AT THE 33rd UNESCO GENERAL CONFERENCE
Panorama
21:13 10/10/05
Statement By H.E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian
Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of The Republic Of Armenia
PARIS
OCTOBER 7, 2005
Mr. President,
Congratulations on your election, and we look forward to working
with you as we have with President Omolewa. Congratulations also to
the Director-General with whom we look forward to working for a long
time to come.
At a time when the world is faced with new types of violence and
must therefore seek new ways to find peace, UNESCO is faced with
the hardest challenge of all: to create the defenses of peace in the
minds of men. For 60 years, this organization has promoted education,
science and culture because we know that it has been through education,
science and culture that ALL our civilizations have been nurtured
and have flourished. Education, science and culture cultivate peace
and are its fruits.
Each of us recognizes this in our own lands, in our own countries.
In Armenia, Education gave us our first university eight centuries ago.
Today, our education enrollment and literacy rate is among the best
in the world.
Ten centuries ago, Science provided us the tools with which to study
medicinal herbs under our feet, and the stars over our head.
But it is our culture that has saved us, defined us, formed our
character.
My people have lived in Diaspora for far longer than we have had a
state, and we have contributed to and learned from cultures across
the globe.
In Singapore, we have a church which is 200 years old. The one in Dakka
is even older. In Macao, the cemetery markers are memorials to Armenian
merchants from the 1600s. In Bangkok, the cemeteries are newer, but
only slightly. The local governments all protect and maintain these
cultural monuments consciously and generously, because they understand
that these monuments of a culture long gone are theirs as much as ours.
There is a similar cultural heritage in Europe and the Middle
East. From the tombs of Armenian medieval kings here in Paris to
ancient communities in Poland and Ukraine, the traces of a continuous
Armenian presence in Europe are guarded.
No better example exists than the Armenian Island of St. Lazaro, in
Venice, claimed equally by Armenians and Italians as part of their
cultural patrimony.
In Jerusalem, the old Armenian Quarter is an integral part of the
Biblical city’s past and future.
Throughout the various Arab countries of the Middle East, it is only
the age and quantity of Armenian structures that differ. The care and
attention which Armenians and their possessions receive is pervasive.
In our immediate neighborhood, Iran is home to cultural and religious
monuments built by Armenians over a millennium. The government of
Iran itself takes responsibility for their upkeep, and facilitates
their preservation by others.
Against this background then, we can only wish that our other
neighbours were equally tolerant and enlightened.
In Turkey, there are thousands of cultural monuments built and utilized
by Armenians through the centuries. Those structures today are not
just symbols of a lost way of life, but of lost opportunities. Those
monuments which represent the overlapping histories and memories
of Armenians and Turks do provide us the opportunity around which a
cultural dialog can start and regional cooperation can flourish.
Instead, those monuments which serve as striking evidence of
centuries of Armenian presence on those lands are being transformed
or demolished. With them go the memory and identity of a people.
But we are hopeful that there are changes in these attitudes and
approaches, and that Turkey is on the road to acknowledging its
pluralistic past and embracing its diversity today.
A few months ago, Turkish authorities began to actively encourage and
facilitate the expert renovation of a medieval jewel – the Armenian
monastery of Akhtamar. What is happening on this small island,
not far from our border, can be repeated again and again. Together,
we can work to rebuild the sole remaining monument in the legendary
city of Ani, just on the other side of the border, within easy view
from Armenia. The medieval city of a thousand and one churches is a
cultural marvel that can pull together and bind our two peoples.
Unfortunately Mr. Chairman, with our other neighbor, Azerbaijan,
the effort to do away with Armenians, which began even before
Sovietization, continues unabated. Now that there are no Armenians
left in Azerbaijan, it is religious and cultural monuments which
remain under attack.
This assault on our memory, history, holy places and artistic creations
began long before the people of Nagorno Karabakh stood to demand
self-determination in order to assure their own security. It began
long before the government of Azerbaijan chose war as the response to
the rightful, peaceful aspirations of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Mr. Chairman, Even in 1922, stone cross Armenian tombstone
carvings, older than Europe’s oldest churches, began to disappear
in Nakhichevan. There was no war in the years between 1998 and 2002
when 4000 of these giant sculptures were knocked over, piled onto
railroad cars and carted away under the Azerbaijani government’s
watchful eyes. There was no war in 1975 when a 7th century Armenian
church was completely demolished in the center of Nakhichevan, for
no reason other than to wipe out the memory of the Armenians who
constituted a majority there just decades earlier.
Mr. Chairman,
Cultural destruction can and is a potent weapon in campaigns of
political oppression and tyranny. In an era when new kinds of violence
with new names are exploited in political and ideological warfare,
damaging or destroying cultural or religious memory intentionally,
consistently, repeatedly must be labeled what it is – cultural
terrorism – and it must be condemned with the same resolve and
determination as violence aimed against people.
Mr. Chairman,
Armenia already profits hugely from UNESCO’s “Memory of the World”
program, thanks to which our depository of ancient, unique manuscripts
is being digitized. In the Remember the Future program, we are honoured
that some of our ancient monuments are included in the World Heritage
List. We are set to ratify the Convention on the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Heritage, and are pleased that the traditional melodies
of the Armenian reed duduk may be included in the Masterpieces of
Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
What we want to work on next, Mr. Chairman, is the elaboration of a
UNESCO legal instrument which will hold accountable those involved
in the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage.
Armenia attaches great importance to all of UNESCO´s initiatives in
the region. We believe in UNESCO’s dream of creating and educating
societies to believe in peace and to benefit from its dividends. Thank
you.
–Boundary_(ID_gQcM8nBfbhqilXWS8W3aow)–

VARTAN OSKANIAN VISITS AUSTRALIA
By Areg Yaputchian in Sydney
AZG Armenian Daily #182
11/10/2005
Visit
On Sunday, October 9, a governmental delegation headed by foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian arrived in Sydney. Members of the Armenian
community of Australia met the Armenian delegation at the airport.
Mr. Oskanian took part first in a liturgy at Surp Harutyun church of
Sydney where he made a brief speech to believers.
In the evening of that day Mr. Oskanian met a huge group of compatriots
and answered their questions highlighting the recent events in Armenia.
A press conference followed the meeting.
“The central meeting of the visit is the one with Alexander Downer
[foreign minister of Australia] to discuss bilateral relations”,
Vartan Oskanian said, “I want especially to stress to him the regional
issues and explain the Nagorno Karabakh issue as to its development,
importance of its regulation as well as Armenian-Turkish, EU-Turkey
relations and economic issues.
“I will also meet with parliament members (Armenian-born Joe Hock,
chairman of Liberal Party) Clatis Perechikean and John Watkins. After
this I will leave for Indonesia.”

HRANT DINK SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS’ CONDITIONAL IMPRISONMENT
AZG Armenian Daily #182
11/10/2005
Concern
On October 8, the court of Istanbul sentenced Hrant Dink,
editor-in-chief of Agos newspaper, to 6 months’ conditional
imprisonment on charge of “insulting Turkish national identity”. “The
journalist of Armenian descent will be sent to prison if he repeats
his words”, the Associated Press explains. In an article published in
early 2004 Dink called for Armenians to “renounce the hatred towards
the Turks that poisons your blood”. Agos employer Karin Karakashli
thinks that the court misinterpreted his words concluding that Dink
considers Turkish blood poisonous.
In an interview to radio Liberty, Dink refused the charge labeling it
political. He is going to appeal against the charge at the Supreme
Court of the country and in case of no results he will apply to the
European Court of Human Rights. “If the accusations are not lifted
from me I will leave Turkey where I have live all my life”, Dink said.

USAGE OF IT TO STIMULATE DEVELOPMENT OF WHOLE ECONOMY
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 10 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. With a goal to stimulate usage of
products of the sphere of information technologies (IT) in economy of
Armenia, the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) will
organize a number of seminars for representatives of other spheres
of economy. Karen Vardanian, the UITE Executive Director informed
about this at the October 10 press-conference. According to him,
during the seminars, representatives of the spheres of health care,
bank, tourism, etc., will be presented such solutions which will give
opportunity to increase productivity of those specialists’ work.
According to the UITE Chairman Hovhannes Avoyan, at present computers
are mainly used only for games, are made use of office, as a best
variant, of accountancy programs. But, according to H.Avoyan, a wide
usage of computer programs can become a serious spur for development
of the whole economy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS ATTRACT OVER 1 YEAR DEPOSITS AT HIGHESAT INTEREST RATE IN EARLY OCTOBER
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 10 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. In the period of September 29 –
October 6, the RA commercial banks attracted over 1 year deposits
at the highest interest rate of 8% and 90-day deposits at the lowest
interest rate of 4%. According to the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
data, in the same period, the banks extended 30-day and 90-day loans
at the highest interest rate of 20% and 360-day loans at the lowest
interest rate of 17%.
The dynamics of interest rates of deposits attracted by the commercial
bank was as follows:
29.09.05 06.10.05
30 days 7% 6%
60 days 4% 5%
90 days 2% 4%
180 days 7% 6%
360 days 7% 6%
over 1 year 8% 8%
The dynamics of interest rates of the loans extended by the commercial
banks was as follows:
29.09.05 06.10.05
30 days 14% 20%
60 days 20% 19%
90 days 21% 20%
180 days 21% 18%
360 days 16% 17%
over 1 year 19% 18%
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN RA AND NKR JUDICIAL SYSTEMS IN STEPANAKERT
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 10 2005
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues relating
to further strengthening of ties among NKR and Armenia’s corresponding
bodies in improvement of the juducial-legal system of Nagorno Karabakh
as well as in that sphere were discussed at the October 8 meeting of
NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian with a delegation of the RA Cassations,
Appeal, Economic Courts.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NKR President’s Information
Department, Hovhannes Manukian, the head of the delegation, the
Chairman of the RA Court of Cassations, informed the NKR President
that an agreement on cooperation was signed in Stepanakert receintly
by which the effective mutual cooperation having continued between
the judicial systems of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh for already
few years got a legal basis. According to Manukian, exchange of
professional information, providing legal and colsultative assistance
as well as assistance to the NKR judicial system in the issues of
training and re-training legal personal, incerasing qualification
of representatives of the judicial corps are envisaged within the
framework of the agreement.
Arkadi Ghukasian expressed a hope that the cooperaion between the
judicial bodies of the two Armenian republics will be bilaterally
useful and effective and of active and long-lasting character.

WON THE WILL
Panorama
12:07 10/10/05
According to the counting committee, the elections of the president of
Armenian Bar had the following results; 227 participants voted ‘for’
Ruben Sahakyan, and 136 ‘for’ Enoq Azaryan. So the next 4 years Ruben
Sahakyan will chair AB.
“Won the will’, this is how the minister of justice Davit Harutiunyan
qualified the elections. His participation in the organization of
the AB assembly the minister commented in such way, “I haven’t had
any interference in the elections, I was here only to implement fair
and organized election”.
The new president of AB Ruben Sahakyan didn’t accept his election with
a great pleasure, and as he noticed, “I must continue to work with
my colleague Enoq Azaryan. It will be really difficult for both of us”.
According to participnats’ opinion AP elections were top level, as
there was no invalid bulletins. Even Ruben Sahakyan was astonished
with the level of organization. “I must take the video record of this
assembly to copy the experience for my future activity. We will try
to pass the next assemblies just this way”, promised the president.
The concept “opposite team” doesn’t exist for R. Sahakyan, “We are
all colleagues”, he stated and added that he took the obligation to
accept the all written suggestions of the attorneys. By the way, the
defeated candidate Enoq Azaryan was not present during the publication
of the results.

JUDGES ARE ‘FOR’ CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
Panorama
Oct 10 2005
The general assembly of Association of Judges took place on October 10.
There were two questions in the agenda, the first question was the
attitude of the judges toward the constitutional reforms, the second
one, the adoption of the “Judge Manners Code”. In his report the
Head of the Court of Appeal Hovhannes Manoukyan said, “The draft
constitution as juridical document is almost ideal”.
Judges also emphasized that they obviously will support the
establishment of the independent juridical system.
Any how the general assembly said “yes” unanimously to the
constitutional reforms and passed to the second question of the agenda.
26 provisions are included in the code. For example the rule 19 says,
“The judge must not use his juridical authority for his personal
and domestic purposes”. The guaranty of the implementation of the
Code provisions, will be implemented by demand of society from
judges. /Panorama.am/

NO PROBLEM DURING THE FESTIVAL
Panorama
17:41 10/10/05
During the events dedicated to “The Yerevan day” festival nothing
serious has happened. There were no emergency calls.
“Of course, the problems are inevitable, especially when so many
people have gathered together in one place”, said today the head of
the healthcare department of Yerevan city municipality Armen Soghoyan.
On this occasion on October 8 by the mayor’s order there was a ‘open
doors’ day in all policlinics of Yerevan. Overall 5 300 people have
visited the policlinics. According to A. Soghoyan , the number of
visitors comparing with last year, has reduced about 18-20%.
He also noted that the number of births in Yerevan this year
increased 6%, and A. Soghoyan hoped to have 12% growth for the next
year. /Panorama.am/

SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNED RESOLUTION ON ESTABLISHING CALIFORNIAN TRADE OFFICE IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian
10.10.2005 18:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger signed
the resolution adopted by the Senate on establishing a Trade Office
of California in Armenia. The resolution submitted by Senator Jack
Scott allows to accept donations for covering the office expenses.