ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK RULES OUT CURRENCY MANIPULATION
Trading Markets, CA
June 14 2006
(RTTNews) – The recent strengthening of the Armenian national currency,
the dram, against the US dollar is caused by ‘market factors’
and not government manipulation, local press reports said Tuesday,
citing the central bank chief Tigran Sarkisian. Armenia follows a
floating exchange rate policy. In less than a month, the dram has
gained nearly 9% in additional value against the greenback.
The domestic currency is currently worth over 30% more, in dollar
terms, than its level ahead of the start of its dramatic appreciation
in late 2003. The strengthening of the dram has reportedly hit exports
and a significant part of the population relying on remittances
from expatriates.

ARMENIAN FUNDRAISER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Reuters AlertNet, UK
June 14 2006
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
Essential operations give children a chance to live a healthier
and happier life World Vision MEERO,
‘Giving your whole heart to the whole world’ was the slogan of a
fundraising reception for essential surgery of children with special
needs hosted by World Vision Armenia’s Child Protection Programmes
(CPP), in the Armenian capital Yerevan last month.
During the event special catalogues with photos and data of eight
children needing urgent medical intervention were distributed among
the guests. Participants also watched a video depicting past problems
and the new life of children who have undergone surgery with World
Vision support.
‘I am a musician and my only dream was to learn music professionally
and perform on the stage. But with my heavy limb I was ashamed to
socialize even with neighbors. Now I can walk properly, I gained
self-confident, and I attend musical school. Now I WILL go on stage’,
says Edik Manucharyan, 16 in the video.
The reception brought together members of the National Assembly,
representatives of charity organizations, NGOs, the Armenian Apostolic
Church and the private sector.
‘Helping children in need is a very noble cause, and I am grateful
to World Vision for bringing us all together to help children with
special needs’, said in her speech Chairwoman of the Association of
Diplomats’ Wives Nani Oskanian.
Kind participation of donors will help to provide for the surgery of
two of these children. All participants of the reception are provided
with details of World Vision’s bank account for transfers.
‘We are trying to encourage and promote the tradition of practicing
good will towards children who need it most. There are so many children
that need help, and events like this allow more to be assisted than
would otherwise be possible’, explains World Vision representative
Marina Hovhannisyan.
Often in Armenia children with special needs, especially with
visible facial and orthopedic disorders, suffer discrimination and
harassment. Many of them end up in special institutions deprived of
parental care. They have no future and no hope.
‘To assist such children, World Vision started its project in 2002
with funding from the UK and Germany, providing essential surgery
to nine children with severe facial disfiguration and orthopedic
disorders. Several other children received surgery with funds raised
through performances played at the National Puppet Theatre and
the National Academic Theatre. After the surgery and post-surgical
treatment these children were able to attend public school and live
a healthy life.
World Vision plans to continue initiation of such fundraising actions,
which will create financial means for continuing to provide surgery
to children, and at the same time, will promote public awareness and
participation in helping children with special needs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHIRAK TOROSYAN: “TURKISH MILITARY CONTINGENT CAN BE DISPLACED TO AKHALKALAK”
Today, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
“The withdrawal of the Russian military base from Akhalkalak has a
psychological motive for the Armenians of the region,” Shirak Torosyan,
head of “Javakhk” Public Association.
As APA reports, besides the loss of 4000 work places Armenians feel
unprotected. “The Russian military were the guarantors of security
and stability. The matter is who will replace them. If NATO troops
come Armenians fear it will be a Turkish contingent,” Torosyan said.
When commenting on the supposed repatriation of Akhiska Turks to
Akhalkalak, Georgia, Torosian remarked this step is targeted at
infringement of the right of Armenian inhabitants. Akhiska Turks used
to live in the villages of the Aspindz and Akhaltsikh regions. These
villages were long ago settled by Georgians and it would be pointless
to exile them. There are large uninhabited territories in Georgia
and the repatriates should settle down there.
The “Javakhk” leader said the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway
is the result of the Georgian-Turkish relations.
“The project promises work places and consequently the way out of the
deadlock. However we are against the construction of this railway,
since it conflicts with the interests of Armenia,” he underscored.
URL:

TIME IS AGAINST YEREVAN
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
Co-editor of International Export Control Observer and research worker
of the Center on Investigation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction
Problems at Monterey Institute of International Researches, Alexander
Melikishvili, responded the letter of some Ashot Vardanyan recently
published in American “Johnson’s Russia List”.
While earnestly denying Vardanyan’s “malicious and provocative
statements”, concerning present situation in Georgia and in South
Caucasus, A. Melikishvili proves groundlessness of idle conjectures
concerning dispute on some Armenian churches in Georgia, prohibition
concerning import of Georgian wine to Russia etc.
Following author, Vardanyan’s comparison of economic situation in
Armenia and Georgia is biased. As he stated improvement of economic
showings of Armenia is not so impressive if we take into account the
fact that almost half of population left the country because of the
absence of opportunities for economic activity. Moreover, it is known
that Armenian treasury is filled up owing to US financial support
and generous donation of numerous Armenian diaspora.
Concern of many Armenians about continuing isolation of their country
in the region is reflected in A. Vardanyan’s text, A. Melikishvili
underlined. First this concern was expressed after successful
completion of construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipe line. Today
it is strengthened due to upcoming completion of construction of gas
pipe line Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and plans concerning construction of
railway Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku; Yerevan holds that triumvirate
of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia ousts it.
To choose Russia as a guarantor of national security for Armenia
is foreordained in many respects and it is of compulsory nature,
especially taking into account anxiety concerning re-start of military
operations against Azerbaijan because of Nagorni Garabagh conflict
and restless memory of genocide that darkens relation between Armenia
and its great neighbor – Turkey.
The fact that Armenia gave basic attributes of its sovereignty
to Russia is evident for everyone who flies to Yerevan: Russian
frontier guards meet guests at Zvartnoz airport. Moreover, Armenians
and Russians guards guard frontiers with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The
sad truth is that it will not be easy for Armenia to get rid of slave
status with respect to Russia. Because of debt amortization in exchange
for assets, today Russia controls many large enterprises and over 70%
of power supplies of Armenia.
A. Melikishvili said that he wouldn’t advice Armenians to kindle
separatist sentiments in Georgian region Javakheti: it would be
non-productive and would ricochet on Yerevan unexpectedly. At the same
time Baku now is impatient because of lack of progress concerning
Nagorni Garabagh negotiations. This enforcement of discontent is
connected with growing oil incomes due to which Azerbaijani government
fails to be patient and avoid temptation to return its territories
occupied by Armenia.
Didactic issues and demographic statements made Vardanyan forget
the most serious problem of Armenia – regulation of Nagorni Garabagh
conflict. Regulation of this conflict would contribute in ensuring
security and stability of the region and prevention of “separation
lines” in Caucasus.
While stressing it A. Melikishvili reminds that “next year Azerbaijani
GDP will surpass Armenian one by a factor of seven. I recommend
Mr. Vardanyan to think of consequences of such economic disparity
for Armenia. Time is against Yerevan. The sooner it is engaged with
regulation of Garabagh problem the better it would be”.
–Boundary_(ID_b1XGKAb4oWFRsyirCG8Y2w)- –

FRENCH MINISTER COMES FOR NUCLEAR PLANT AND HELICOPTER TENDER
By Ali Ihsan Aydin
Zaman Online, Turkey
June 14 2006
The French Foreign Trade minister is coming to Turkey to heal the
relations between two countries that were strained due to the so-called
Armenian Genocide bill.
The representatives of 25 of France’s biggest companies will also
accompany the minister.
Christine Lagarde is expected to discuss the nuclear plant, Marmaray
and the Turkish Armed Forces helicopter tenders.
Speaking to Zaman Daily, French Minister of Foreign Trade Lagarde
said that they would offer solid investments.
He also revealed that the two countries would sign a contract for the
encouragement of mutual investments: the first initiations of which
started on 2 September 1987.
Lagarde, one of the “most distinctive” ministers of the French
government, had moved to Paris in 2005 after resigning as the chair
of the board of directors at the American Baker&McKenzie, one of the
world’s leading international law firms.
The trade volume between Turkey and France is around $10 billion.
The 2005 figures revealed that France’s export figures totaled $5.9
billion, while import figures remained at $3.8 billion.
Around 300 French companies employ 40,000 people in Turkey.
“The Turkish market is very important for French investors. Last
year’s exports to Turkey grew by 11 percent.
This rate is double that of France’s general trade average. We
encourage our companies to invest in Turkey,” said Lagarde, noting
that Turkey was the fifth largest consumer of French products outside
the EU region.
To cite an example, the French minister drew attention to the
investments of giant international French companies like Carrefour,
BNP Parisbas, Renault, Areva and Alsom.
While France was placed to top the countries to enter direct foreign
capital to Turkey, it drew 7th place in the list despite the growing
interest of French companies.
Of the total volume of foreign capital in Turkey, the volume of total
French capital that has entered the country is in the vicinity of
six percent.
>>From a group of 150 countries that import French products, the
French Foreign Ministry singled out 25 countries, including Turkey,
for exclusive efforts to improve trade with, said Lagarde.
Fourteen French companies are being briefed on the Turkish sectors of
transportation and distribution by UBIFRANCE, a French association
established to help French companies to expand into international
markets.
The French minister considers UBIFRANCE as a major source of
assistance.
Several French companies have been cooperating with Turkish companies
and/or institutions, such as OYAK, the Armed Forces Pension Fund.
It is “military” contracts that make up $4 billion of the $14 billion
deal that the French companies are looking to sign with the Turkish
companies.
The opposition Socialist Party last month opened for discussion a
bill in the French Parliament that would penalize the refusal to
acknowledge the so-called Armenian genocide.
Efforts by the government worked at ending the discussion and passing
of this motion.
The government stands firm in its opposition to the motion, a sign
that any future reiterations will follow the same line of argument in
the government should the motion ever comes before the legislation,
said Lagarde.
‘We have a chance in the nuclear tender’
Adjournment of talks over the motion gave “temporary” relief to French
companies active in the Turkish market, along with Eurocopter-the
French company that stands out as most likely to be granted late
this week an exclusive right to provide attack helicopters for the
Turkish army.
Ms. Lagarde classified nuclear energy as one of the safest energy
sources to obtain, and added that a clear presentation of the nature
of nuclear energy will help gain public approval of the project.
There were, in the past, serious reactions from the French public
against the use of nuclear energy, said Lagarde, and emphasized, “Well
and clearly conducted communications,” as well as “intelligibility”
helped triumph over this reaction.
There is little doubt that Turkey’s non-government organizations will
act like their French counterparts in abandoning their opposition views
over the use of nuclear energy; and what is important is to convince
a large proportion of the public of the need for nuclear energy,
said the French minister when she emphasized the French experience
in overcoming public opposition.
France is one of the world’s leading countries actively involved in
the production of nuclear energy, said Ms. Lagarde, and classed the
kind of nuclear experiences that draws from specialization as unusual.

INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP FOR SEARCH OF MISSING TO VISIT NKR JUNE 18-20
DeFacto, Armenia
June 14 2006
June 18-20 the International Working Group /IWG/ for Search of Missing,
Captives and Release of POWs is arriving in the Nagorno Karabakh.
In the course of the visit the Working Group members are expected to
consider the possibilities of activating the search of the missing
and burial places, as well as work at the inquiries by the NKR, RA
and AR State Committees for Missing and Captives, the IWG Coordinator
in Nagorno Karabakh Albert Voskanyan told DE FACTO Agency.
The IWG representatives are to hold meetings at the NKR State Committee
for Missing and Captives, Stepanakert office of the International
Committee of the Red Cross and meet with the former POWs.

PAKISTANI ENVOY VISITS FRONTLINE REGION
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
Pakistan has no political or economic relations with Armenia due to
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, its ambassador in Baku Mohammad
Hafeez said during a visit to the western Tovuz region bordering on
Armenia on Thursday.
The ambassador told the press that this was his first visit to the
frontline areas and he would visit other borderline districts of the
country afterwards.
Although the Tovuz district is not part of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh,
an Azeri region under Armenian occupation, civilians and residential
areas there are often subjected to shooting by Armenians.
During the visit, the Pakistani diplomat became familiar with the
living conditions of residents in the Alibayli village.
“I will share my impressions with ambassadors of other countries upon
returning to Baku. Let them come and see firsthand the suffering of
people living in the frontline territories,” the ambassador added.
Parliament member Ganira Pashayeva, who initiated the envoy’s visit,
said she was holding discussions to arrange trips by ambassadors of
Western countries to the country’s frontline regions.
“Most of them have pledged to visit these areas. For instance, British
ambassador Laurie Bristow decided to tour the countryside in July or
August,” she said.

PACE CALLS FOR AZERI-ARMENIAN CO-OP ON POWS
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 14 2006
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur
on migration, refugees and population has called on Azerbaijan and
Armenia to cooperate on prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons.
“Collaboration between relevant bodies of the two countries is pivotal
to solve the problem, in particular, in terms of simplifying the
exchange of information,” Leo Platvoet told a news conference at the CE
Information Office in Baku upon completion of his visit to the region.
The rapporteur said both countries had expressed readiness to forge
contacts to address the problems faced by these persons, and called
for stepping up efforts in this area. He said the key objective was
to arrange cooperation between the two countries.
“The fact that the sides are making such statements is evidence that
the idea of establishing a joint institution may soon come into being,”
he said, adding that this option has already been applied by the Red
Cross in the Balkans.
Platvoet said the entity could include representatives of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and both communities of Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. He added,
however, that he had no discussions on the issue during his visit to
the two countries.
Platvoet said the goal of the visit was to prepare a report on captives
and missing persons in the South Caucasus based on his findings. The
document will mostly cover humanitarian issues and have no bearing
on politics, he stressed. “It will not touch on political aspects,
as this could compromise the work being done.”
The rapporteur said the report will be finalized in fall and further
submitted to PACE’s winter session for consideration.
“We have met with the family members of missing persons to study their
problems. These mainly concerned collection of information. We also
found out that their relatives are facing social problems. All these
developments will be reflected in the report,” Platvoet said.
The rapporteur met with members of the Azeri delegation at PACE.
Several proposals he made during the discussions were not accepted
by the MPs. He suggested that the Azerbaijani side collaborate with
the institutions and NGOs in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh and send the
parents of the missing persons to Armenia to assist in searching for
them, which did not go down well with the Azerbaijani representatives.

ON B.S.
*************************************
In his book, ON BULLSHIT (Princeton University Press, 2005), the American philosopher Harry G. Frankfurt echoes Descartes’ words on common sense when he writes, “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this.” If we don’t talk about it, he goes on, it may be because “most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize it and to avoid being taken in by it.” Further down: “The realm of advertising and public relations, and the nowadays closely related realm of politics, are replete with instances of bullshit so unmitigated that they can serve among the most indisputable and classic paradigms of the concept.”
*
Among the synonyms of bullshit, Frankfurt cites: “humbug, balderdash, claptrap, hokum, drivel, buncombe, imposture, and quackery.” For some reason he fails to include baloney and propaganda.
*
In her book THE MIGHTY AND THE ALMIGHTY: REFLECTIONS ON AMERICA, GOD, AND WORLD AFFAIRS (New York, 2006), Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and, under Clinton, the first woman Secretary of State, writes that the central message of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism (“involved in most political upheavals today”) are “compassion and peace.” Leave it to the b.s. of sermonizers and speechifiers to pervert compassion to slaughter and peace to war.
*
The Romans used to say, “Si vis pacem para bellum” (if you want peace, prepare for war”). But the Romans were decent enough not to involve the Almighty in their imperial ambitions and bloodthirsty disposition.
*
George Orwell, himself an expert on b.s., went further when he coined the slogan, included in his science fiction novel, 1984, “PEACE IS WAR.”
*
B.s. is not a favorite topic of discussion among us perhaps because we are such gargantuan consumers of it. Instead, we prefer to focus and emphasize Turkish b.s., thus implying we are devoid of it.
*
Consider the content of our weekly one-hour TV programs: nothing but singing floozies and hoodlums, sermonizing bishops, and speechifying bosses (mostly about Comrade Panchoonie’s favorite subject: raising funds for this or that worthy cause). On the positive side, since the programs last only 45 minutes (60 minutes minus 15 minutes of commercials) the speeches and sermons are drastically edited.
*
The Romans had another saying: “Ride si sapis” (if you are wise, laugh).
#
Monday, June 12, 2006
*************************************
“Armenians survive by cannibalizing one another,” Zarian tells us; and I suspect they will go on cannibalizing until the day laboratory tests reveal they contain dangerous levels of carcinogens.
*
A nation that relies on propaganda digs its own grave.
*
To be a sermonizer or speechifier means to speak of immortality during the day and to work as a gravedigger under cover of darkness.
*
I am beginning to identify men not as members of this or that race, color and creed, but as either dupes or deceivers.
*
When tolerance allows deceivers to deceive and dupes to be duped, is it really tolerance or conspiracy?
*
A dogmatist is a failure who has been successful only in suppressing his own doubts.
*
Whenever you understand them better than they understand themselves, they say you don’t understand them.
*
To be insecure, or in Saroyan’s expression, “without foundation” (dabansez in Turkish), means to be eager and willing to swallow the most absurd propaganda line provided it flatters the ego.
*
We call wise the man who has acquired the skill to hide his foolishness.
*
I would have gone away, if only they had ignored me. By insulting me they challenged me to reiterate my position and to make a more convincing case.
*
We are taught to respect a man’s convictions or beliefs, provided he is sincere. But according to Harry G. Frankfurt in his book ON BULLSHIT: “Our natures are, indeed, elusively insubstantial – notoriously less stable and less inherent than the natures of other things. And insofar as this is the case, sincerity itself is bullshit.” Frankfurt is right: if sincerity were a reliable criterion, we would have to respect suicidal terrorists and fanatics.
#
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
***************************************
If I have not said this before I will say it now: I have been wrong most of my life and the chances are I am wrong today. I am certainly wrong in thinking that what I write matters and that it may even make a difference.
*
Illusions don’t die; they adapt and reappear under a different disguise. Once upon a time I thought I was the center of the world. Once upon a time I was also led to believe Armenians were God’s chosen people. The ancient Greeks would say that it is for this egocentric arrogance (hubris) that we were punished (Nemesis).
*
Why do I go on writing? I wish I knew. My only tentative explanation: writing has become a habit and habits are easier to keep than to give up.
*
In so far as I make assertions, I am very probably wrong. But in so far as I question the validity of the assertions in which I believed, I am very probably right.
*
Title of a poem by Francis Jammes (1868-1938), French poet and mystic: “Priere pour aller au Paradis avec les anes” (Prayer for going to Heaven with the donkeys”).
*
In Michel Houellebecq’s THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISLAND (New York, 2005) I come across the following phrase: “…bullshit [is] the death of civilization.”
#
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
******************************************
Learning or understanding something you didn’t understand before means changing your mind about one or more things. Even animals learn. Only corpses don’t change their minds. Show me a man who has not changed his mind during the last ten or twenty years and I will show you a living corpse.
*
There is a type of imbecile who believes in his own assertions simply because he made them in the presence of witnesses.
*
A good friend of mine once said to me, “The reason why you are not popular is that you don’t write about sex and violence.” It is true, nothing I write is marketable. If anything, it’s the exact opposite, and I consider that sufficient reason to persevere.
*
Some very complex problems solve themselves; some easy problems resist all solutions; and some solutions create more problems. There are only three of the many perversities of life. Get used to them.
*
If he is a perennial underdog but speaks with the arrogance of a top dog, he must be an Armenian.
*
Some readers disagree with me because what I say does not apply to them. Perhaps I should subtitle everything I write, “If the shoe fits…”
#

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
12-06-2006
Minister Oskanian Receives Micheline Calmy-Rey,
Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
On June 12, Minister Oskanian received a delegation led by Micheline
Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss
Confederation.
While welcoming Micheline Calmy-Rey’s first visit to Armenia, the Armenian
Minister noted that there exists an extensive and active dialogue between
Armenia and Switzerland.
During the meeting, Minister Oskanian broached the issue of intensifying
Armenia-Switzerland relations, particularly in the economic, cultural and
humanitarian spheres. He expressed his satisfaction with the invitation to
Armenian businessmen to participate in the Swiss Invest Forum launched in
Zurich on June 12.
The two focused on deepening cooperation in the framework of international
organizations, specifically given Switzerland’s capacity as full member of
the United Nations and a newly-elected member of the Human Rights Council of
the United Nations.
Minister Oskanian noted with appreciation Switzerland’s assistance to
Armenia in the process of development, particularly through the involvement
of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in specific programs,
including a Tsakhkadzor development program. He also invited Switzerland to
consider its contribution in the initiative of the Republic of Armenia
targeted at developing Armenian’s rural areas.
The Swiss Minister assured their readiness to keep on launching and
implementing different programs in Armenia. This year, the Swiss State
Council has allocated 4 million Swiss francs to this end. About activating
bilateral economic relations, Minister Calmy-Rey expressed confidence that
the Convention for the avoidance of double taxation just signed between the
Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Armenia, will boost the business
contacts of the two countries.
On the guest’s request, Minister Oskanian briefed the delegation on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, the present status of
Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as the demolition of cross-stones
(khachkars) in the Armenian cemetery in Julfa, Azerbaijan, and Armenia’s
appeals to the international community, specifically to the Council of
Europe, OSCE and UNESCO.