Pan Armenian News
KOCHARIAN NOTED IMPORTANCE OF ARMENIA-GEORGIA ENERGY COOPERATION
30.09.2005 05:20
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who arrived in Armenia for the
participation in the 4-th sitting of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental
commission on economic cooperation, RA President’s press center reported.
Presenting the outcomes of the Yerevan sitting to Robert Kocharian the
Georgian Premier stated that mutually beneficial decisions were taken on
most of the issues of the agenda. During the meeting Robert Kocharian and
Zurab Nogaideli discussed cooperation in energy, transport and customs
fields paying special attention to export of Armenian energy to Georgia.
Taking into account the developing tendency of the Armenian-Georgian tourism
cooperation, the parties stressed the necessity of creating new transport
facilities including Yerevan-Tbilisi and Yerevan-Batumi flights as well as
Yerevan-Batumi railway communication. The interlocutors also touched upon
the possibilities of preventing contraband circulation of goods. In their
words, though the amount of contraband has been considerably reduced, the
problem still remains unsettled. Besides, they discussed social and economic
cooperation in the Armenian-inhabited Samtskhe Javakheti region of Georgia.
According to Nogaideli, the Georgian government intends to launch a
five-year project targeted at highway repair with the funds allocated within
Millennium Challenge Account framework. Moreover, the Georgian government is
going to work out programs for the Armenian-speaking population of the
region and take active part in the construction of schools in Javakhetia.

Pan Armenian News
RA MOD SIGNED MEMORANDUM ON UTILIZATION OF PROPELLANT
30.09.2005 04:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the Security Council at the RA
President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan and Head of the OSCE Yerevan
Office, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin signed a memorandum on utilization of
rocket propellant, RA MOD Spokesman, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. The propellant will be processed in an
ecologically clean fertilizer.

Pan Armenian News
KOCHARIAN: OUR AIM TO MAKE CONSTITUTION LIVE REALITY
30.09.2005 03:29
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During recent 10 years Yerevan has become the place for
conduction of international forums on constitutional justice, says the
welcoming address of Armenian President Robert Kocharian to the participants
of the international conference dedicated to the 10-th anniversary of the
adoption of the RA Constitution and formation of the Constitutional Court
that started in Yerevan today. `This conference is a jubilee one. With its
composition and urgency of the issues to be discussed it will make
considerable contribution to the theoretical and practical settlement of the
problems available. Armenia is getting ready for serious constitutional
reforms. The experience of many countries testifies of the danger of
constitutional standstill. You, the professionals, are well aware that the
constitutional decisions should concord with the public development and
should by all means promote them. The operating Constitution played a
significant role in the development of democracy and its inevitability. It
helped Armenia to become a member of the Council of Europe. However,
practical implementation of the Constitution has revealed serious conceptual
faults that impeded development of democracy in the republic. Today it is
essential to create constitutional guarantees for the formation of a legal
state. Efficient collaboration with international structures including the
Venice Commission and long-term discussions are coming to an end. In the
near future a draft keeping with the modern developments will be submitted
to the nation. This draft guarantees appreciable progress for the protection
of human rights and division of power. The level of independence of the
juridical power and local self-government has been considerable raised. Our
purpose is to make the Constitution a live reality. It should become popular
for each citizen of our republic. Right and law should become the fundament
for public life built upon liberal values. This is the dictate of our times.
I believe that the discussions held during the conference will accord with
the reality and will help the society to comprehend the significance of
constitutional developments. I would like to thank all of you for visiting
Armenia and participating in this jubilee event. I do not doubt in
efficiency of the conference and wish our guests pleasant stay in the
Republic of Armenia,’ the message says.

A1+
| 15:00:42 | 29-09-2005 | Official |
RA PRESIDENT MET HEIKKI TALVITIE
Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian received EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Haikii Talvitie to discuss cooperation within the New
Neighbors EU Program.
The parties also touched upon the Karabakh conflict settlement, some
regional problems and development programs. The process of constitutional
reform was as well considered.
Robert Kocharian and Mr. Talvitie stressed the importance of the
constitutional amendments rating them as a new possibility for developing
and strengthening democracy in Armenia.

A1+
| 12:11:02 | 30-09-2005 | Politics |
TURKEY RENOUNCES EU
Turkey renounced the negotiations about the membership to EU which were to
take place on October 3, the Foreign Minister of Turkey Abdullah Gyul
announced. He said that the EU must keep Turkey aware of its plans. {BR}
In any case, according to the Foreign Minister, the sides continue to work
in order to eliminate the disagreements.
The Turkish Prime Minister Rejeb Tayip Erdoghan in his turn announced that
Turkey will participate in the negotiations but will not accept the EU
conditions. Let us remind you that the EU conditions put forward against
Turkey referred to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and Greek
Cyprus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 19:11:19 | 29-09-2005 | Politics |
RA FM SHOWS RESTRAINT
Today Armenian Foreign Minister was answering journalists’ questions
referring to the Karabakh settlement negotiations without enthusiasm.
The RA FM restricted himself to short answers like `yes’, `no’, `I don’t
think so’, `the agreements underwent no changes’. The last remark referred
to Azerbaijan’s permanent attempts to submit the issue to the UN General
Assembly.
As for the outcomes of the Vienna meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs,
Vartan Oskanian said that `no official information has been furnished yet.’
To note, once the Armenian FM told journalists that he never tells lies but
sometimes does not tell the truth.

A1+
| 18:52:07 | 29-09-2005 | Politics |
FOURTH U.S.-ARMENIA DEFENSE CONSULTATIONS HELD IN YEREVAN
On September 28-29, the fourth annual U.S.-Armenia Bilateral Defense
Consultations were held in Yerevan, Armenia. As part of the consultations, a
U.S. delegation led by Mr. Scott Schless, Principal Director for Eurasia in
the Office of the Secretary of Defense, met with Armenian Ministry of
Defense officials. The Armenian delegation was led by General-Major Artur
Aghabekyan, Deputy Minister of Defense. Both Defense Minister of the
Republic of Armenia Serge Sargsyan and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans
also attended the consultations.
The purpose of these consultations was to review the previous year’s
bilateral defense cooperation and to agree to a plan for 2006 bilateral
defense cooperation. A broad range of themes was discussed by the parties,
including national security, defense reform, peacekeeping operations,
military training, military education, and the military’s role in disaster
response. During the consultations, Ambassador Evans noted the broadening
and deepening of the U.S.-Armenia defense relationship.
The U.S.-Armenia Bilateral Defense consultations, which were held in the
U.S. state of Kansas last year, alternate between being held at a U.S.
location one year, and an Armenian location the next.

A1+
| 17:31:18 | 29-09-2005 | Social |
BELGIUM TO SEE STRUGGLE OF RESIDENTS OF BUZAND STREET
Foreigners show great interest in the fate of the residents of Buzand
street. Presently a film about the street, its residents and their struggle
is being shot.
Today members of one of Belgian TV Companies accompanied the protesters to
the government building.
It should be noted that the problem was never enlightened by the Armenian
TV. Today’s event was not an exception.

A1+
| 16:45:30 | 29-09-2005 | Politics |
ARMENIA SUFFERS BECAUSE OF AZERBAIJAN
The European Union will not launch the New Neighbors Program with Armenia
because of Azerbaijan. EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Haeikki Talviie without going into detail informed that Azerbaijan has
problems with one of the EU member-states and the program will not be
launched until these problems are settled.
Mr. Talvitie hopes that during 1.5 month the problem with Azerbaiajan will
be resolved. `The EU intends to pursue balanced policy in the region’, he
said adding that the regional cooperation proceeds not only from the EU
interests but also from the interests of the Transaucasian states. According
to the EU Special Representative, today the EU member-state pay much
attention to the region.
During today’s joint press conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Heikki
Talvitie touched upon the constitutional reform. In his words, the
international community does not persuade Armenia to adopt the amendments,
but it would be advisable to adopt them.
Vartan Oskanian and Heikki Talvitie positively assessed the demand on the
Armenian Genocide recognition by Turkey advanced by the European Parliament
yesterday. The Armenian FM voiced hope that the EU-Turkey negotiations will
be useful for Armenia and the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border will be
also discussed.
Upon completion of the press conference Mr. Talvitie noted that Turkey’s
accession to the EU depends on the negotiation process, which should `start
and finish’, adding jokingly that Armenia may join the EU even earlier than
Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIANS IN EUROPE URGE TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT EU-TURKEY TALKS
29.09.2005 08:38
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of Europe welcomed the
Europarliament resolution urging Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide
as a compulsory precondition for accession to the EU. «The decision, passed
before the beginning of the talks on Turkey’s accession to the EU, should be
a guiding line for the Council of Europe and the European Commission,» says
a statement of Hilda Tchoboian, the President of the Armenian National
Committee of Europe (CDCA Europe). «We urge the FMs of EU member states to
address the Genocide issue during the Luxembourg meeting October 3,» the
statement runs. Out of the EU states only France has demanded for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide to be a precondition of Turkey’s
accession to the EU. Last December President Jacques Chirac said he hoped
Turkey would work in that direction. It should be reminded that the
resolution «gave OK» to the launching of the talks on Turkey’s accession to
the EU October 3. The resolution simultaneously urges official Ankara to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. It should also be noted that the resolution
was passed with 356 MPs for, 181 against, and 125 abstained. Meanwhile
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated, «The Europarliament Resolution is
not obligatory.» «No matter what a resolution they have passed, we will not
surrender our position,» the Turkish PM said.
From: Baghdasarian