DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 20 2005
RUSSIA IS EAGER TO RETAIN ITS INFLUENCE IN THE UNRECOGNIZED STATES
Russia is eager to retain its influence in the unrecognized states,
i.e. Abkhazia, the South Ossetia, Pridnestrovie and Nagorno Karabakh.
And yet, Russia wants all the unrecognized states to pursue one
political course. Today Armenian Democratic Party leader, RA National
Assembly deputy Aram Sargsyan made the statement in the course of the
press conference in Yerevan. To remind, he took part in the Moscow
conference titled `Parallel CIS. Abkhazia, Pridnestrovie, the South
Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh as the realities of the post – Soviet
territory’.
He noted the Karabakh party’s stand differed from that of the South
Ossetia, Abkhazia and Pridnestrovie. `If representatives of
Pridnestrovie and the South Ossetia literally requested to become
members of Russia, and Abkhazia stated it wished to become an
associative member of Russia, if not affiliate with it, Nagorno
Karabakh has never made such statements, as it strives for
independence from Azerbaijan. If the matter will concern affiliation,
Nagorno Karabakh can affiliate only with Armenia, its historic
Motherland’, stated Aram Sargsyan.
The Armenian parliamentarian stressed the Karabakh issue could not be
settled without Nagorno Karabakh’s participation. He added all the
talks on the possibility of the conflict settlement in the near
future were aimed at the society’s disorientation.

The Nation (Thailand)
September 19, 2005, Monday
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SPECIAL: Armenia and Thailand, a historic relationship bolstered by
trade
In November 2002, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all
Armenians visited Thailand as part of his regional tour. He met with
about 50 Armenians living in Thailand. Most of the Armenians here are
in the gem and jewellery, footwear and construction industries.
Last week Virachai Virameteekul, the vice minister of foreign affairs
of the Republic of Armenia, led a Thai delegation to Yerevan, its
capital, to boost bilateral relations. One of the highlights of the
trip was a visit to the Holy Etchmiadzin and St Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral and its environs. The Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin is the pre-eminent centre of authority in the worldwide
Armenian Apostolic Church.
Located near Yerevan, it is a huge complex consisting of the Mother
Cathedral of the entire Armenian Church, a monastery and monastic
brotherhood, a residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians and
various religious and cultural institutions such as the Kevorkian
Theological Seminary and a museum.
The cathedral is a beautiful structure. Its construction dates back
to the 4th century, and it is reckoned the oldest Christian cathedral
in the world. Christianity was declared the state religion of Armenia
in AD 301. Armenia thus became the first nation to adopt Christianity
as a state religion.
This was largely due to the efforts of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.
Born a nobleman, he converted Armenias King Tiridates III, who had
formerly persecuted the Christians. Conversion of the rest of the
population soon followed. It was St Gregory who built the Mother
Church at Etchmiadzin in AD 303.
The Thai delegation was taken around the compound, visiting the
museum and the cathedral. In 1958, while efforts were under way to
strengthen the structure of the cathedral, workers found underneath a
4th-century altar, which had also been a fireplace. This showed that
the ancient Armenians worshipped fire before Christianity came in.
This marked a triumph of Christianity over paganism.
In the morning, the Thai delegation also went to visit a jewellery
factory called Jacobs Jewellery Armenia. Some elements of the
jewellery products had been prepared in Thailand. The Armenians are
very good at working with gems and jewellery, with good
craftsmanship. Uncut diamonds are imported from everywhere, from
South Africa to Europe.
The Thai delegation also visited Armenias largest brandy-producer,
Yerevan Brandy Co.
Armenia is very famous for making brandy. The Ararat brand, produced
at this plant, is of
the highest quality. There was a guided tour of the facility as well
as a tasting session featuring brandies aged three, 10 and 20 years
old.
Winston Churchill, the British prime minister during World War II,
had brandy shipped from this plant. Yerevan Brandy Co is now turning
out nine million bottles a year. The brandy is exported to 25
countries, though 82 per cent goes to Russia.
Thanong Khanthong

Danville Advocate, KY
Sept 20 2005
Shepperson carries disaster declarations with him
By LIZ MAPLES
Staff Writer
There is a 90 percent chance that Kentucky will experience a natural
disaster comparable to Hurricane Katrina by 2040.
An earthquake along the New Madrid fault line could be as disastrous,
or worse, than the devastation the Gulf Coast saw from the recent
hurricane, said Boyle County Emergency Management Director Lennie
Shepperson.
Shepperson carries a black, hardside briefcase wherever he goes.
Inside, there are four file folders, one each for Boyle County,
Danville, Junction City and Perryville, which hold disaster
declarations. Before private property could be used in an emergency,
a declaration has to be signed by the mayor or judge-executive.
In Kentucky, the ultimate responsibility in emergencies lies with the
mayor, for disasters within city limits, and the judge-executive, if
the disaster happens in the county.
The plan for disasters here is generic. Shepperson said it’s designed
to mobilize local resources. If something were to happen, the mayor,
judge-executive and the city and county department heads are supposed
to meet at the 911 center in the central fire station.
Shepperson will call the Kentucky Emergency Operating Center. People
there will activate resources and equipment from neighboring counties
to our area.
One reason Katrina was so devastating, he said, is because the
disaster hit such a wide area that all of the neighboring places that
normally could assist were handling their own problems. The natural
disaster in Louisiana and Mississippi covers 90,000 square-miles, or
about twice the size of the state of Pennsylvania.
“A disaster that big is hard to fathom,” Shepperson said.
Tornado is biggest natural threat here
In an earthquake along the New Madrid fault, Boyle County could see
some building damage, but most of the damage is predicted in western
Kentucky. Here, the biggest natural threat is a tornado, Shepperson
said. Unlike Katrina, people may have little or no warning of
impending danger.
During earthquakes and tornados, people have to shelter in place
because there isn’t time to evacuate. Shepperson suggests
preparation.
“People are spoiled to everything going on. They pick up the phone
and the police, fire department, EMS will be there in just a few
minutes,” Shepperson said.
He said in times of wide-spread emergency, it will not be so
convenient.
“This is why we should all be prepared to help ourselves.”
Each household should know where they will go in case of a tornado or
an earthquake.
“When it’s happening it’s too late to decide,” Shepperson said.
For tornados, the safest places are either in a basement, cellar or
the center of a house. For earthquakes the safest place is a doorway
or underneath a desk.
“It’s better to err on the side of safety”
Shepperson suggests that everyone know basic first aid, and have
emergency supplies on hand, extra medication, food, water, cash and
important documents.
“It’s better to err on the side of safety,” he said.
The New Madrid fault creeps underground from northeast Arkansas,
through southeast Missouri, western Tennessee, western Kentucky to
southern Illinois.
Scientists at the Arkansas Center for Earthquake Education and
Technology Transfer predict there is a 90 percent chance there will
be an earthquake, of 6.0 magnitude or greater on the Richter Scale,
by 2040.
Similar size earthquakes occurred in Armenia and San Francisco in the
1980s. There were 67 deaths and $7 billion in property losses in San
Francisco.
In Armenia, there were more than 25,000 deaths and $20 billion in
property losses.
A report by the Center for Earthquake Studies at Southeast Missouri
State University said the states along the New Madrid fault “are more
prepared than Armenia, but only a fraction as prepared as San
Francisco.”

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Sept 20 2005
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Hatay to play host to civilisations
Numerous religious figures, politicians, academics and journalists
from many countries are expected to attend meeting of civilisations
in Hatay.
Güncelleme: 17:10 TSÝ 20 Eylül 2005 SalýANKARA – Turkey’s Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to open the `1st Civilisation
Meeting’ in the southern eastern Turkish city of Hatay on Sunday.

The meeting, which will bring together representatives of many
different beliefs and cultures, is to run between September 25 to 30.
During the activities, traditional sufi music and whirling dervishes
will perform in the city’s mosques, while Christian choirs will sing
in churches and other venues and the Jewish community will also stage
activities in local synagogues.
Many senior religious figures from countries around the world,
including the Vatican, Italy, Macedonia, Kirghizstan, Croatia,
Albania, Azerbaijan, Israel, Bulgaria. Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Greece and Iraq will take part in the activities.
The patriarchs from both the Armenia and Greek Orthodox churches will
also take part in the events.

A1+
| 14:35:35 | 20-09-2005 | Economy |
ARMENIA-2020 = LITHUANIA-2003
In 2020 the Gross Domestic Product index in Armenia will equal to the index
Lithuania had in 2003.
To work out a business plan for Armenia «Armenia-2020» organization has
invited specialists from different countries. «This independent,
non-political and self-financing organization united us because we,
Armenians, want to see our country prosperous», board member Nubar Afeyan
said.
Since the formation of the organization the members have worked out various
scenarios for the development of the Armenian economy. According the
calculations, the GDP growth depends on Armenia’s development rate.
Armenia-2020 members are gong to use the experience of some states,
specifically Israel’s. In part, the potential of the Armenian Diaspora
should be used in corpore. «A network of Armenian influence shoud be
created. It will unite the Armenians», Nubar Afeyan said.
The program also provides for economic meetings for interested persons.

A1+
| 13:35:56 | 20-09-2005 | Politics |
FOR PUBLICITY
In order to make public the implementation process of the Millennium
Challenge Account program website was launched by the
Board of Trustees.
The website contains information about the MCA-Armenia project; special
attention is paid to the enlightening of the consultative process.
Conditions essential for feedback by means of survey-forum have been as well
created.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 13:19:44 | 20-09-2005 | Official |
NEW ORDER OF VISITS
The Armenian MFA reminds that some changes were included in the documents
referring to the agreement `On non-visa visits of RA and RF citizens’
concluded between the Armenian and Russian governments on September 25,
2000.
According to the information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
starting with September 24,2005, the citizens of both countries can enter or
leave the country, move inside the country or stay on the territory of the
other state only in case of possessing the following documents.
For the RA citizens:
Valid passport of RA citizen, diplomatic passport, certificate on return
/only for entering Armenia/, birth certificate /for children under 16/. The
document is in force till March 23, 2005.
For Russian citizens:
Foreign passport of Russian citizen, service passport, diplomatic passport,
certificate on return /only for entering the RF/.
The above mentioned changes were introduced to the article 3 of the
Agreement and does not impact the non-visa regime of mutual visits.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
OSCE MONITORING INTERRUPTED BY SHOT FROM AZERI SIDE
20.09.2005 05:39
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 20 the OSCE mission launched the planned
monitoring of the contact line between the Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan near Karakhanbeily settlement of Fizuli region, as agreed
beforehand, reported the NKR MFA Press Service. At the very beginning of the
monitoring the Azeri party fired a shot, directed at the observation
mission. This was registered by the OSCE representatives. By instructions of
Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office (CiO), who headed the mission at the Azeri side, the
monitoring was interrupted due to security considerations. From the
positions of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission comprised
Coordinator of the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE CiO,
Lieutenant colonel Imre Palatinus (Hungary), Field Assistants of the
Personal Representative Peter Kii (UK), Harry Eronen (Finland) and
Representative of the OSCE High Level Planning Group, Colonel Andrey
Korotkov (Russia). From the Karabakh party, representatives of the NKR
Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense accompanied the OSCE monitoring
mission.

National Assembly of RA (press release), Armenia
Sept 16 2005
Statement by Artur Baghdasaryan, President of the National Assembly
of the Republic of Armenia
Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary-General,
The involvement of the parliaments in settling global issues has
become imperative. In the context of democratization and spread of
democracy the role of parliaments is important for several reasons,
among which I may specify the following: first, democracy is the
shortest and the most efficient way of meeting the challenges of the
millennium – terrorism, violation of human rights, hunger and
poverty. Strong parliament means developed and viable democracy. In
this respect, it is significant to guarantee in the state legislation
on the constitutional level the power of the parliament and reject
any attempt of its restriction. Parliament, to my mind, is the
institution most closely related to the people. Open parliament means
that we strive for a parliament directed by the principle of
transparency, ready for cooperation and open to the world. In this
respect, it is imperative to develop inter-parliamentary cooperation
as one of the best ways to achieve spread of democracy.
Active dialogue between all democratic institutions and individuals
provides us with an opportunity to coordinate our activities in the
framework of joint goals and projects. We are ready for collaboration
and open for any democratic initiative. Unfortunately, our
Azerbaijani colleagues use all possible floors only to reprimand and
denounce Armenia, instead of speaking about development of democracy
in the region, advance of cooperation and establishing good relations
with neighbors. Everyone knows what the reality is. The Karabakh
conflict was about the fight of the Karabakh people for their right
for self-determination and freedom, which it managed to gain through
a war that was unleashed by Azerbaijan itself.
Presently, we are going through a 10-year-long peace process, which
is actively combined with the efforts of the international community
seeking a solution to the Karabakh issue. Armenia has always been
advocating for regional cooperation as a confidence-building measure.
In this context, any destructive policy aimed at isolating any of the
countries of the region is unacceptable and would be threatening the
stability in the region. And the current issues should be resolved
through a constructive dialogue and not aggressive calls, which
should stay in the past.
In this view, I would like to mention the active dialogues we have
had in our region, where different aspects of resolving our problems
were discussed, In years 2003-2005, I had meetings with the speakers
of the parliaments of the Southern Caucasus. According to the
memorandum signed, the Southern Caucasus Parliamentary Assembly will
start its activity on January the 1st , 2007. I am certain, it will
contribute greatly to resolution of problems in Southern Caucasus and
we will have a conflict-free and democratic region.
The process of democratization is one of the challenges inside our
country as only a democratic country can have a progressive society
committed to the principles of justice, equality and freedom. We
understand the necessity of this process in the social and political
life of our country and we can say that the National Assembly has
taken important steps in this direction having adopted Electoral Code
and implementing constitutional reforms, which will stand for
democratization of power, as well as for just, transparent and
democratic elections. We are certain that only just and transparent
elections can provide ground for investments and bring trust towards
our country. They say a ballot is stronger than a bullet. We will be
happy to present our tradition, culture and democracy to the
international community. I agree that our democracy is still young.
But being young doesn’t mean being amateur. We should share our
vision with the world and adopt the valuable experiences of other
democratic countries.
There are two ways of spreading light: you can light a candle or you
can be the mirror that reflects it.
Thank you, Mr. President

Pan Armenian News
RADANOVICH HAILS US CONGRESS PASSING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
20.09.2005 03:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today praised
the House International Relations Committee for passing a resolution he
sponsored reaffirming the United States’ record on the Armenian Genocide.
The resolution was approved by a vote of 40-7. “The U.S. National Archives
is replete with thousands of pages documenting the premeditated
extermination of the Armenian people,” Congressman Radanovich said. “As the
Armenia Genocide was being committed, the United States launched an
unprecedented diplomatic, political, and humanitarian struggle to end the
carnage and protect the survivors,’ he said. “I appreciate the bipartisan
support for this resolution, which properly acknowledges the Armenian
Genocide, reaffirms the proud and groundbreaking chapter in U.S. history to
halt the Genocide, and renews our commitment to preventing other occurrences
of man’s inhumanity to man.” Congressman Radanovich introduced the
legislation, House Resolution 316, with Congressmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). House Resolution 316 has the
support of 140 cosponsors. “On behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America
and the pan-Armenian community, we commend Congressman Radanovich,’ said
Aram Hamparian, Executive Director, Armenian National Committee of America.
“Congressman Radanovich has been a tremendously powerful voice for Armenian
Genocide reaffirmation for over 10 years,’ he emphasized. As Hamparian
stated, “We look forward to building on the Committee’s action and to
working with all members of Congress to secure a full floor vote on Armenian
Genocide legislation at the earliest opportunity.”