TASSOS PAPADOPOULOS INVITES ROBERT KOCHARIAN TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CYPRUS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian received on August 31 George Iacovou, the
Ambassador for Cyprus President’s Special Instructions, former Foreign
Minister. The Ambassador passed Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos’
invitation addressed to President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, to pay
an official visit to Cyprus. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the interlocuters
discussed the current state and possibilities of development of the
Armenian-Cypriot bilateral relations as well the two countries’ mutual
cooperation within the framework of the EU New Neighborhood Policy.
Opinions were exchanged concerning the present stage of the
negotiations on the Cyprus problem political settlement and on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

OYP CONSIDERS DRAM-DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS ARTIFICIAL AND
CONDEMNS AUTHORITIES’ POLICY IN THIS SPHERE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
party Political Council made a statement in which it expressed deep
anxiety on the occasion of the dram-dollar exchange rate fluctuations
in the last period of time as well as mass closing of currency
exchanges in Armenia. According to the party, because of closing only
in Yerevan 90 currency exchanges during the last period of time, not
only small and medium-sized entreprenuers working in this sphere were
delivered a blow, by losing living resources, but also a goal is
pursued to centralize activity of this sphere, controlling just by it
dram and foreign currency in an artificial way. Againg raising an
alarm relating to “artificial” fluctuations of the exchange rate, the
party mentions as a fact, that “in an organized way, some groups,
getting superprofits of millions of dollars, damage not only people
engaged in small and medium-sized business, but also our people which
annually gets assistance of more than a billion of dollars from abroad
only by the means of bank system, and the dollar-dram sharp
fluctuations directly deliver a blow to pocket of hundreds of
thousands people.” The OYP Political Council also emphasizes that
studies of foreign currency rate of Russia, Georgia and other
countries show that only Armenia arrests one’s attention for such a
“preposterous” indexes of sharp fluctuation of the currency exchange
rate. At the same time, as much it is strange, in conditions of
stabilizing dram, prices for goods imported by dollar either do not
reduce and even continue to grow. Prices for food grew more than 8%
only during the last one month. Prices for petrol, diesel fuel, gas,
many goods of first necessity continue to incessantly grow in similar
conditions of fall of dollar exchanhe rate (for example, sugar – 36 %,
petrol, diesel fuel – 10%, meat products, dairy produce – in average
20%), “becoming a source of superprofit for some organized groupings.”
Orinats Yerkir “condemns the authorities’ irresponsible policy in the
sphere and calls to take concrete steps to guarantee stable
monetary-credit policy and to improve the situation.”

FIRST CONDITION FOR CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IS PEACEFUL PROCESS, INVOLVING
GREAT NUMBER OF ASPECTS, DPA CHAIRMAN SAYS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Today, on the background of
absolutely contrasting positions of Azerbaijan and Armenia, any
breaking of the status quo will bring to disbalance. Aram Sargsian,
the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA) stated about it
to the Noyan Tapan correspondent. In his opinion, if enmity between
Armenians and Azeris is kept, any solution with help of any compromise
variants will not bring today to peace, the conflict will just be
suppressed, but not finally. In Aram Sargsian’s word, the first
condition for the Karabakh conflict solution is a peaceful process
which must involve in itself a great number of aspects, involving
readiness of elites and societies, what does not factually exist at
present. He mentioned that elites and societies would be ready only in
the case when rulers will lead policy aimed to peace. At the same
time, in his estimation, policy of the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan
is a brake on the way of the conflict settlement. “It’s a policy of
postponing, inactivity and compressing of the situation. Meetings
between the two presidents are not negotiations, but talks of two
people, having power, and no more. The negotiations will start only
when corresponding dimplomatic missions and working groups are formed
which will work on getting agreement on a definite block of issues,”
the DPA Chairman stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: DUTY OF ALL ARMENIANS IS TO SUPPORT NKR’S
DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENING AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The Artsakh
people has made its historical choice, to protect its national rights
in the war thrusted upon it and today is building a free and
democratic state,” RA President Robert Kocharian’s congratulatory
message on the occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Day
reads. “The greatest memorial to the immortal heroes of Artsakh war is
free and independent Karabakh,” RA President emphasized. Mentioning
that the building of statehood taking place in Nagorno Karabakh is
aimed at all-round development of the country and at raising of the
people’s living standard, Robert Kocharian stressed that “the presence
of the strong and democratic statehood in Artsakh is a necessary
guarantee for peaceful and fair solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict.” “The duty of the Republic of Armenia and all Armenians is
to support development and strengthening of Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
as well as its international recognition,” RA President’s message
spread by RA President’s Press Office read. Nagorno Karabakh Republic
was proclaimed on September 2, 1991.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KAREKIN II CATHOLICOS: “ACHIEVEMENTS IN EDUCATION ARE THE BEST
VICTORIES FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE ”

ETCHMIADZIN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Karekin II Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians sent a congratulating message on
August 31 from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to pupils, students,
pedagogues and all employees of the education sphere. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it by the Information Services of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. “From the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, we welcome
and congratulate you on the occasion of the new school year and
address to all you Our Patriarchal blessing. We wish you that the new
academic year is productive and fruitful for each of you. Achievements
in education are the best victories on our country’s and people’s way
towards prosperous and good life, towards realization of all our
dreams. By praying the God, we ask that Our Good Lord keep you
healthy, make you powerful with many favours of the soul and mind and
bless our self-devoted efforts to study and to teach, all your
initiatives and kind affairs. Let the God’s love and favour always be
with you, leading and fortifying. Amen,” is said in the Patriarchal
command.

CONGRATULATING MESSAGES ON OCCASION OF ARTSAKH INDEPENDENCE ARE GOT
FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF WORLD

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A series of
congratulating messages are got on the address of the NKR authorities
on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of proclaiming the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh. “I wish the Artsakh people peaceful, safe, free
future and send my warmest congratulations on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of Artsakh,” is, particularly, said in U.S. first
ambassador to Armenia (1993-1995) Harry Gilmore’s letter. ” I
whole-heartedly congratulate the valiant people of Artsakh, the NKR
President, the whole Government on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of the Artsakh Independence and wish them best,” is
mentioned in the message of Harut Sassounian, the California Courier
newspaper publisher and editor. As the NKR Foreign Ministry’s Press
Service states, congratulations from public figures and politicians of
different countries of the world on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of the state independence of Nagorno Karabakh continue.

SERGE SARGSIAN: WE ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE ARMY’S BUDGET AT EXPENSE
OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND OTHER SPHERES

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia’s
military budget will grow equally with the growth of the country’s
gross national output. Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister, Secretary
of the National Security Council under RA President, informed
journalists about it during his visit to the Military College after
Monte Melkonian on the occasion of a new academic year. “3.5 percent
of this output will be our military budget. We are not going to
increase the army budget at the expense of education, culture and
other spheres,” the Minister emphasized. Mentioning that the state has
been paying little attention to the Military College after Monte
Melkonian for the present, the Minister assured that this gap will be
filled up in the coming 1-2 years and the college will become a model
educational institution. Congratulating the college students on the
occasion of a new academic year, the Minister stressed that they have
the honor to study at the institution named after legendary Monte
Melkonian and gave assurance that many of them will become deserved
representatives of Armenian army’s officers staff in the future.
From: Baghdasarian

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: OVER PAST 15 YEARS ARMENIANS OF ARTSAKH PROVED
THAT THEIR CHOICE OF INDEPENDENCE IS IRREVERSIBLE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The Artsakh
people made its historical choice by the Independence Declaration of
September 2 1991 once and for all maintaining its right to freely and
independently live on its native land,” RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian’s congratulatory message on the occasion of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Day reads. “Over the past 15 years, step by step
laying the bases of the independent statehood, strengthening the army
and the economy, passing the way of state and public reforms and
democratization, the Armenians of Artsakh proved that their choice of
independence is irreversible,” the Prime Minister’s message
read. Noyan Tapan was also informed from RA Government Information and
Public Relations Department that Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
will leave for Artsakh on September 1 for the purpose of taking part
in the festive events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of NKR
independence.

COMPLETING HIS MISSION IN ARMENIA JOHN EVANS WILL ALSO COMPLETE HIS
DIPLOMATIC SERVICE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ambassador of the
U.S. John Evans completing his diplomatic mission in Armenia has not
been appointed to any new post. He declared in his interview to radio
Liberty that he has not even asked for it as he is leaving the
diplomatic service. In response to the question, whether it was his
decision, he Ambassador said: “Yes, the documents on my resignation
were submitted by me.” In connection with his untimely recall Evans
said that there is no precise term for any ambassador: “All of us
serve the President. I was very glad to receive a positive message
from President Bush recently. He expressed gratitude to me for my work
in Armenia.” In response to the question, whether he retracts his
words on the Armenian Genocide voiced by him in February last year in
the U.S., which, as Armenian circles of America affirm, became the
reason for the Ambassador’s recall, Evans said: “I have never
discussed this issue here, in Armenia. And what I have done is
registered and is accessible for everybody on the website of the
U.S. Embassy.” In connection with Richard Hoagland nominated to the
post of Ambassador to Armenia by the U.S. administration Evans said
that he has worked with him and highly estimates his professionalism.

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH OSSETIA PRESENTS CONGRATULATIONS TO ARTSAKH PEOPLE
ON OCCASION OF 15th ANNIVERSARY OF NKR PROCLAMATION

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A delegation
of the Republic of South Ossetia is in Stepanakert for the purpose of
taking part in the festive events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
proclamation of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. On September 1, NKR
President Arkady Ghoukassian received members of the delegation,
Deputy Foreign Minister Alan Pliyev and Deputy Minister of Defence and
Emergency Situations Ibrahim Gassiyev. The guests conveyed NKR
President South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity’s congratulations
and wishes addressed to Artsakh authorities and people on the occasion
of the 15th anniversary of proclamation of NKR. As Noyan Tapan was
informed from NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, the meeting
participants touched upon peaceful settlement to conflicts in the
South Caucasian region, processes of building of statehood in
non-recognized republics, as well as post-war rehabilitation and a
number of issues relating to socio-economic development.