RA FM MET CIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 06:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
with Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, Executive Secretary
Vladimir Rushaylo, RA MFA press center reported. The interlocutors
highly assessed the outcomes of the Kazan CIS Summit and the commitment
of the states to the CIS reformation. Vladimir Rushaylo presented
the current situation within the CIS and also touched upon the issues
referring to the budget and reformation system. Noting the importance
of the humanitarian cooperation the parties discussed the programs
to be implemented in the arena.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION – “ESSENTIAL TERM” FOR TURKEY’S ACCESSION TO EU
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 08:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the European Parliament ratified a resolution
calling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Ankara as an
“essential term” for Turkey’s accession to the EU. The resolution
gives ok to opening the negotiations on Turkey’s EU bid on October
3. The document was adopted with 356 votes “for”, 181 “against” and
125 abstentions. To note, earlier, in December 2004 the EuroParliament
adopted an amendment to the resolution “On Turkey’s Progress for EU
Membership” calling Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

GUAM ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 06:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A resolution on unsettled conflicts on the
CIS territory including the Karabakh conflict was adopted during
the sitting of the GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova)
Parliamentary Assembly held in Kishinev. Azeri parliamentarian
Jahangir Guseynov gave a report on the current stage of the Karabakh
settlement. He called to pay special attention to the problem. The
Azeri MP also said he succeeded in including the issue of dislocation
of the Russian military bases from Georgia to Armenia into the GUAM
PA agenda. “The dislocation may jeopardize peace and stability in the
region. I called upon the GUAM to undertake measures in this direction
and my proposal was accepted”, he said. To note, the next sitting of
the GUAM PA will be held in Kyev in early 2006, RFE/RL reported.

NKR INDEPENDENCE 14-TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED IN U.S.
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 04:50
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A solemn event entitled “Progress for Freedom,
Democracy and Economic Development” is being held in the U.S. Congress
today on the occasion of the 14-th anniversary of independence of
Nagorno Karabakh. Vice Speaker of the UK House of Lords, Baroness
Caroline Cox is the honorary guest of the event. Senators Frank
Pallone, Joe Knollenberg, Adam Schiff, George Radanovish are expected
to address the audience. To note, the measure was initiated by the
Armenian Embassy in the U.S., the Armenian National Committee of
America, representations of Nagorno Karabakh and Co-Chairs of the
Congressional Armenian Caucus Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg. “It’s
not accidental that the event is held in the U.S. Congress. Still in
1989, when neither Armenia for Karabakh was independent, the Congress
came to support the liberation struggle of NK and RA. Presently the
U.S. is the only state rendering assistance to Nagorno Karabakh. It
proves that the existence of Nagorno Karabakh and its aspiration
for international recognition are admitted by the Congressmen,”
Hayk Gugarats, member of the Armenian Embassy in the U.S. said,
RFE/RL reported.

‘RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF ARMENIA’S SECURITY’
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005
Meeting
At a joint press conference with his Finn counterpart Tarja Halonen
Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated that the Russian military
base of Armenia is one of the elements of the country’s security. “We
are situated in a complicated region where separate states are working
to improve their relations. We are interested to see this base here
and view it a security element for Armenia”, Robert Kocharian said.
President Kocharian underscored that the presence of the Russian
base is within Armenia’s interests and it was established in line
with a bilateral agreement without pressure from Moscow. Yerevan is
not negotiating with Russia over expanding or enforcing the base.
Answering a question about the Nagorno Karabakh regulation RA President
said that the negotiation process is in full swing today and there
is certain hope for a final agreement. “There were moments when the
sides were close to a possible regulation but then obstacles came in”,
Kocharian said. President of Finland said on her part that in case of
a final agreement, the international community can send peacekeepers
to Karabakh.

A. MIGRANIAN OFFERS TO SETTLE ISSUE OF RF MILITARY BASES WITHDRAWAL IN TRILATERAL FORMAT
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 08:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The withdrawal of the Russian military bases
from Samtskhe-Javekhetia is bound not only with the Georgia-Russia
relations but with the Armenian community of the region as well,”
Russian political scientist Andranik Migranian stated during today’s
press conference dedicated to the opening of the Days of World
Armenian Congress and Union of Armenians of Russia in Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh. In his opinion, Armenia, Georgia and Russia should
hold a trilateral meeting to settle the issue to avoid conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WAC-RA GOVERNMENT COOPERATION MECHANISMS NOT ELABORATED YET
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 08:06
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Days of the World Armenian Congress and the
Union of Armenians of Russia are starting in Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh today.
Special mechanisms of collaboration between the WAC and the Armenian
government have not been worked out yet and the organization develops
activities in scientific, educational and economic fields only,
Chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara Abrahamian stated
during today’s press conference dedicated to the 5-th anniversary
of the organization. He also informed he is meeting with Robert
Kocharian tomorrow and is going to offer the RA President to elaborate
a mechanism of the kind. He also noted that the organization is not
engaged in politics, since its members are citizens of Russia. However
he informed that they will assist in conducting the parliamentary
and presidential election in Armenia. When commenting on the demand
of the Armenian community of Georgia to grant an autonomy status to
Samtskhe-Javakhetia Ara Abrahamian said that Georgia is an independent
state but if it is incapable to secure employment for its citizens,
the residents of Samtskhe-Javakhetia have the right to ask for
autonomy. “We should show concern for the fate of our compatriots”,
he stated.

INTERPOL SEC. GEN. HIGHLY ASSESSED PROFESSIONALISM OF ARMENIAN POLICE
Pan Armenian News
28.09.2005 07:10
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
Interpol Secretary General Ronald Kenneth Noble, RA President’s press
service reported. Noting Interpol’s important role in combating
international crime Robert Kocharian said that Mr. Noble’s visit
to contribute to the cooperation between Armenia and Interpol. The
Armenian leader named technical retrofitting and training of skilled
personnel as the main task of the police system. In his turn Ronald
Noble highly assessed the professionalism of the Armenian police
adding that the new system of passport control introduced by Interpol
in Armenia will considerably simplify the problem.

Gunman shoots plaintiff in Moscow court
RTR Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian
28 Sep 05
About two hours ago a man opened indiscriminate fire from a
Kalashnikov assault rifle inside the court building on Domodedovo
Ulitsa [Street].
At that time the court was hearing a civil case. Interfax news agency
reports that the defendant in this case shot the plaintiff and his
lawyer several times. Both were seriously wounded.
The criminal, who is from Armenia, was immediately detained. The
court building has now been cordoned off and investigators are
working at the scene.

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
September 27, 2005
France’ Pernod Ricard denies plans to sell Yerevan Brandy Co
MOSCOW, Sep 27 (Prime-Tass) — France’s wine producer Pernod Ricard
denied any plans to sell the Yerevan Brandy Company, or YBC, Pernod
Ricard’s management said Tuesday, ITAR-TASS reported.
Pernod Ricard bought YBC from the Armenian government for U.S. USD 28
million in 1999.
Earlier an Armenian lawmaker has claimed Pernod Ricard wanted to sell
the Armenian company.
Aram Sarkisyan, the leader of the Armenian opposition Democratic
Party said recently that Pernod Ricard was considering the sale of
YBC for USD 770 million.
The lawmaker said he planned to initiate a probe into the YBC’s
acquisition by the French wine producer, which he said was either
“incomplete” or went against law.
Sarkisyan also went on to claim that the YBC would not be able to
produce its branded cognacs soon.
YBC’s management denied Sarkisyan’s claims that the company had used
half of its alcohol reserves without replenishing them.
YBC is the leading cognacs producer in Armenia, and is the producer
of ArArAt cognac, which was a widely regarded brand in the Soviet
Union and still is throughout the region.
YBC’s sales quadrupled since the company’s acquisition, the company
said without providing exact figures.
The ArArAt cognac brand is one of the top Pernod Ricard brands, and
the French producer looks to it to provide further development in
such countries as Russia, YBC said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress