ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
AN ARMENIAN DELEGATION AT THE HEAD OF THE RA MINISTER OF FINANCE AND
ECONOMY TO LEAVE FOR WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 24-27
YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. On September 24-27 an Armenian
delegation at the head of the RA Minister of Finance and Economy
Vardan Khachatryan will leave for Washington to participate in the
11th session of the Armenian-American Commission on Economic
Cooperation. The delegation will participate in the annual session of
the WB and IMF, meet the administration of the Millennium Challenges
Corporation, according to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy
Press Service Department. According to the press release, on Sep
24-25 the delegation will take part in the annual forum of the WB and
IMF, hold meetings with top representatives of these organizations.
In the course of the meeting it’s expected to discuss the programs
implemented in the financial sphere as well as the prospects of
further development. The 11th meeting of the work group of the
Armenia-American Commission on Economic Cooperation will take place
on Sep 26. It’s expected to discuss various issues of bilateral
economic cooperation as well as prospects to ensure higher indicators
of economic growth, investments, improve the business atmosphere,
develop power engineering and infrastructures, and issue related to
tax and customs. On Sep 27 a meeting of the Armenian delegation with
the representatives of Millennium Challenges Corporation will take
place, in the course of which the application submitted by the RA
Government to the Corporation will be discussed.
The official delegation includes the RA President’s Councilor in
economic affairs Vahram Nersisyants, Chairman of CBA Tigran Sargsyan,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan,
Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, the RA Ambassador to the USA
Tatul Margaryan. A.H. –0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
ARMENIA SUGGESTS INCREASING THE EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNDP
YEREVAN OFFICE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Armenia suggests increasing the extent
of involvement of the UNDP Yerevan Office in implementation of trade
and development programs. According to the RA Ministry of Trade and
Economic Development Press Service Department, this was mentioned in
the course of the meeting of the RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmarityan with General Secretary of the UN
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Supach Panitcapak. In
the course of the meeting reforms conducted in UN were discussed. In
particular, programs implemented by UNCTD. The sides touched upon the
perspectives of involvement of state and private sectors in the
programs implemented by UNCTD. Also the possibility of formation of a
separate corresponding staff in UN Yerevan Office for the
implementation of UNCTAD programs and inclusion of it in the frames
of UNDP were discussed.
UNCTAD was established in December 1964 as a main body of the UN
General Assembly in the field of trade. It’s located in Geneva. A.H.
–0–

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
PENSION FUND OF RUSSIA READY TO ESTABLISH ACTIVE COOPERATION WITH
ARMENIAN SIDE
YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Pension Fund of Russia is ready to
establish active cooperation with the Armenian side, Chairman of
Pension Fund of Russia Genadi Batanov said at his meeting with RA
President Robert Kocharyan, RA Presidential Press-Service reports.
The relevant agreement will be signed tomorrow, which will be the
basis for cooperation. During the meeting the sides discussed issues
of reforms in pension system.
Kocharyan welcomed the cooperation initiative, and pointed out that
Russia’s experience can be of benefit to Armenia. A.A. -0–

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 23 2005
WORK OF 60 MLN USD TO BE DONE AT SECOND STAGE OF LINCY FOUNDATION

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Work of 60 mln USD will be done
in Armenia during the second stage of the Lincy Foundation in the
next two years, including the “Road Construction”, “Yerevan Sreets
Repairs” and “School Construction” components, each worth 20 mln USD.
Artashes Tumanian, Head of the RA Presidential Administration and
Chairman of the Lincy Foundation’s Armenian Office Management Board,
told this to reporters after the September 23 board meeting. He said
that the construction work envisaged by the program will be carried
out in accordance with the procedure, particularly after the approval
of the program by the RA National Assembly in October. According to
A. Tumanian, higher quality work will be implemented at the second
stage. In this connection he mentioned that as a whole, the work
carried out during the first stage was successful, but it was not
free from faults, due to the considerable volumes of the construction
work. It was pointed out that all the construction organizations
responsible for these faults have been held accountable.
According to A. Tumanian, the road construction component envisages
major repairs of three roads – 90-km Armavir-Gyumri Road, 50.8-km
Horom-Artik-Alagyaz Road and 36-km Stepanavan-Odzun Road.
The school construction component envisages major repairs of 18
schools, including 13 schools in Yerevan and one school in each of
the following marzes: Aragatsotn, Lori, Kotayk, Gegharkunik and
Shirak. The choice of so many Yerevan schools was conditioned by the
fact that over the past 5 years, 91% of the RA state budget resources
have been allocated to marzes. Considerable sums were allocated for
each school (on average 1.1 mln USD), since the buildings were in
poor comdition. The work to be done at the schools included in the
program will involve the reinforcement of buildings, the installation
of local heating systems and furnishing classrooms and sport
facilities.
The Yerevan streets repairs component envisages constructing a new
road to join Abovian and Papazian Streets, as well as reconstructing
Kasian, Komitas, Terian and some other streets.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 23 2005
JAVAKHK SUPPORTS ARMENIAN CANDIDATE FOR DEPUTY OF PARLIAMENT OF
GEORGIA
AKHALKALAK, SEPTEMBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Council
of the Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian NGOs stated about supporting Robert
Haroutiunian, a candidate for deputy at the deputies’ majoritary
elections of the Parliament of Georgia to be held at the electoral
district of the region of Isani, Tbilisi on October 1, 2005. In the
statement adopted on September 20, the Council expressed a hope that
in the case to be elected, Robert Haroutiunian can greatly support
the implementaion of a political dialogue in Georgia as well.
According to the “A-Info” agency, Binidza Bregadze from the leading
“National Movement” party and Georgi Mosidze from the united
opposition are nominated candidates for deputy at the same electoral
district with Robert Haroutiunian.

Kurdish Info, Germany
Sept 23 2005
Human Rights says Turkey does not want to confront with her past

ISTANBUL (DIHA) – Istanbul Branch of Human Rights Association stated
that the postponement of the Armenian Conference to be held today in
Bogazici University shows how dependent is the jurisdiction. The
association indicated that there is no freedom of speech in Turkey
yet.
The association released a written statement about the decision of
the court postponing the conference entitled ‘The Armenian of Osmanli
in the falling period of the Empire’. The statement declared “This
decision assessed even by the PM Erdogan as ‘against to democracy’
has once more proved the effect of the military on the jurisdiction
which we said for many times before. The existing system does not
desire a discussion environment. It does not want Turkey to confront
with her past.”

Associated Press
Sept 25 2005
Forum examining Armenian massacre is a first for Turkey
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Benjamin Harvey
Associated Press
Istanbul, Turkey- Scholars held the first-ever public discussions in
Turkey on Saturday about the early 20th-century massacre of
Armenians, choosing words carefully, avoiding emotional language and
picking apart history year by year at a gathering that nationalists
denounced as traitorous.
The European Union called the academic conference a test of freedom
of expression in Turkey, which is hoping to begin talks for
membership in the bloc next month.
The participants were all Turkish speakers and included members of
Turkey’s Armenian minority like Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of
Agos, a weekly Armenian newspaper in Istanbul. Some 70,000 Armenians
are living in Istanbul.
The academic conference had been canceled twice, once in May and
again on Thursday when an Istanbul court ordered the conference
closed and demanded to know the academic qualifications of the
speakers. Organizers skirted the court order by moving the
conference.
Several governments around the world have recognized the killings of
as many as 1.5 million Armenians in the late Ottoman Empire as
genocide.
Turkey vehemently denies the charge, admitting that many Armenians
were killed, but saying the death toll is inflated and that Armenians
were killed along with Turks in civil unrest and intercommunal
fighting as the Ot toman Empire collapsed between 1915 and 1923.
Dozens of officers in riot gear kept hundreds of shouting protesters
at bay. Some protesters pelted arriving panelists with eggs and
rotten tomatoes.
Inside, the audience of more than 300 people was restrained, as only
those invited by the organizing committee and preapproved members of
the media were allowed past security.
The issue has been taboo for many years in Turkey, with those who
speak out against the killings risking prosecution by a Turkish
court. But an increasing number of Turkish academics have called for
a review of the killings in a country where many see the Ottoman
Empire as a symbol of Turkish greatness.
The panelists, all Turkish speakers, carefully avoided any emotional
language during the first day of the two-day conference.
“Everyone waits for you to pronounce the genocide word – if you do,
one side applauds and the other won’t listen,” Halil Berktay, program
coordinator of the history department at Sabanci University, said at
the conference Saturday.

Azad-Hye, United Arab Emirates
Sept 24 2005
Armenia – UAE relations a raw model for international cooperation
AZAD-HYE (Dubai, 24 September 2005): The Armenian – UAE relations
witnessed a great stride forward owing to the successful 3 days
official visit of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al
Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of the Emirates
of Sharjah to Armenia, during which he inaugurated the Sharjah
Cultural Week (Yerevan, 19-22 September 2005) in the National Art
Gallery of Armenia.
Activities of the cultural week included an exhibition of modern arts
(paintings of 22 UAE artists courtesy of the Sharjah Museum of Arab
Modern Art); exhibition of antiquities excavated in the area
surrounding Sharjah; exhibition of heritage items displaying way of
life in the desert environment (handcraft items, costumes,
traditional medicine), exhibition of award winning samples of Arab
calligraphy. During the opening ceremony a Sharjah folkloric group of
10 performers greeted the guests and the public. The second day of
the exhibition included theatrical performance by the group of
Sharjah National Theatre.
The program of the UAE cultural and official delegations was very
extensive. Besides the official meetings with the head of the State,
the Prime Minister and several Ministers, the delegates visited many
remarkable places, including the Armenian Natural History Museum, the
National Museum, University of Yerevan, National Academy of Sciences,
Saryan Museum, Yerevan Museum, Children’s Art Museum. Members of the
cultural delegation were invited to a morning program on the Armenian
public TV. It is worth mentioning that the Cultural Week is part of a
bilateral protocol that has been signed during the visit of Armenia’s
Minister of Culture and Youth to Sharjah last December.
Before the arrival of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, the Armenian
Minister of Culture Hovik Hoveyan had the chance to meet with the
General Director of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information
Abdullah Mohammed Al Oueis, who had arrived Yerevan few days earlier,
in order to arrange for the opening ceremony.
Heading the UAE cultural delegation Al Oueis visited the Marz
(Province) of Armavir, some 50 kilometers away from the capital
Yerevan, where the Mayor welcomed the delegation and expressed
gratitude to the Arab people who supported the Armenians during the
difficult period of 1915-1923 (Armenian Genocide) and he said: “The
Armenian – Arab relations have a history going back thousands of
years. There are many common elements in our cultures, in music,
arts, traditions etc. We have achieved in Armavir splendid relations
with the Arab World and we intend to build on our friendship and to
further develop these ties”. Mr. Al Oueis was given a painting
representing Mount Ararat, the symbolic mount of the Armenians.
In the evening of the same day Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi inaugurated the
Sharjah Cultural Week in Armenia. The program is part of Sharjah’s
plan to establish cultural interaction with peoples of the World,
especially with countries that have long lasting relationship with
the Arab World. The aim of these activities is to reflect the image
of Sharjah as a cultural hub and a capital of the Arab culture.
During the opening ceremony of the Sharjah Cultural Week, Sheikh Dr.
Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah congratulated the Armenian people
for the Independence Day. He pronounced that it is highly symbolic
that the conduction of the UAE cultural days coincides with this dear
occasion. He expressed the wish that Armenia overcomes the existing
difficulties and takes the path towards full economic development. He
highly appreciated the initiative of the Armenian Government to
organize the Armenian Cultural Days in Sharjah (December 2004), which
resulted in achieving even closer relations between the two sides and
introduced Armenia to the general public in his country. He stressed
that the Sharjah authorities did not want to miss the opportunity of
arranging these cultural days in Yerevan, although parallel
exhibitions are taking place in Germany and Spain, which needed also
some attention. He promised to organize a larger exhibition in the
future and said that the coming months will witness more extensive
cooperation in cultural and other fields between Sharjah and Armenia.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Armenian Deputy Prime
Minister Hovik Abrahamian, Deputy Foreign Minister Kegam Gharibjanian
(former Ambassador of Armenia to Iran and Qatar), Minister of Culture
and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan (who has attended the Armenian
Cultural Week in December 2004 in Sharjah) and a number of UAE
officials and press representatives.
The highlight of the day was the meeting of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al
Qasimi with President Robert Kocharian. The President decorated the
precious guest with the “Saint Mesrob Mashtots” Order, one of the
highest orders in Armenia, in recognition of his contribution to the
UAE-Armenian relations, in addition to his role in the fields of
education and culture. They discussed ways of promoting bilateral
relations between the two countries.
During the second day of his visit to Armenia, on 20th September
2005, Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi met with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian, who stressed that Sheikh Sultan’s visit to Armenia is a
significant move towards strengthening the bilateral ties. The
meeting was attended by the Chief of the Sheikh’s Office (Isam bin
Saqr Al Qasimi), the Director of the Emiri Court (Rashid Ahmed Al
Sheikh), Director of Sharjah Islamic Endowment Authority / Awqaf
(Jamal Salim Al Taraifi) and UAE non-resident Ambassador to Armenia
(Khalifa Shaheen Al Merri).
In a separate meeting in the Armenian Academy of Sciences, the
President of the Academy Fadey Sarkissian praised Sheikh Dr. Al
Qasimi for his contribution to the development of science and culture
in the UAE and in the Arab World in general. It should be mentioned
that UNSESCO had chosen Sharjah as the Arab Cultural Capital for the
year 1998. Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi was awarded honorary doctorate from
the National Academy of Sciences in Armenia in recognition of his
contributions to the cultural and intellectual activities across the
world. This honorary title has been conferred so far to a limited
number of 60 personalities worldwide. Ambassador of Armenia in the
UAE Dr. Arshak Poladian praised the Sheikh for his efforts to turn
Sharjah into a center of cultural and scientific advancement in the
Arab World. Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi, who is also the Chancellor of the
American University of Sharjah and the Sharjah University, thanked
the Academy and stressed that Sharjah will continue to attract
institutions of higher education and Universities of worldwide fame.
On the same day Yerevan State University awarded its Golden Medal to
Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi. Speaking at the awarding ceremony University’s
Rector Radik Martirosyan said that Sheikh Al Qasimi is a great friend
of the University. Sheikh Dr. Al Qasimi granted a seat for Arab
studies in the Faculty of Oriental Studies. He expressed his
happiness that the Department of the Arab Studies within this Faculty
has more than 300 students. (Click Read More)
On the same day he visited the Genocide Monument and planted a tree
of UAE-Arab friendship. He visited the Museum and witnessed the
sorrow and grief that war has cause to the Armenians. He placed
flowers on the monument of the victims and ended his visit to the
museum wishing that love and peace would prevail in the world.
Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi found time to visit also lake Sevan, one
of the highest lakes in the world, from where Hrazdan river is
originated, a main source of irrigation in Armenia. The Mayor of
Tavoush Marz (Province) welcomed the guest and soon after the
official lunch they headed to Dilijan, one of the finest resorts in
Armenia, where some of the houses date to centuries back. He also
visited the Municipality of Dilijan.
Back in Yerevan His Highness attended in the equestrian club of Hovig
Hairapetian a live show of the four horses that he presented as a
gift to the Government of Armenia. He expressed satisfaction that the
horses are in safe hands and under the care of people who adore
horses.
The third day was full of local cultural activities. Sheikh Al Qasimi
did not miss the chance to visit the famous Matenadaran (the
depository of ancient Armenian manuscript). He was impressed by the
huge number of manuscripts in the Matenadaran (total number 17.000
manuscripts, 700 of them in Arabic). The Director of Matenadaran Sen
Arevshatian presented him a book on horse breeding.
During his visit to Matendaran Dr. Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi declared
that a UAE delegation will visit Armenia next week. He stressed that,
issues of deepening bilateral cooperation in economy, science and
culture will be discussed during this upcoming visit of the
delegation.
On Tuesday evening 21st September 2005 Sheikh Al Qasimi returned home
at the end of his official visit to Armenia

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO AZERBAIJAN REQUESTED THAT THE ORGANIZATION
FOR LIBERATION OF KARABAKH SHOULD PUT AN END TO THREATS TO THE
EMBASSY
Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Roland Blatmann requested that the
Organization for Liberation of Karabakh (OLK) should put an end to
threats to the French embassy. `I request to put an end to threats to
the embassy. I am ready for the discussions; however, I cannot admit
the fact that it may be used as a tribune against my country and my
compatriots’, runs Roland Blatmann’s letter to the OLK Chair.
To note, the message sent by OLK to embassy of France contained the
protest against French companies’ cooperation with `separatist
regime’ of Nagorno Karabakh. French Ambassador’s retaliatory message
runs, `Government of France informs French companies of the situation
in the region and requests that they should not be engaged in
activity in the above – mentioned region’.

PRAVDA, Russia
Sept 23 2005
UN condemned Turkey’s cancellation of conference on massacre of
Armenians during Ottoman Empire
14:46 2005-09-23
The European Commission on Friday condemned a Turkish court ruling
that ordered the cancellation of an academic conference dealing with
the massacre of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire.
Thursday’s ruling reflected badly on Turkey’s attempts to live up to
European democratic norms, just ahead of when it is to open entry
talks with the European Union, officials said.
“We strongly deplore this new attempt to prevent Turkish society from
freely discussing its history,” said EU spokeswoman Krisztina Nagy.
“The timing of this decision the day before the opening of the
conference looks like yet another provocation.” Nagy added that the
cancellation “illustrates the difficulties of Turkey, and in
particular of the judiciary, to ensure effective and uniform
implementation of the reforms in Turkey.”
She said the scrapping of the conference “will be reflected” in the
Commission’s regular progress report on Turkey’s reform plans, which
is to be released Nov. 9.
The conference was scheduled to deal with one of the most sensitive
issues in Turkish politics, the killings of Armenians during the
collapse of the Ottoman Empire around the time of World War I, which
an increasing number of countries have officially recognized as
genocide.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also condemned the
court’s decision.
Nevertheless, Turkey’s government has tried hard to counter an
Armenian campaign to have the killings recognized as genocide.
Turkey says the killings took place during civil unrest, and backing
the genocide claim in Turkey can be a cause for prosecution.
EU officials warn attempts to curb basic human rights such as freedom
of expression would reflect badly on its efforts to join the
25-nation EU. In its negotiating mandate for Turkey, the EU warns it
will freeze entry talks if Turkey backtracks on human rights
commitments.
Earlier this month the EU condemned a legal case against one of the
country’s most acclaimed contemporary writers, novelist Orhan Pamuk.
EU lawmakers at the European Parliament also announced they were
considering sending observers to monitor the trial of Pamuk, who has
been charged with insulting the country’s national character for his
comments on Turkey’s killing of Armenians and Kurds, and could face
up to three years in prison.
Senior EU officials say the case violates the European Convention on
Human Rights.