Mehr News Agency, Iran
Sept 30 2005
Iran to expand trade with Algeria, Sri Lanka, Armenia
TEHRAN, Sept. 30 (MNA) – Iran is to expand its trade ties with
Algeria, Sri Lanka and Armenia in a move to promote joint investment
in various economic sectors, the Economic Affairs and Finance
Minister Danesh-Jafari emphasized in three separate meetings held
last week with his counterparts from the said countries.
Algeria and Iran are members of the same group in the World Bank (WB)
and IMF. In 2004, Algeria headed the group in WB while Iran kept the
same group position at the IMF. So it is of paramount importance to
develop further the role of effective investment in both countries,
said Jafari.

Iran may benefit a lot from Sri Lanka’s know-how in tea industry by
applying the proven techniques in order to promote its tea
production. Encouraging Sri Lanka to invest in this sector was
another matter that was jointly discussed, the minister stated.
Jafari’s counterpart also expressed his appreciation for the credit
facilities given to his country by Iran to purchase oil in return.

The finance minister also kept a meeting with his Armenian
counterpart Karen Chshmaritian in the office branch of Iran at the WB
headquarters in another occasion and asked for a joint economic
session in the near future and solving the minor problems standing on
the way of investments by the Iranian companies in Armenia. He
emphasized on mutual assistance for further development in various
economic fields, particularly in transportation sector at the
conclusion of their talk.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
Oct 1 2005
Turkey is still far from ready to have a seat at the EU negotiating
table
By Hratch Varjabedian
Commentary by
Saturday, October 01, 2005
The European Union will start membership negotiations with Turkey on
October 3, more than 15 years after Turkey’s application to become a
full member of the European Economic Community in 1987.
Turkey’s rapprochement with Europe started long before, however, when
the Ottoman Empire reached the gates of Vienna in 1697 only to suffer
a major defeat and be forced to sign the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699
which put an end to its westward expansion. Turkey has been known as
the “sick man” of Europe ever since, but its efforts to integrate in
Europe started gaining momentum again in the 1950s.
EU leaders decided during their December 2004 summit that Turkey was
ready to sit at the negotiating table for full membership. However,
many prominent European politicians, such as former French president
Valery Giscard d’ Estaing, staunchly oppose Turkey’s membership of
the EU.
The vast majority of European citizens in countries such as France
and Austria also oppose Turkish membership and express concern at the
dire consequences of such an event.
A look at the current situation of Turkey on the political, economic
and social levels explains these concerns. Territorial disputes with
neighboring countries, rule by the military, a record of repression
of minorities and human rights violations, economic underdevelopment
and low indicators of human development render Turkey unable to match
up to EU member countries and unsuitable for membership.
Politically, Turkey continues to be an invader of Cyprus’ territory,
a neighboring country and a member of the EU. Despite pressures from
EU leaders to the contrary, Turkey still refuses to officially
recognize the Republic of Cyprus and instead is the only country to
have recognized the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Democracy and the rule of law are common victims in Turkey, where
despite pretenses of a secular democracy, occasional outbreaks of
violence and gross violations of human rights attract the attention
of the world media, reminding the world of Turkey’s true character.
Turkey’s repression of its Kurdish population and other minorities in
the country continues despite some reforms. Freedom of expression is
often curbed; recognition of the Armenian Genocide and statements in
favor of Turkey’s withdrawal from Cyprus are considered punishable
crimes under the newly reformed Turkish Penal Code.

Despite increased international pressures and recognition by the
world community of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, Ankara continues to
practice an official policy of denial. Countries recognizing or
planning to recognize the Armenian Genocide are threatened, an
official blockade is still applied against Armenia and lands
rightfully belonging to Armenians, namely Western Armenia, are still
occupied in Eastern Turkey. In an attempt to conceal the Armenian
identity of these lands and erase traces of Armenian existence on
them, Turkey regularly destroys centuries-old Armenian monuments.
Economically, Turkey suffers from high unemployment rates, large
government debt and impoverishment, especially in the central parts
of Anatolia. Life in these regions is still primitive and poor in
comparison to most European cities.
In the case of full membership, the EU would have to make large
investments to put Turkey’s economy on a par with that of other
member countries. Unemployed Turkish citizens would spill in their
millions across the border to Europe.
Turkish values, beliefs and lifestyles fundamentally differ from
those of Europe; the two parties have gone through a completely
different course of development over the centuries. Respect for human
rights, freedom of thought and expression and the value of an
individual human being are the values on which the EU is based. In
Turkey, these are more often victims than values.
Turkey is still far from ready to have a seat at the negotiating
table for EU membership. Now that the negotiations are set to start
however, EU leaders should demand real and tangible changes from
Turkey. The future will show just how much Turkey is prepared to do
for EU membership.

Hratch Varjabedian is an Armenian journalist in Lebanon. He wrote
this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
Oct 1 2005
Gloomy and frustrated, Turkey gears up for EU showdown
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Saturday, October 01, 2005
ANKARA: Turkey urged the European Union to show “honesty” on its
troubled membership bid, as anger and frustration simmered over what
Turks see as European backpedaling on pledges to admit the country
into the bloc. Britain meanwhile stressed the “enormous strategic”
stakes of admitting Turkey to the European Union.
With just three days left before the start of membership talks, EU
countries are still wrangling over accession terms for Turkey,
leaving Ankara on the edge and its decades-old dream of integrating
Europe shrouded in uncertainty.
“If we fail to see the honesty we expect, Turkey’s response will
undoubtedly be very different from what has been said so far,” Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in the northern city of Corum, the
Anatolia news agency reported.
The EU will hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers tomorrow
to seek a compromise on a negotiating.
The deadlock is blamed on Austria’s insistence to offer Turkey
“privileged partnership” as an alternative to full membership, an
option Ankara flatly rejects.
“Some people in the EU have fallen prey to fanaticism, unable to free
themselves from prejudice,” Erdogan said.
Britain warned that the stakes are high if Turkey is left out in the
cold, because it could serve as a democratic “beacon” for the
troubled Middle East across its borders.
“Turkey is of enormous strategic importance to the EU,” Britain’s
Europe Minister Douglas Alexander told BBC radio.
“Successfully integrating Turkey in the EU we believe would help us
tackle most of the many difficult problems that we face in the modern
world,” he added.
Sweden, Denmark and Finland joined Britain in rejecting a delay in
entry talks.
Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller said the European Commission
had clearly stated that “we are launching these negotiations with the
aim of including (Turkey).”

“If this is not possible (by the end of the process), then we should
try to find a different solution (but) it is too early now to
determine what this other solutions should be,” he said.
For her part, Austria’s Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik argued that
Vienna’s concerns are shared “all over Europe.”
Many Europeans are concerned about the EU’s ability to absorb Turkey.
“What we propose is an option in case membership does not work out,”
Plassnik told the Associated Press.
Full membership for Turkey is possible “one day – if Turkey fulfills
the requirements and if the European Union is also in a position to
absorb Turkey,” she said. “However, we should now listen to the
concerns voiced by so many people across Europe.”
Meanwhile, the head of the Armenian Church in Turkey sent a letter to
EU foreign ministers warning that a delay in entry talks could
undermine efforts to bring together the Muslim East and the Christian
West.
Minorities in Turkey have strongly supported the country’s EU bid in
the hopes of greater democratic reforms and freedoms.
The leader of the largest non-Muslim group in Turkey, Patriarch
Mesrob, wrote: “Turkey has expended great efforts to implement the
union criteria and has in a positive sense been steered toward real
change on the democratic road.
“Pressures in recent days from various circles to postpone Turkey’s
membership process cause us concern,” he added.
“Such undesired developments will be a blow not only to Turkey and
Europe but to reconciliation between East and West,” he wrote. –
Agencies
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
VOTERS’ LISTS MUST BE PUT IN ORDER IN ARMENIA: ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN
YEREVAN, September 28. /ARKA/. Voters’ lists must be put in order in
Armenia, Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan told
reporters. According to him, local elections showed the voters’ lists
to be in a poor state. “Inaccuracie4s in voters’ lists may be an
extra argument for various comments on the election results,”
Baghdasaryan said. He pointed out the importance of specifying
voters’ lists. Baghdasaryan stated his intention to get in touch with
relevant bodies and draw their attention to putting voters’ lists in
order in conformity with law. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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