monument where
he was greeted by an honor guard playing mournful music before being
taken on a tour of a “Genocide Museum.”
France, which has 400,000 citizens of Armenian descent, officially
recognized the World War I-era events as genocide in 2001, putting a
strain on its relations with European Union aspirant and fellow NATO
member Turkey.
Visiting dignitaries traditionally plant a fir tree at the memorial
grounds and Chirac paused near a pine planted by slain Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafiq Hariri, asking to be photographed before planting his
own sapling.
France became the first Western power to officially recognize the
massacres as genocide.
Many countries, including the United States and Israel, have so far
refused to label the massacres as genocide.
Armenians throughout the world have pushed for official recognition of
the killings, in which they say 1.5 million of their brethren perished,
as genocide.
But Ankara argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in an internal conflict sparked by attempts by Armenians to win
independence for eastern Anatolia and secure assistance for their
bid from Russia — Turkey’s age-old nemesis.
Armenia is also locked in a stalemate with Azerbaijan over the
ethnic-Armenian enclave of Nagorny Karabakh, which it gained control
of in an early 1990s war but which is still internationally recognized
as part of Azerbaijan.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEOPLE MADE THEIR CHOICE LONG AGO
Christine Mnatsakanian
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Sept 29 2006
On September 26 Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met with the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. We have learned from the department of
public relations of the Armenian foreign ministry that the current
state of negotiations was discussed in the context of the new
initiative of GUAM on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. And on
September 25 Vardan Oskanian made a speech in the 61st session of the
UN General Assembly. The foreign minister asserted the fact that the
only settlement of the Karabakh conflict is compromise and realism,
“Armenia expressed its standpoint clearly. We agreed to every basic
principle of the document on the table. In bringing into being this
or another document Azerbaijan cannot think or pretend that it still
has the military option. They tried out the military way and failed.
Compromise and realism are the only realistic variants,” said
the minister, according to the department of public relations of
the foreign ministry. The minister described the present policy of
Azerbaijan to neglect whatever took place over the past 20 years as
unrealistic and dishonest. Vardan Oskanian thinks that nobody can
accuse us of our confidence that Azerbaijan is not ready or is not
interested in the talks. “By rejecting the former two proposals based
on compromise presented in the past 8 years, they are reluctant to
assume responsibility for having rejected the plan of establishing
peace, thereby using every means, including state violence and
international maneuvers to get the Armenians reject it,” said the
minister. With regard to the settlement in the context of territorial
integrity or the right for self-determination, Vardan Oskanian says
Azerbaijan’s efforts to place territorial integrity above all the
other principles were promoted, especially in this hall. However,
he says, the right to self-determination was placed on an equal basis
with the other principles in the Helsinki final act. He thinks that
the Nagorno-Karabakh people made their choice. “They were victims of
state violence, defended themselves and succeeded despite all,” said
Vardan Oskanian. He stated that the states must deserve their right to
rule. “Azerbaijan did not treat the people of Nagorno Karabakh with
responsibility or morally who were its citizens. In towns, far from
Nagorno Karabakh, they slaughtered, bombed and displaced 300 thousand
Armenians, and after the defeat they started sweeping all the traces of
Armenians, demolishing thousands of khachkars and gravestones,” stated
the foreign minister at the session of the UN General Assembly. Vardan
Oskanyan said this means that the attitude of Azerbaijan to tolerance,
human values, culture, cooperation and even peace has not changed.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Montreal Gazette, Quebec
Oct 1 2006
The Armenian church of canada’s anniversary celebration of the
country’s independence was a fun-filled success, raising $200,000
for two children’s hospitals View Larger Image
Chair Sossi Manoukian (left), Miss Universe Canada 2006 Alice Panikian
and co-chair Marcelle Lavoie Meterissian at a gala organized by the
Armenian Church of Canada.
Photograph by : PHIL CARPENTER, THE GAZETTE
JENNIFER CAMPBELL, Freelance Published: Sunday, October 01, 2006
Mission love: One year ago, dynamic Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, primate
of the Armenian Church of Canada, envisioned a noble “mission of love”:
The church would host a gala fundraiser titled Let There Be Light,
Let There Be Life, with a view to commemorating the 15th anniversary
of the independence of the Republic of Armenia while simultaneously
celebrating Canada and generating revenue for sick children.
How’d the love mission work out? Well, why don’t you be the judge?
Exhibit Food: Mounds of P.B. Banquet’s authentic Armenian appetizers
(including positively perfect Armenian mini-pizzas) flooded the food
front, followed by an impeccable filet mignon feast.
Exhibit Decor: Exquisitely appointed bronze table settings (think
lofty candelabras atop incandescent cloths) dotted the ballroom,
tailored to the Windsor’s Old World allure.
Exhibit Entertainment: There was puhlenty of E-stuff, including a luxe
silent auction; captivating video address (from such notables as PM
Stephen Harper and filmmaker Atom Egoyan); emcee-escapism, courtesy
of comic surgeon Sarkis Meterissian and young Charlot Daghlian;
plus non-stop dancing thanks to the Family Affair Orchestra and DJ
Hye Class.
Exhibit VIPs: Ahem, 300-plus were in the house, a la dedicated
chairesses Sossi Manoukian (with John Manoukian) and Marcelle Lavoie
Meterissian (with Sarkis Meterissian); Suzanne Tailleur Tremblay with
mega-mayor Gerald Tremblay; well-spoken special guest (and staggeringly
stunning man magnet) Miss Universe Canada 2006 Alice Panikian; elegant
Maroush and Power Trading power-VP Ara Soukiassian; Armine and Razmig
Margoosian; Nayira and Arman Agopian, charge d’affaires, Embassy of
the Republic of Armenia in Canada; Adrineh and lead sponsor, MJI power
pres Mardig Jorjezian; opposition party leader Noushig Eloyan; city
councillor Mary Deros; dashing Andy Habib with Chanel Canada’s Anny
Kazanjian (trendsational in a Chanel sheath and pearltastic vintage
choker); Lise and Daito Group chief Vartan Toroussian; Ardene stores’
toppest Arden Dervishian with glam wife Christine; Liberal leadership
candidate Stephane Dion (sporting a rather smart bow tie); Paula and
Armen Aprikian; and Hera and Ari Demirjian.
Exhibit $$: Close to $200,000 was raised for the Montreal Children’s
and Ste. Justine hospitals.
Now if your party verdict isn’t positive and you don’t think mission
love was a rousing success, I surrender!
Centaur triumvirate triumphs: After having perused the silent-auction
loot and consumed copious amounts of Bon Appetit appetizers, I do
admit to almost giving in to the call of the clicker and making a
pre-performance beeline for the door. But alas my columnist conscience
beckoned. And I’m so glad it did. The informal stage-chat that Centaur
artistic director Gordon McCall conducted with esteemed Canadian
playwrights David Fennario, Vittorio Rossi and Michel Tremblay was at
once informative, fascinating, entertaining and inspiring. Each of the
evening’s 3 Voices spontaneously revealed snippets from his respective
life that gave the audience keen insight into what motivates the craft
and makes a world-class playwright tick. For your Sunday enjoyment,
some snippets of snippets: Come hell or high water, Tremblay produces
first drafts in a prolific 11 days; one reason Rossi chose playwriting
over novels is adjectives aren’t his thing (Vittorio if you need a few,
I’m your girl); and Fennario elegantly clarified his natural affinity
for dialogue: “I’ve been listening to bulls–t stories my whole life!”
Not surprisingly, the audience ate it up. The event attracted 200
Centaur VIPs including Nancy and 3 Voices chairperson James Grant;
Viviane and senator Francis Fox; committee and board members Carolyn
Renaud (with Richard), Janet Black (with Hans) and Alison Silcoff
(with Joel); he-who-decorated-the reception-in-the-trendiest-way
designer Mitchell Davey (who, scoop, spent a remarkably parsimonious
$250); Gordon’s lovely wife Eloise McCall; Gretchen Evans; Darlene and
Ottawa-based philanthropist Dave Smith (who made one heckuva celebrity
auctioneer); Marika Teakle; Angela Chen and John, founder/owner of the
Montreal Retina Institute; Nina and Tom Harrington; Lilian Vineberg;
UTS Energy executive chairman Dennis Sharp; Claire Chaillez and
SNC-Lavalin executive VP Pierre Duhaime; and David Horlington. Yup,
the 3 Voices were heard (and loved!) helping to generate over $100,000
for one of Montreal’s most venerable cultural institutions. Encore!
A terrific TAKE: The recent TAKE fashion extravaganza at the Best
Western Hotel Europa was a lotus of a treat for all 270 present
as co-chairs Shivendra Dwivedi and Geeta Suchak immersed guests in
Bollywood beautiful. Lead sponsors included The Marcelle and Jean
Coutu Foundation, Stikeman Elliott, Scotia Bank and Saputo.
Our exotic journey began with an elaborate cocktail (dipped in Taj
Mahal-chic), where authentic Indian fare was washed down with a medley
of Smirnoff’s mango, guava and passion fruit martinis.
Caught thoroughly enjoying their first-class trip2India were
Pradeep with honorary chair Manishi Sagar (Kinderville Group CEO
and Canada’s 32nd most powerful woman); Mr. Schwartz’s himself,
Hy Diamond; Tatyana Reeve; honorary consul of the Republic of Yemen
Shirish Suchak with beautiful wife Vina; Carolina Richer Lafleche;
Amy Marleau (autumn-awesome in leggings and a tempting trench);
CJAD masters Stuart Nulman and Jill Fitzgerald; Naveen Tambhkoowala;
stylish city counsellor Catherine Sevigny; Binny and Ravi Mehra;
jazzy Jay Gould; Katie and Arun Mehra; Baton Rouge restauratrice
Chris Ann Nakis; Ravi Chhabra; and finance guru Ermes De Domenicis.
Next, patrons moved on to the fashion component of the evening,
choreographed by Suhaila Niazi Khan with makeup by Mindy Shear and
hair by Carte Blanche. (Exemplary emceeing was furnished by event
driving force, CJAD journalistic wonder Eramelinda Boquer). And that’s
where the TAKE came in, standing for The Alia Khan Experience – Khan
being one of the globe’s most successful Indo/Western designers, who
left us all more than a little awed by her exquisite and remarkably
wearable designs.
All of the above plus close to $20,000 for the Freedom from Poverty
Foundation (established in Montreal by professor T.D. Dwivedi and son
Shivendra) currently working to build a medical and education centre
in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Bollywood beautiful? U bet!

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S SPEECH DURING FRENCH SQUARE OPENING CEREMONY
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
President Robert Kocharian and the French President Jacques Chirac
made speeches during the ceremony of opening French Square in Yerevan
on September 30. Below is President Robert Kocharian’s speech with
some abridgement:
“Today is a symbolic day. The ceremony of opening French Square in
the heart of Yerevan is being held. All this is taking place at the
start of Year of Armenia in France, at the presence of President
Jacques Chirac and his spouse.
A thousand years have passed since the time when French princes came
for the first time to the land of Cilician Armenia where they were
received as friends and relatives and where they lived and struggled
side by side.
It was at that time that the friendship and relationship of our
peoples started. French kings encouraged scientific studies on
Armenia, collection of Armenian manuscripts and translations from
Armenian. Armenian merchants were given privileges in conducting their
trade between East and West. This friendship has never weakened in any
historical period, quite the opposite, it has deepened and acquired
a new meaning over centuries.
… Our friendship strengthened at the time of the great ordeal. The
best representatives of the French society founded the movement
“armenophile”. Condemning the crime organized against the Armenians,
they sent humnitarian aid to those who survived the Genocide. French
warships reached the shores of Cilician Armenia and rescued thousands
of Armenians who has survived massacres.
Mister President,
You have mentioned on many occasions the great contribution of French
Armenians to the economy, science, culture and sports of France.
Enjoying full rights of a French citizen, the descendants of former
emigrants have remained true to their Armenian identity. Charles
Aznavour is a shining example of this. The fate of Aznavour, a son
of the Genocide survivors, is a response of the Armenian people
to genocides. In this respect we attach great importance to the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France in 2001. This is a
considerable contribution to the protection of violated rights of
the Armenian people and to the prevention of this threat to humanity.
Mister President,
After Armenia became independent, France was one of the first countries
to take the side of out young state and has been assisting with the
creation of our statehood and the development of Armenian economy,
culture and education.
France is a reliable partner in the European and international arena.
A useful and extensive dialog is going on in various directions
between our countries.
France’s assistance for Armenia to help it deepen the cooperation
with European structures deserves a special mention. I would like to
highlight the constructive role that France plays in the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Mister President,
One can see Armenian memories – monuments, squares and streets with
Armenian names, Armenian houses and establishments – everywhere
in France. Over a hundred monuments to Armenians and the Armenian
Genocide have been erected in various places of France. They bear
evidence of respect and sympathy for the Armenian people, and we are
grateful to the French people for it…”

ARMENIE : JACQUES CHIRAC INAUGURE A EREVAN UNE “PLACE DE FRANCE”
Agence France Presse
30 septembre 2006 samedi
Le president francais Jacques Chirac a inaugure samedi une “Place de
France” dans le centre de la capitale armenienne Erevan en soulignant
“l’emotion” qu’il ressentait au cours de cette première visite d’Etat
d’un president francais.
M. Chirac accompagne de son epouse Bernadette et d’une importante
delegation francaise a inaugure cette elegante place circulaire bordee
d’arbres devant plusieurs milliers de personnes qui agitaient des
drapeaux armeniens et francais, a constate un journaliste de l’AFP.
Ancienne Place de l’Opera, elle abrite l’opera national d’Armenie et
la Philharmonie.
Evoquant sous les applaudissements cette “place de France que je
voudrais aussi place de la paix”, Jacques Chirac a plaide pour que
“le temps de la paix” succède a celui de la dispute autour du Nagorny
Karabakh, une enclave habitee en majorite par des Armeniens et qui
a fait secession de l’Azerbaïdjan après un conflit meurtrier ayant
debute a la fin des annees 1980.
Un cessez-le-feu est intervenu en 1994 mais la situation reste tendue
en depit des efforts de mediation de l’Organisation pour la securite
et le cooperation en Europe (OSCE).
“Je veux croire que le temps de la paix est venu. Je veux le croire
parce que je connais le prix de la guerre”, a-t-il declare.
Le chanteur francais d’origine armenienne Charles Aznavour, l’actrice
Line Renaud, la chanteuse Nana Mouskouri, et l’acteur Jean-Claude
Brialy, etaient egalement presents.
“C’est avec une emotion profonde que je decouvre la terre d’Armenie”,
a lance Jacques Chirac qui a fait part egalement de son “emotion”
devant “l’histoire heroïque et tourmentee de ce peuple d’Armenie
issu de la plus haute antiquite”. “Emotion quand je pense a tous
les survivants de cette tragedie qui durent prendre les chemins d’un
douloureux exil”, a-t-il ajoute.
Son homologue armenien Robert Kotcharian a de son côte rappele
que “notre amitie a tenu l’examen du temps, a travers les moments
difficiles de l’Histoire”, et il a qualifie la France de “partenaire
fiable sur les scènes internationale et europeenne”.
Tandis que les hauts-parleurs diffusaient des chansons de Charles
Aznavour et d’Edith Piaf chantees par Mireille Mathieu, les deux
presidents ont ensuite pris un long bain de foule, suivis par leurs
epouses, puis par Charles Aznavour, ovationne dès son apparition sur
la place.
Arrive vendredi soir, le president francais Jacques Chirac venait de
rendre hommage aux victimes des massacres d’Armeniens de 1915-1917
en deposant une gerbe au pied du “Monument du genocide des Armeniens”
de la colline de Tsitsernakaberd a Erevan.
La France est devenue en 2001 le premier grand pays europeen a
qualifier de genocide le massacre, sans designer explicitement les
Turcs comme en etant les responsables.
Le groupe socialiste a l’Assemblee nationale francaise prevoit l’examen
le 12 octobre d’une proposition de loi faisant de la negation du
genocide un delit punissable d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000
euros d’amende.
Ce texte divise les groupes politiques au-dela du clivage droite-gauche
et avait provoque la colère de la Turquie.
–Boundary_(ID_HZOVWXuWoApd5zVwyFBOIA)–

L’ARMENIE NE VOIT “AUCUN DANGER” DANS UNE ENTREE DE LA TURQUIE DANS L’UE
Agence France Presse
30 septembre 2006 samedi
Le president armenien Robert Kotcharian a dit samedi au cours d’une
conference de presse commune avec son homologue francais Jacques
Chirac ne voir aucun danger dans une eventuelle entree de la Turquie
au sein de l’Union europeenne
“Nous ne voyons aucun danger dans ce processus”, a declare
M. Kotcharian au sujet des aspirations de son voisin turc.
“Mais nous voudrions que nos interets soient egalement discutes dans
ce processus”, a-t-il ajoute.
M. Kotcharian a fait remarquer qu’il serait dans l’interet de l’Armenie
d’avoir un voisin “avec un système de valeurs qui autorise la libre
circulation et des frontières ouvertes”.
La Turquie a ferme sa frontière avec l’Armenie en 1993, par solidarite
avec l’Azerbaïdjan dont la province du Karabakh, a majorite armenienne,
est passee sous contrôle de Erevan. Seules les liaisons aeriennes
sont assurees entre les deux pays. La frontière entre l’Armenie et
l’Azerbaïdjan est egalement fermee.
Les journalistes venaient de demander a MM. Chirac et Kotcharian
s’ils pensaient que la Turquie devait reconnaître un caractère de
genocide aux massacres d’Armeniens de 1915-1917 avant de pretendre
adherer a l’Union.
A cette question, M. Chirac en visite d’Etat de deux jours en Armenie,
avait repondu de facon plus ferme, disant “honnetement, je le crois”
et ajoutant : “Tout pays se grandit en reconnaissant ses drames et
ses erreurs”.
“Quand de surcroît il s’agit de s’integrer dans un ensemble qui
revendique l’appartenance a une meme societe et la croyance en de memes
valeurs, je pense qu’effectivement la Turquie serait bien inspiree,
au regard de son histoire, de sa tradition profonde, de sa culture
qui est aussi une culture humaniste, d’en tirer les consequences”,
a declare le president francais.
–Boundary_(ID_7sM0L9yR96Q9YvXufCTTPw)- –

CYPRUS CLAUSES IN EU REPORT DISAPPOINTING, MERCAN SAYS
Fulya Ozerkan
Turkish Daily News
Oct 1 2006
Cyprus-related provisions of the document refrain from recalling
Turkey’s steps for a settlement of the decades-old dispute and echo top
EU officials urging Ankara to normalize its relations with EU-member
Greek Cyprus and allow in its ships and airplanes
Cyprus clauses in the strongly worded European Parliament document
on Turkey’s progress toward eventual European Union membership seem
to be in the shadow of calls from European parliamentarians and EU
officials urging Ankara to reinvigorate the reform process.
In a non-binding report adopted last week, the European Parliament
chided Turkey for its failure to meet EU requirements and demanded
that Ankara fulfill its obligation to open up its sea and air ports
to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes under a customs union protocol.
“I was disappointed mostly by Cyprus passages in the report,” a senior
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy, Murat Mercan,
told the Turkish Daily News.
“It could have been more balanced,” he added.
Cyprus-related provisions of the document refrain from recalling
Turkey’s steps for a settlement of the decades-old dispute and echo top
EU officials urging Ankara to normalize its relations with EU-member
Greek Cyprus and allow in its ships and airplanes.
Turkey, however, says it will maintain its stance unless the 25-nation
bloc makes good on a pledge to end the economic isolation of northern
Cyprus. Brussels rejects any linkage between the ports issue and the
lifting of sanctions on Turkish Cypriots and has warned Turkey that
failure to fulfill its obligations could cause a setback in its EU
accession negotiations, which opened last October.
Similarly, the European Parliament’s report warned that the “lack
of progress in this regard will have serious implications for the
negotiation process and could even bring it to a halt.
“I would expect the report to encompass more encouraging clauses that
acknowledge Turkish steps on Cyprus,” Mercan added.
Greek Cypriots, however, welcomed the European Parliament’s Turkey
report, with the Greek Cypriot press describing the document as a
“slap [in the face] for Ankara.”
Pros and cons:
European parliamentarians mostly focused on reform pace in their
report, warning Ankara that it must accelerate far-reaching reforms
if it wanted to become a member of the EU.
They also noted Turkey had shown “insufficient progress” in the
areas of freedom of expression, religious and minority rights,
women’s rights and the rule of law since the opening of entry talks.
The report’s author, Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings, who
admitted that the report was “tough” but “fair,” urged Ankara to see
it as a “motivation to speed up reforms.”
But despite the presence of controversial articles, European
parliamentarians voted certain clauses favorable to Ankara, which
expressed dissatisfaction with the report but appreciated European
parliamentarians’ efforts to prevent further damages to Turkish-EU
ties.
“This report is more positive than another document adopted by the
European Parliament in 2005,” said Mercan, who was one of the Turkish
lawmakers lobbying European parliamentarians in Brussels and Strasbourg
in a bid to change the critical report, which was tougher when it was
first adopted at the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
earlier last month.
He cited an emphasis on market economy, condemnation of terrorism
by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and extending of
solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism as positive
elements in the European Parliament document.
To the content of Ankara, the European Parliament deleted a
controversial clause that would have sought to make recognition by
Turkey of an alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the late
Ottoman Empire a pre-condition for full membership.
But the report still called on Turkey to “acknowledge the Armenian
genocide” before it can join the EU, with European parliamentarians
saying it was “indispensable” for Turkey to “come to terms with and
recognize its past.”
Ankara is now awaiting a progress report from the EU’s executive arm,
the commission. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is to travel
to Turkey on Monday before the release of the key report.
Parliament has been considering an EU-inspired reform package designed
to meet EU requirements, and Rehn earlier said he expected legal
changes to be approved in October. Last-minute legal reforms could
help Turkey’s case in the progress report on reforms but EU officials
have said they will wait and see if the contents include real progress
on key issues.
From: Baghdasarian

MEETINGS OF NKR PRESIDENT
Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Sept 29 2006
On September 26 NKR President Arkady Ghukassian met with Baroness
Caroline Cox. This time her delegation included representatives
of British and American organizations implementing different
humanitarian projects in Artsakh. Lady Cox congratulated the NKR
people and leadership in the 15th anniversary of the Republic. She
mentioned that in every her visit she is encouraged by the optimism and
assiduousness of the people of Artsakh. On the request of the guests
President Arkady Ghukassian told about the origin of the Karabakh
conflict, the war imposed on Karabakh and the current realities. The
NKR president affirmed the will of the people of Artsakh to be free
and independent. Answering their questions, the president stressed the
necessity to establish mutual confidence as an underlying precondition
for the settlement of the conflict. On the same day NKR President
Arkady Ghukassian met with Russian Member of Parliament Constantine
Zatulin, the director of the Institute of the CIS Countries. They
discussed the current stage of settlement under the auspices of the
OSCE Minsk Group countries. Both parties emphasized the necessity of
the peace settlement and criticized the attempts to instill hatred and
intolerance against each other.

PUTIN: ACTIONS OF GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES ARE STATE TERRORISM ACT WITH SEIZURE OF HOSTAGES
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.10.2006 13:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday Russian President Vladimir Putin held a
conferred with permanent members of the Russian Security Council,
during which much attention was paid to latest developments in
the Russian-Georgian relations. “In spite of Russian consistently
fulfilling all agreements that we have over withdrawal of our military
units from the territory of the Republic, as it is known, our military
are caught and thrown into prisons. This is a sign of succession of
Laurenty Beria’s policy both within the country and the international
arena. It is obvious that they are trying to provoke Russia and those,
who do it, probably believe it fits the interests of the Georgian
people. I do not think it is so. These people believe that under the
roof of foreign sponsors they will feel comfortable and secure. Is
it true indeed? There are, perhaps, forces creating new crises,
believing it will divert attention from old problems. In the short
run it may have an effect. However, it will not help solving old and
rather serious crises in the world,” Putin said.
Owing to the actions of the Georgian leaders, the Russian President
intends to hold consultations with political parties, represented in
the State Duma, and leaders of the Council of the Federation next week.
Putin ordered the Defense Ministry, in spite of the situation,
continue withdrawal of Russian Armed Forces from Georgia according
to the schedule, Kremlin Press Office reports.

JACQUES CHIRAC: FRANCE IS READY TO ASSIST MODERNIZATION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF ECONOMY OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 29 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. France wants to accompany Armenia
in the process of its political modernization, support its will to
build a legal state what may be a guarantee for public freedoms.
President of France Jacques Chirac made such a statement in the
September 28 interview to the “Hayastani Hanrapetoutiun” (Republic
of Armenia) newspaper, touching upon present and future of the
Armenian-French mutual relations. He added that France is ready to
assist modernization and diversification of economy for Armenia is
capable to create the best future for its sons.
The President of France mentioned that the two nations have the same
preferences: independence, priesthood, wisdom in art and culture,
beauty and sacredness of the languages. “The present is that
natural inner generality and also about 500 000 Frenchmen taking
roots from the land of Armenia. They gave to France their courage,
talent, nobleness. They also remained tied with Armenia. They assist
strengthening of our tie,” J.Chirac emphasized.
“An old nation like your’s must not apprehend taking the road of
future,” Jacques Chirac said.
On the eve of the state visit to be paid to Armenia on September 29,
the President of France wished the Armenian people for this year more
strengthens centuries-old friendship between Armenia and France: “…
Let numerous Frenchmen come to reveal this country, the soul of its
nature, monasteries, culture, warmness, let our friendship assist
implementation of hopes of the Armenian people’s daughters and sons,”
Jacques Chirac said.