OCALAN URGES KURDS TO RECONCILIATION WITH TURKEY
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 18:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is in a Turkish
prison at present, urged activists of the Kurdish Working Party
(KWP) to announced ceasing hostilities against official Ankara,
reports AFP referring to a source, close to Kurdish separatists.
“The KWP should not use arms, except cases it is actively attacked
in order to kill,” Ocalan writes in a message.
Having been indicted for terrorism, the KWP leader also noted
the importance of arranging the democratic union between Turks and
Kurds. “With the start of that process a way for diplomatic dialogue
will open,” Ocalan is sure.
We remind that the Kurdish separatist leader is serving a life sentence
in a prison on Imarli Island.

SUPERPOWER INTERESTS MEET IN ARMENIA, RATHER THAN CLASH
PanARMENIAN.Net
28.09.2006 19:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia inherited quite a rich and historical
relation and cultural exchange, in addition to the common interests
that Yerevan and Moscow have improved for decades, or even for hundreds
of years, Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in an interview
to Al Jazeera TV company. “Today, we are preserving this inheritance
and using it to further our common interests. Until today, we have
succeeded in maintaining this relation. We have excellent relations
with Russia in the economic and military sectors, as we have very
good relations with Iran. We are also developing our relations with
the European Union since we were admitted to the EU Neighborhood
program and now we are trying to implement the requirements of that
program. In addition, our relations with the USA are very special
especially because of the aid that Armenia receives from the USA and we
were included in the 3rd Millennium Program, which is helping Armenia
develop economically. We maintained the relations we already had and
developed them without creating any disagreement between the nations
and their interests. We work with the belief that all the interests
of the powerful countries meet in Armenia, rather than clash, and
we try to avoid any step that could be considered a danger to the
security of our partners.”

PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC OF FRANCE ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily #185
29/09/2006
At the invitation of president Robert Kocharian, president Jacques
Chirac of France is arriving in Yerevan 29 Sept evening. According
to RA President’s Press Office, the French delegation will include
Philippe Douste-Blazy, foreign minister, Dominique Perben, minister
for transport, infrastructure, tourism and the sea, Christian Jacob,
minister for the civil service, and Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres,
minister for culture and communications. Jacques Chirac will also
be accompanied by businessmen, representatives of science, culture,
education and sport, members of the French-Armenian community and
journalists.
During the two-day official visit, the French delegation will visit
the Memorial of Armenian Genocide. His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians will also receive the French president.
Tomorrow morning the Armenian and French presidents will take part
in the opening of the French Square downtown Yerevan. Later that day
world famous Charles Aznavour and his friends will perform a concert
at the Republic Square. The legendary singer arrived in Yerevan on
Sept 27. “Even if I am worn out, I will come to the Republic Square in
a cheerful mood because it’s a present for my people,” Aznavour said
at the airport. “My visit is also important as Armenia is celebrating
15th anniversary of independence. The independence of my country is
the same for me as it is for every Armenian.”
This will be the beginning of the Year of Armenia in France that
bears the title “Armenia, My Friend.”

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PASSES AMENDED REPORT ON TURKEY
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006
Recognition of Armenian Genocide Not Highlighted as a Prerequisite
for EU Membership
On September 27, the European Parliament discussed the report on Turkey
adopted by its External Relations Committee on September 4. With 429
votes for, 71 against and 125 abstentions the European Parliament
passed the report.
As it is known, the draft report made out by Camiel Eurlings indicated
Turkey’s failure in carrying out reforms and put a prerequisite of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide for Turkey to join the EU. Moreover,
the draft report reminded of the genocides of Pontic Greeks and
Assyrians.
All these instigated strong opposition in Turkey that resulted in
removing the Armenian Genocide recognition from precondition list
following censure by socialist, liberal and “green” parties. “Though
the Armenian Genocide is not one of the Copenhagen Criteria,
reconciliation with its past is unavoidable for a country on the path
of EU membership.”
The proposal to include the genocides of Pontic Greeks and Assyrians
with a separate paragraph in the report was also rejected.
In other words, on September 27 the European Parliament voted for an
amended draft that was adopted with overwhelming “yes” votes.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO ABORT SETTLEMENT PROCESS BY ARMENIA’S HANDS
AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006
Meanwhile Karabakh Is a Place That Exists in Reality
Within the framework of the UN Assembly 61st session, RA foreign
minister and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs discussed the current
situation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, i.e. there was
an intention to hold a ministerial meeting in New York, after the
meeting in Paris, but he GUAM suggestion to discuss the regional
conflicts at UN changed the situation. Thus, the Armenian side
suggested to postpone the meeting. Besides, according to Vartan
Oskanian, the Armenian side doesn’t evade the meeting.
He added that the new developments in the UN deprive the coming
ministerial meeting of any sense.
In an interview to RFE/RL, Oskanian touched upon the evaluations
of the Azeri side regarding Nagorno Karabakh, particularly, they
say that Armenia has elaborated a myth on the historical past and
the economic achievements of NKR. In his turn, Oskanian said that
Karabakh is a place that exists in reality and the representatives
of the international community may go there and check the situation
themselves. He emphasized that any attempts of Azerbaijan to deny
this reality are doomed to failure.
As for the current stage of the negotiations, in his speech,
Vartan Oskanian confirmed the agreement of Armenia to the principles
discussed, adding that “Azerbaijan not obviously tries to show that
they break the agreements that are achieved till now, and this is the
main concern.” Moreover, Oskanian said that the current position of
Azerbaijan is meant to abort the OSCE Minsk group process and to do
that with the help of Armenia.
Vartan Oskanian confirmed the existence of the referendum in the
document that the Azeri side evades to sign. As for the coming
Oskanian-Mamediarov next meeting, before that the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs will have telephone conversations or may visit the
region. He didn’t exclude the resumption of direct negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan both at the level of president and
the foreign ministers.
Oskanian added that the presidents may meet only after the meeting
of the foreign ministers.

ATOM-ANTI-TERROR 06 EXERCISES KICK OFF
By Marietta Makarian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006
Atom-Anti-Terror 06 exercises began in Armenia Tuesday Sept. 26. Heads
of anti-terror departments of CIS states are participating in
the exercises and the representatives of the G8, OSCE, UN Security
Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee as well as Shanghai Organization
Cooperation are acting as observers.
Greeting speeches were made by Colonel General Boris Melnikov, head
of Counter-Terrorism Committee of the CIS, and Colonel General Gorik
Hakobian, head of National Security Service of Armenia. President
Robert Kocharian sent a greeting message to the participants of
three-day drills. The opening ceremony taking place at Armenia-Marriott
Hotel was attended also by defense minister Serge Sargsian, head of
RA Police Department Hayk Harutyunian and other officials.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘HAYFEST’ THEATRICAL FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN FOR FOURTH TIME
By Susana Margarian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006
In 2003 most of the Armenian spectators weren’t encouraged with
the foreign performances included in “Hayfest” first international
theatrical festival.
This year, the forth festival will represent a larger perspective of
the contemporary theatre to the Armenian spectators. The organizers
of “Hayfest ” theatrical festival stated about this at the press
conference at the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre. They added that the
festival is sponsored by RA prime minister and RA defense minister. The
organizers of the festival would also like to get the financial
assistance form RA Culture Ministry, as well, and they expect that to
happen next year. Meanwhile, from October 4, 50 theatre troops from
the world will represent their performances at the Yerevan theatres.
Within the framework of “Hayfest,” they envisage to hold also the
international festival of youth and puppet theatres. Arthur Ghukasian,
head of the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre stated in response to the
question of Azg, that they paid more attention to genres of the plays,
to the structure of the troops and to the prices of the performances,
rather than to their content. He added that the festival has no
nominations or awards. The festival is directed to contribute to
the development of the cultural policy and art management spheres
in Armenia. The organizers have also included master classes in the
course of the festival for the Armenian students.
It’s worth mentioning that only 20 local theatrical troops will
participate in the festival.

THE STRUCTURE OF CRIMINAL WORLD
A1+
[07:50 pm] 28 September, 2006
Today fifteen oppositional forces issued a statement which says,
“RA citizens are in peril in their homeland. Innocent people became
victims of recent murders and intimidations. The couple Robert
Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan is the direct stimulant of these crimes
and violence. They do their best to maintain their posts in the
coming elections”.
Though the initiators of the anti-criminal act promised not to
mention any names, the names of Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan
were underlined in the whole text. “Robert Kocharyan sponsors Serge
Sargsyan’s criminal grouping. The latter, under the veil of the Party
“Republican” gave bribes to the state workers, intimidated the public,
Mass Media representatives and political figures and created conditions
for state revolution”. The authors of the statement also referred to
Yaponchik’s visit to Armenia. They are convinced that people know the
enumerated criminals rather well but they don’t have enough evidence
in this connection.
By the way, the rumors about the intention of the Party “Prosperous
Armenia” to join anti-criminal action were refuted today.
Mher Shahgeldyan, member of Orinats Yerkir, called Aram Karapetyan,
leader of New Times and expressed the readiness of their party members
to join the statement.

UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS FOR UNPRECEDENTED CONCERT
A1+
[07:37 pm] 28 September, 2006
There will be two thousand seats for the guests of the concert “Charles
Aznavour and His Freinds” which is to be held in republic Square on
September 30. The most striking is that the most expensive tickets
(150 thousand AMD) had a great demand among the buyers. The front
and central viewers mainly bought tickets at this cost and they are
eager to see the great chansonnier closer.
The central streets of the city leading to Republic Square –
Nalbandyan, Abovyan, Buzand and Melik-Adamyan, will be closed on that
day. But those who cannot afford tickets for the concert can watch
it by three large screens located at the square. The entrance is
free for all those who want to listen to the great chansonnier. The
initiators of the concert warn the people not to come to the concert
by bicycles or not to take heavy bags or packets with them.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE NEVER FORGETS ITS DEMANDS
A1+
[08:15 pm] 28 September, 2006
“Though the role of the parliament has significantly increased due
to the constitutional amendments, there is a threat that the next
parliament will be made up from oligarchs,” says Stepan Demirchyan,
leader of “Justice” faction and adds that the representatives of the
PACE monitoring group share his concern in this respect.
During the meeting with the journalists the representatives of
“Justice” bloc said that they approve of proportional election
system as, “majoritarian elections are a source of bribe taking in
our country.”
The deputies of the bloc repeated the same words they used to
say for many years, “We assume that there is no alternative for
Euro-integration. But it mustn’t have imitational essence. Democracy
must be driven from the interests of our people and our state. In
fact, we face a regress in the country,” say the representatives of
the Opposition.
In Grigor Haroutyunyan’s words, they have informed the PACE
representatives once more that freedom of expression and principle of
diversity are violated in Armenia. “The authorities mainly ignore the
demand of CoE, thus ignoring the demand to return A1+ again to air.”
The representatives of the PACE monitoring group have also met with
other factions today and naturally the general picture presented by
them quite different.
Reminder: the PACE representatives are to present their report in 2007.