ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
THE CBA TO PUT IN CIRCULATION TWO SETS OF MEMORIAL GOLDEN AND SILVER
COINS FROM OCTOBER 1, 2005 DEVOTED TO THE ARMED FORCES OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. The CBA will put in circulation two
sets of memorial golden and silver coins from October 1, 2005 devoted
to the Armed Forces of Armenia, according to the Press Service of
CBA. According to the Press Release, the coins each of which is at
par AMD 50 thsd, are minted from gold of 999 standard and have the
diameter of 22 mm and weigh 8,6 gr. Silver coins, each at par of AMD
5 thsd, are minted from silver of 925 standard and have the diameter
of 38 mm and weigh 31,1 gr. All coins have “proof” quality.
The national Emblem of the RA is on the back side of each of the
coins. Under the National Emblems the par of the coin is mentioned.
On the reverse side of the coins the order of “Battle Cross” of the
RA is depicted and in the left side of it a symbol of the RA Armed
Forces is etched. “Armed Forces of Armenia” is etched in Armenian and
English in the edges of the coins.
The drawing of silver coins having a form of an octahedron makes 500
coins, and those of golden round ones – 1000 coins.
Both coins are minted in the World Coins Netherlands. A.H. –0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
PRESENTATION OF IMF REPORT “ECONOMIC PROSPECTS OF MIDDLE EAST AND
CENTRAL ASIA” TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2005
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Presentation of the report of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) “Economic Prospects of Middle East
and Central Asia” will be held in Yerevan on October 3, 2005.
Press-service of the IMF reported ARKA News Agency that the report
will be presented by Head of Department of Middle East and Central
Asia of the IMF Julian Berengaut. He will present IMF’s position on
macroeconomic trends registered in the region, as well as will
discuss issues of economic policy within the revaluation of the real
exchange rate. The report will discuss issues like economic prospects
of the countries of Middle East and Central Asia in coming years,
main risks and political tasks, sources of influence on inflation and
expected political resonances, evaluation of structural reforms,
economic policy of some of CIS countries within the revaluation of
the real exchange rate. A.A. -0
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
ITALIAN CUISINE ACADEMY’S ASSOCIATION OF GOURMETS INTENDS TO OPEN ITS
OFFICE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Italian Cuisine Academy’s Association
of Gourmets intends to open its office in Armenia, Italian Ambassador
to Armenia Marco Clementi said Friday at a press conference in
Yerevan. In his words, the Academy strictly respects all standards of
cooking Italian national dishes and wants to exchange experience with
its Armenian colleagues. M.V. -0—

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY INTENDS TO WIDEN ITS PRESENCE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Hewlett-Packard Company intends to
widen its presence in Armenia, the company’s Director in CIS
countries Hilmar Lawrence said. In his words, the company will be
developing its activity in the republic in two directions. The first
of them envisages cooperation with Microsoft and Intel, and the
second aims to establish ties with the republic’s government to get
better idea about plans for the area development and Hewlett-Packard
participation in these processes. Lawrence said the company is
establishing ties with new Armenian partners to carry out joint work.
“We are in touch with market development in Armenia and see visible
progress in using complex systems”, he said adding that consumer
market in the country is developing intensively. M.V. -0–

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
GEORGIA IS READY TO ASSIST ARMENIA WITH CONSTRUCTING ALTERNATIVE
ROADS, GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER STATES
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Nogaideli stated at the September 29 press conference in Yerevan that
programs to be implemented in Georgia will not ever be directed
against Armenia. According to him, Georgia is ready to assist Armenia
with the building of alternative roads, particularly the reopening of
Kars-Gyumri railway. As regards the issue of building
Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi railway, Z. Nogaideli said Georgia will
paticipate in all programs of economic interest to the country.
It is envisaged to construct a high-voltage transmission line between
the two countries, which will allow to increase electricity exports
from Armenia to Georgia.

Daily Star, Lebanon
Oct 1 2005
‘Turkey must admit Armenian genocide before EU entry’
By Therese Sfeir
Daily Star staff
Saturday, October 01, 2005
BEIRUT: The central committee for commemorating the passing of 90
years since the Armenian Genocide submitted a petition to Lebanon’s
EU Ambassador Patrick Renauld Friday requesting the EU demand Turkey
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide before being granted membership to
the union.
The petition said: “While the 21st century is considered the century
of international justice and human rights, the EU has decided to
resume discussions regarding Turkey’s candidacy to the organization.”
It added: “Turkey is still promoting racism against its minorities,
including Kurds, Greeks, Armenians and others.”
The petition further said: “The EU had urged the Turkish government
to acknowledge the genocide in April 2001 and September 2005 and
admitted the government’s rejection to do so would hamper the
approval of its candidacy.”
President of the Press Federation Mohammad Baalbaki, speaking during
a news conference held at the Federation’s headquarters in Beirut
Friday, said Armenians have the right to demand the international
community suspend Turkey’s candidacy to the EU until it acknowledges
the Armenian Genocide.

The conference was attended by MP Hagop Pakradounian, former
Ministers Alain Tabourian, Sebouh Hovnanian and Jacques Joe
Khadarian, secretary general of the Tachnag Party Hovik Mokhtarian as
well as representatives of other Armenian political parties.
Baalbaki described the Armenians as “loyal and honest people,” and
praised them for never siding with one party during the 15 year
Lebanese Civil War.
He added Armenians have the right to ask the international community
to suspend the candidacy of Turkey to the EU until it recognizes the
genocide.
He further said: “The Lebanese press, which represents the Lebanese
people’s position, expresses its support for the committee and hopes
that the modern Turkey will free itself from the burden of this
genocide.”
From: Baghdasarian

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
ARMENIAN IS AMONG THE LEADERS IN THE WORLD BY THE NUMBER OF CASES OF
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Armenian is among the leaders in the
world by the number of cases of cardiovascular diseases, as the Head
of the Therapeutic Department of the RA ministry of Health Vahan
Poghosyan stated. “The number of cardiovascular diseases increases in
Armenia and this acquires threatening trends”, he said. According to
him, in the first half a year of 2005, 11 thsd 300 calls (or 15,7%)
for emergency out of 72 thsd calls. were because of cordial diseases.
For the first 6 months of 2005, 1400 people were hospitalize in
Yerevan with the diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases, versus 1300
people in 2004. “Prophylaxis and treatment of such diseases require
professionalism and latest clinical technologies”, he said. Poghosyan
added that the healthcare system of Armenia has this potential, with
the consideration of increasing the amount of funds spent on
healthcare. A.H.-0-

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
HAMLET GASPARIAN: ARMENIAN-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP DAYS ARE NOT PURELY
SERIES OF CULTURAL EVENTS BUT A POLITICAL ACTION
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The holding of
the Armenian-Italian Friendship Days im Armenia is considered not
only as series of cultural events but also as a political action.
Hamlet Gasparian, RA Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, declared this
at the September 30 press conference. He mentioned that Armenia is
involved in the EU “New Neighborhood” program, which means that
Armenia with its history and civilization is included in the system
of European values, starting from ancient period up to this day.
According to Marco Clemente, Italian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia, the holding of Friendship Days is aimed
at mutual acquainting of the two peoples, and the “word “friendship”
in the title of the festival means friendship between the 2 cultures
which will develop seriously in the future.”
The Italian Ambassador is convinced that culture is able to correct
political relations, to establish economic contacts.
Ambassador Clemente reported that the Armenian-Italian Friendship
Days will start on October 5 by an exhibition under the title
“Treasures of St Lazaro Island” at the National Gallery of Armenia.
Representatives of Italian government, in particular, a delegation
led by the Minister of Trade and Economy will be present at the
ceremony of opening. An Armenian-Italian business forum will open on
October 6 at the “Congress” hotel with participation of 30 Italian
businessmen.
32 events will be held within a month – from October 1 through
October 31, some of them will repeat. All the events will be free in
order to be afordable for public. The Italian diplomat mentioned
several important events, in particular, the exhibition under the
title “Treasures of St Lazaro Island”, demonstration of 15 films of
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani Italian brothers.
Conferences, painting and photo exhibitions, film demonstrations,
evenings of Italian opera will be held during the month of
Armenian-Italian Friendship.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
KAREKIN II: NUMEROUS DREAMS FOR FUTURE ARE ANALOGOUS FOR ARMENIAN AND
GREEK PEOPLES
ETCHMIADZIN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On
September 29, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians received Antnios Vlavianos, the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of
Greece finishing his diplomatic mission to the Republic of Armenia,
and Dimitrios Furlemadis, the Executive Director of the “Development
Solidarity” organization of the Greek Orthodox Church.
His Holiness appreciated the Ambassador’s three-years activity in
Armenia. “Our peoples’ friendship and brotherhood have been created
within numerous suffers and difficulties caused by enimies. And today
numerous dreams for future are analogous for our peoples,” the
Armenian Catholicos mentioned touching upon ties of centuries present
between the two peoples. His Holiness wished the Ambassador numerous
years of well-being full of rich results of his service.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information System of the Mother
See, Dimitrios Furlemadis passed His Holiness Athens and All-Greece
Archbishop Crisodulos’s brotherly greeting and invitation to visit
Greece. Dimitrios Furlemadis presented His Holiness his
organization’s service to the Armenian people served under the
patronage of the Greek Orthodox Church, especially in the sphere of
health care. The Catholicos of All Armenians, in his turn, addressed
an invitation to visit Armenia to Archbishop Cristodilos,
recollecting his meeting with the Archbishop in Rome.
Warm relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Greek
Orthodox Church as well as possible ways of development of the
present cooperation were spoken about at the meeting.

Thursday, September 29, 2005
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MASTERS OF THE BLAME GAME
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What I am about to say I have probably said before. If you value your time, no need to read any further.
*
We blame the massacres on Turks; we blame the Stalinist purges on the Kremlin, emigration from the Homeland on the Earthquake, the Earthquake on God, and the high rate of assimilation in the Diaspora on conditions beyond our control. Which raises the question: Who is minding the store? What has been the role of our leadership in all this? If they have been of no use to us in the past, of what possible use can they be in the future?
*
More questions:
Do we have an independent judiciary?
Do we have a Supreme Court?
Does anyone know the name of the Chief Justice?
If we had an independent judiciary, how many members of the Executive Branch would be impeached, found guilty, and fried?
That’s something worth thinking about.
*
If I have said this before, I apologize.
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Friday, September 30, 2005
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Whenever a reader attacks my anti-establishment views, thus rising to the defense of the establishment (as if the establishment did not have an entire propaganda apparatus with which to defend itself and to hoodwink, bamboozle, and flimflam the public), I remind myself that there is a sucker born every minute. That’s the only way to explain why all leaders, no matter how corrupt, incompetent, and evil, have had their share of supporters. Nazis in Germany and Fascists in Italy exist today as surely as Stalinists do in Russian and in the former states of the USSR, including our own homeland and diaspora. I have met some of them myself. They may no longer identify themselves as Stalinists as openly as in the good old days, but neither do they try very hard to hide their true colors, especially when it comes to such subjects as the United States, McCarthy, the CIA, and our own ARF.
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Saturday, October 01, 2005
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MEMO TO A FRIEND
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You tell me I should travel, deliver lectures, visit community centers, press the flesh. To what end? Writers have at no time played anything but a less than marginal role in our collective existence. And now that they have been effectively exterminated or silenced, does anyone miss them? Have you heard anyone lament the fact that after the generation of Shahnour and Zarian we have only minor scribblers, propagandists, hirelings, brown-nosers, and phony pundits who blabber endlessly about Turks. Remember Puzant Granian’s words: “So many national benefactors, but not a single national poet!” And allow me to quote Zohrab: “Once in a while I come across certain characters, among them so-called friends and acquaintances, who tug at my sleeve, take me aside and whisper: ‘Why don’t you concentrate on your own affairs, man? This writing business doesn’t fill the stomach’.” There you have a typical Armenian speaking. Can you imagine anyone saying to an Oriental carpet dealer: “Why bother selling rugs, man? There are more important things in life.”
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