Pravda, Russia
Aug 24 2005

Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijanian foreign ministers’ meeting for
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict discussion

10:51 2005-08-24
The foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were slated
to meet in Moscow on Wednesday for discussions of the conflict over
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave and a planned meeting this week between
the two Caucasus nations’ presidents, the Interfax news agency
reported.

“Negotiations have intensified noticeably over the past six months,”
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was quoted as saying
Tuesday, referring to talks on Nagorno-Karabakh that have been
mediated by Russia, the United States and France, AP reports.

The bloodshed began after the legislature of the ethnic
Armenian-dominated enclave in Azerbaijan called in 1988 for the
region to be incorporated into Armenia, which like Azerbaijan was
then still a Soviet republic. Full-scale military offensives broke
out in 1991; thousands were killed and a million displaced.

A tense cease-fire has held since 1994 but efforts to finally resolve
Nagorno-Karabakh’s status have repeatedly failed.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart
Ilham Aliev are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of a summit of the
Commonwealth of Independent States in Russia’s Volga River city of
Kazan on Friday, Interfax said.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE

23-08-2005

Regular Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of
Independent States

On August 23, a regular session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) took place in Moscow under the
presidency of Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vartan Oskanian headed the Armenian delegation to
the session.

The session’s agenda focused mainly on the preparation and adoption of
several documents to be presented during the CIS Summit to be held in Kazan,
Tatarstan on August 26.

The key themes of the agenda were issues relating to enhancing the
efficiency and improvement of the activities of Commonwealth bodies, draft
statements of heads of CIS states on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of
the UN and the Agreement for Humanitarian Cooperation of the Commonwealth of
Independent States.

The Foreign Affairs Ministers considered a decision to declare 2006, the
Year of the Commonwealth of Independent States and an appeal by the CIS
Heads of States to the people of the member states and international
community on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the accident at the
Chernobyl Electric Power Station.

Within the context of UN reforms, the Council of Foreign Ministers stressed
the importance of having inclusive reforms and their endorsement by the
majority of UN member states.

In the same evening, an unofficial meeting of the Co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk group and Foreign Affairs Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan took
place.

A regular meeting between the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the two countries
on Nagorno-Karabagh conflict resolution is scheduled for August 25 in
Moscow.

AZG Armenian Daily #149, 24/08/2005

Home

‘PEOPLE ARE WELL AWARE OF OUR POLITICAL FIGURES’, ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN SAYS

Artur Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National Assembly, paid a working visit
to Vanadzor, on August 20. He met with the residents of the city at the
Vanadzor State Theater. They came to meet him and share their problems with
him. The Vanadzor people were concerned about such issues as the payment of
pensions, the salary raises, the prices for healthcare services, the
necessity to open school for aesthetic education for the children and many
other issues. Naturally, they were mostly concerned about launching
“Prometey” plant. Artur Baghdasarian also emphasized the importance of fully
launching this chemical plant, as in that case, that would be possible and
necessary to open a series of other relative plants. But Mr. Baghdasarian
said that the state isn’t capable of sponsoring its activities, at present.

The residents of the city were also concerned about issues of local and
personal character. They inquired from Mr. Baghdasarian about the order of
electing the mayor of Yerevan, as well. They expressed the idea that the
elections should be direct. Mr. Baghdasarian assured that the relevant
constitutional amendments do not envisage indirect elections only, but in
this case, the increase of the board’s members secures fair elections.

Vanadzor residents also inquired why the representatives of the opposition
hold aggressive speeches, while the coalition members seem to be refrain
from them. Artur Baghdasarian emphasized that the society has already
recognized the aggressive speakers and all the rest, adding that they are
well aware of the political figures of our country. Mr. Baghdasarian advised
to vote for the people who are really concerned about the bright future of
our country.

By Nana Petrosian

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 23, 2005

His Holiness Karekin II Receives DNC Chairman Howard Dean

On Saturday, August 20, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, received Howard Dean, Chairman of the
Democratic National Committee (United States) and former presidential
candidate. Mr. Dean was accompanied by Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Bureau Member Vicken Hovsepian and other ARF
members.

His Holiness welcomed Mr. Dean and his delegation to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and presented the guests with an overview of the mission of the
Armenian Church in the homeland and in the Diaspora. Reflecting on the
Armenian Church in America, His Holiness expressed his joy at the vibrant
Armenian community there and in the active role they play in the political,
economic and social life of the United States. The Pontiff of All Armenians
stated his contentment that the children of the Armenian nation, immigrants
and descendants of genocide survivors, are worthy and contributing citizens
of the United States.

Mr. Dean informed His Holiness of the purpose of his visit to Armenia, and
the two engaged in an active discussion regarding the challenges facing the
Republic of Armenia, including the eventual integration of Armenia into the
European Union, the illegal blockade of Armenia by Turkey, the importance of
universal recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and the
desire of the Armenian people to see the Nagorno Karabagh conflict resolved
in a peaceful and just manner.

At the end of the meeting, His Holiness offered a prayer asking for God’s
blessings to descend upon the Republic of Armenia and the United States.

International Water Power and Dam Construction, UK
Aug 24 2005

EBRD funding for Armenian project
24 August 2005

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is
lending US$1.3M to set up a small hydro plant on the Yeghegis river
in Armenia.

Bazenc CJSC will use the loan to install a second turbine at the
Yeghegis plant which, while only working for three summer months,
will increase the company’s total electricity production by 23%. The
electricity will be sold to the Armenian government, under guarantees
lasting until 2016, at prices negotiated once a year.

Energy supply has been a critical issue for Armenia since
independence in 1991. The EBRD is also supporting Bazenc in acquiring
a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) status for its mini-hydro
projects under the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and limiting global warming.

;storyCode30669

AZG Armenian Daily #149, 24/08/2005

Refutation

KAREN ARISTAKESIAN: NO BRIBE WAS OFFERED TO JURY

Daily Azg published an article about disqualification of Anush Grigorian on
August 20. The article also said that Karen Aristakesian, chairman of “Miss
Armenia” national agency, offered bribes to the jury. Our article was based
on the press release send by the Beauty International Organization from
Panama to our newspaper. Learning about the accusation from our article, Mr.
Aristakesian came to our office and handed his refutation to Azg. Below we
present it as it was:

As a jury member at the final round of Miss Intercontinental, I defended my
country and its representative at the contest. I see this precedent as the
result of clashes of interests (no matter between states or individuals).

I bribed no one and had no negotiation with any jury member on this subject
before the contest and after it. Anyone aware of the technology of beauty
contests will immediately understand what has happened. A beauty contest is
a peculiar game. The contest organizers have taken back from “Miss Armenia”
national agency the only thing they gave – the contest licenses. (Anush
Grigorian being forth in the contest did not even receive $1.000 and the
ribbon indicated the place she won).

That’s their right and no one can take it from them as no one can grab our
national beauty and dignity. Even if they did not demand the licenses back,
the agency would not participate in any further contests organized by the
World Beauty Organization. It was only this year that Armenian beauties
achieved such great results in international contests. Frankly speaking,
this precedent speaks well for the victory of our country and its
representative. The beauties of Armenia, as well as Anush Grigorian, will
take part in other international contests.

AZG Armenian Daily #149, 24/08/2005

Diaspora

‘ISSUE OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IS AN INNER ISSUE’

Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople States

Mesrop II Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, participated in
the 20th celebration of Youth International Day in Cologne, Germany, Turkish
Hurriyet newspaper informed in its August 21 issue.

He said that some people trouble them by touching upon the issue of national
minorities every time. “We are Turkish citizens. If we have any problems, we
will turn to the Turkish authorities. Those issues should be settled in
Turkey. The Turkish community of Germany also has problems. The Turks living
in Germany have problems with carrying out their religious ceremonies; they
have no clergymen and teachers to pass their native language and the culture
to the next generations. The Armenians dwelling in Turkey have the same
problems. The EU is a certain means, in this respect. But the most important
issues for Turkey are its Education and economy and not the national
minorities,” he added.

By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #149, 24/08/2005

Home

SPECIAL DEPARTMENT OF PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE PUTS UP FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

To be more productive in its fight against corruption, the Chief
Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia set a special anti-corruption department on
June 30 of 2004. “Hakastver” NGO organized yesterday a meeting entitled
“Authorities of the Prosecutor’s Office In Fight Against Corruption” to
discuss the work of the department during last 8 months. During this period
of time the department having only 8 employees opened 5 criminal cases,
restarted 1 unfinished case and received 100 citizens. The criminal cases
had to deal with bribery in diverse state institutions, particularly
land-survey agency. The head of the department urged citizens to be more
active in helping corruption fighters disclose criminals.

By Gohar Grigorian

Armenpress

RUSSIA DECLINES ARMENIAN PROPOSAL

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: Gagik Mkrtchian, head of a trade and
economic development ministry department dealing with jewelry and goldsmith
industry, said Russian finance ministry has declined an Armenian proposal
asking for a permission to re-export fifteen percent of raw diamonds it
receives from Russia.
Mkrtchian said the Russian ministry cited various reasons to turn down
their proposal, one of which was that re-exported Armenia diamonds could
compete with Russian diamonds at foreign markets. Mkrtchian said Armenian
companies have received 150,000 carats of Russian raw diamonds out of
450,000 carts envisaged for Armenia for 2005 by an intergovernmental
agreement. However, he said, some small companies in Armenia are not now
able to buy Russian diamonds after Russian Alrosa, the main supplier of raw
diamonds, raised its prices.
“I think Russia would not like to lose a market that is able to process
annually 1 million carat of raw diamonds in a friendly country,’ he said.
Raw diamonds are also supplied to Armenia by Belgium and Israel.

Armenpress

STRONG WINDS AFFECT ALSO SHIRAK PROVINCE

GYUMRI, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: A strong wind that caused serious damages
to Armenian province of Aragatsotn on August 21, has affected also another
province of Shirak in the north-west of the country destroying crops in
several rural communities.
The wind bursts with a speed of 20 meters per second have ripped away
roofing of houses, causing also damages to high-voltage power lines blacking
out the town of Artik and several villages and disrupting also telephone
communication.
The biggest damage is said to have been sustained by those rural
communities which have not yet gathered crops, which was destroyed almost
completely in some areas. Shirak governor has set up two commissions to
assess the overall amount of damages and submit its findings to the
government