JAZZY START TO PRESIDENT HALONEN’S VISIT TO ARMENIA
Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
Sept 27 2005
Finnish President Tarja Halonen began her week-long visit to the
Caucasus region on Monday in Yerevan, Armenia, where the arrival
day’s informal programme included a visit to an art museum and an
evening in a jazz club.
The official part of the first-ever visit of a Finnish head of
state to Armenia only begins today, Tuesday. Even so, Halonen and
her husband Pentti Arajarvi already spent Monday evening with the
Armenian President Robert Kotsarian, first dining and then visiting
a local jazz cafe.
The choice venue for the dinner with the Finnish President was a
museum dedicated to works of film director and artist Sergei Parajanov
(1924-1990). The focal point of the view from the museum’s windows
was the 5,165-metre peak of Mount Ararat on the Turkish side.
“Magnificent views”, Halonen remarked when entering the museum.
President Halonen, an amateur artist herself, praised Parajanov’s
collage art with phrases like “amazingly modern” and “genuinely
skilful”. In his works, Parajanov used various materials from pieces
of bottles to the wings of birds. One of the museum’s glass cabinets
was filled with hats.
“I have one of those”, Halonen said when she spotted an old Singer
sewing machine. “Maybe I should send it to a museum.”
The topics of today’s official discussions in Yerevan will include
the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, as well as Armenia’s relationships with
the EU, Turkey, and Russia.
Halonen’s host, President Kotsarian, was born in the Nagorno-Karabakh
region, the possession of which is a subject of an ongoing dispute
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Halonen will be visiting Azerbaijan
later in the week, along with Georgia.

US-ARMENIA TASK FORCE ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION MET IN WASHINGTON
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 05:49
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 26 the US-Armenia Intergovernmental Task
Force on Economic Cooperation met in Washington, reported the Armenian
MFA Press Service. Armenian Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan
Khachatryan, President’s Advisor on Economic Affairs V. Nersisyants,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan,
Agriculture Minister Davit Lokyan, Deputy FM A. Kirakosyan,
Armenian Ambassador to the US Tatul Margaryan, Deputy Minister of
Finance and Economy Tigran Khachatryan represented Armenia at the
meeting. The parties discussed a wide range of economic cooperation
issues, including democratic reforms that promote economic growth in
Armenia, economic policy and long-term development of the country,
current state of Armenia’s programs within the framework of the
Millennium Challenges Account, matters of development of energy and
infrastructures in Armenia, improvement of the judicial system of
Armenia and US assistance in that field, as well as in agriculture and
other questions. The same day a reception was organized for meeting
participants at the Armenian Embassy in the US. US top officials,
representatives of US Departments of Agriculture, Finance and Trade,
as well as UNDP and Millenium Challenges Corporation were present at
the event.

AZERBAIJAN NOT TO TAKE PART IN NATO PA ROSE-ROTH SEMINARS IN YEREVAN
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 03:37
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan
will not participate in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Rose-Roth
seminar of the scheduled in Yerevan October 6-9, Press Secretary of the
Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan Ramiz Melikov stated. “We do not have
information about the NATO meeting in Armenia yet. If the meeting is
held nevertheless, representatives of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan
will not participate in it,” R. Melikov said. Meanwhile, Chairman of
the Armenian Standing Parliamentary Commission on Defense, National
Security and Internal Affairs Mher Shahgeldyan stated last week that
60 MPs from 22 countries had agreed to participate in the Rose-Roth
seminar. Nagorno Karabakh settlement, regional cooperation, army and
police reforms are matters to be discussed in the course of the event.
Armenia is ready to receive Azeri representatives at that ensuring
their security, M. Shahgeldyan also remarked, reported RFE/RL.

PREPARING FOR THE VISIT
A1+
| 14:22:29 | 27-09-2005 | Official |
Today Secretary of the National Security Council at the RA President,
Defense Minister Serge Sarsyan received Belarusian Ambassador to
Armenia Marina Dolgopolova.
During the meeting the parties discussed the details of the
forthcoming visit of Belarusian State Secretary of Security Council
Gennady Neviglas to Armenia as well as a number of issues of mutual
interest. They also touched upon the events scheduled for September
30 within the framework of the Days of Belarus in Armenia.

FINLAND NOTICED ARMENIA
A1+
| 13:40:43 | 27-09-2005 | Official |
By invitation of Robert Kocharian Finnish President Tarja Halonen
arrived in Armenia on a two-day visit.
During today’s meeting the Presidents discussed the Armenian-Finnish
relations, EU-Armenia and exchanged views on number of regional and
international problems.
Mrs. Halonen welcomed the inclusion of Armenia in the New Neighborhood
program and noted that Finland attaches importance to the relations
with the Transcaucasian states, especially taking into account the fact
that next year Finland is assuming presidency in the European Union.
Later the Armenian-Finnish talks were continued in an expanded
composition. The parties discussed the priority lines of economic
cooperation and the possibilities of their activation.

THE PROPOSALS OF THE ARMENIAN SIDE ACCEPTED
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Sept 27 2005
Gagik Minasyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic Affairs, the head of the
Armenian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization
of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) on September 21-22
participated in the works of PABSEC. At the 25th meeting of Economic,
Commercial, Technological and Environmental Affairs Committee report
of 18 pages on the development of the transport substructures in
the region was presented. The head of the delegation detailed the
journalists on the report provisions and the proposals of the Armenian
side at September 26 press conference.
The Armenian delegation succeeded to pass four proposals in the
committee. The Armenian MPs expressed concern in connection with
opening the railway avoiding Armenia, which will cause unfavourable
conditions for our country and the region. The Armenian side
brought arguments in favour of the effectiveness of re-operating
the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi-Baku railway, proposing to make it TRASECA
corridor. He pointed out, in particular, that in the event of
re-operating this railway, the problems of economic integration
will be solved in four countries of the region, ensuring sustainable
development. And what is the most important, a big investment won’t
be required and millions of tons of freight will be provided.
According to report publication, Rules of Procedure of Assembly,
assignments directed to the authorities of BSEC member countries.
After this meeting the adoption of the drafts related to transport
substructures was proposed to support to the national parliaments
and governments, by which the interests of the region and the very
country will be taken into account.
In the future the report should be approved on November 21-22 in
Tirana, where Armenia will chair.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN: THERE ARE CERTAIN HOPES FOR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH ISSUE
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 04:25
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Since 1994 we hold continuous talks with Azerbaijan
within the framework of the OSCE MG. There were moments, when we were
close to solution of the problem, but something went wrong and it had a
negative impact on the negotiation process,” Armenian President Robert
Kocharian stated in the course of a joint news conference with Finnish
leader Tarja Halonen. He noted activation of the negotiation process
and added there are certain hopes for attaining peaceful settlement of
the issue. In her turn the Finnish President said if the parties come
to agreement, there is an opportunity of deployment of international
peacekeeping forces in the Karabakh conflict region. Tarja Halonen
also noted the amount of work the international community has to carry
out for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Speaking
of the Armenian-Finnish relations, R.
Kocharian said he hoped for the visit of the Finnish leader encourage
further development of the bilateral cooperation. “Our relations
may develop within the EU context and I hope Finland will promote
EU-Armenia cooperation, especially taking into account that Finland
will assume EU presidency next year,” he said.

KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA INTERESTED IN PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN BASE
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 04:34
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The presence of the 102-nd Russian military base in
Armenia is country’s security component, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian stated at a joint news conference with Finnish President
Tarja Halonen. The Armenian leader flatly denied the opinion that
Russian military presence is imposed upon Armenia. “No one obliges
anyone, we are interested in the presence of the Russian military
base ourselves, as we have a complicated region and relations between
regional states are complex,” R. Kocharian remarked. He also added
that the issue of expansion of the Russian military presence in
Armenia is not discussed at the moment.

ARMENIA BECAME FULL MEMBER OF ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 03:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to a release of the Asian Development
Bank Monday, Armenia has become Bank 64th member. September 20, when
the necessary procedure was approved, Armenia became a full member
of the Asian Development Bank, situated in the Philippine capital
of Manila. Armenia has got 10 thousand 557 shares of the Bank. The
Bank capital totals $51.6 billion. Founded in 1966, last year the
Asian Development Bank provided various countries with credit of $5.3
billion, as well as technical assistance of $196.6 million.

BELARUS SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
27.09.2005 03:21
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the National Security Council at
the President of Armenia, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with
Belarus Ambassador to Armenia Marina Dolgopolova. MOD Spokesperson,
colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. In the course of
the meeting the parties discussed matters referring to the visit
of Belarus Security Council Secretary Gennady Nevygals to Armenia,
as well as issues of mutual interest.
The interlocutors also discussed the program of events planned within
the Belarus Culture Days in Armenia scheduled September 30.