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.”

Pan Armenian News
NORTH CYPRUS AND NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUES DIFFERENT
20.09.2005 03:08
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «North Cyprus and Nagorno Karabakh issues are different
problems.» This was reported in the course of a round table titled North
Cyprus and Nagorno Karabakh Issues in the International and Legal Planes
held in Baku September 19. The event held with the support of the World
Organization of Young Turkish Writers and the Azerbaijan-Cyprus Friendship
Society. The participants discussed common problems Azeris and Turks have,
those in the history of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, «occupation
of Azeri lands by Armenians.» They also considered the approaches to these
issues from the point of view of international legal principles. Head of the
World Organization of Young Turkish Writers Akper Goshaly reported that
after the visit of the delegation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
to Azerbaijan, the attention to the Republic has increased, while the Greek
party started putting pressure upon Azerbaijan. A. Goshaly reported that
«interested forces, especially Armenia, try to identify the North Cyprus and
NK issues.» Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Cyprus Friendship Society Agil
Samedbeyli noted that demonstrating their commitment to peace at a
referendum held in the Island of Cyprus, Turks reported their desire to live
with Greeks in a common state, however, Greeks refused. Samedbeyli also
stated that «one cannot present NK as a third party as Armenians are trying
to attain.» Lawyer Farman Salmanly reported that «NK is an inseparable
territory of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan got UN membership having NK as its part
and all states of the world recognized the territorial integrity of our
country. The Island of Cyprus is not a subject of international law and the
Greek Cyprus was recognized only from one part of the island. According to
international law principles, the inseparable part of Azerbaijan – Nagorno
Karabakh – and North Cyprus cannot be equated.»

Armenpress
SHARJAH RULER COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: H.H Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al
Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who is on an official
visit to Armenia to open the Days of Arab Culture here, paid respect to the
victims of Armenian Genocide today visiting the Genocide Memorial and a
nearby Genocide Museum.
The Sheik placed a wreath to the Memorial and planted a tree in a nearby
alley.

Armenpress
YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY TOSSES AWAY MP’s ALLEGATIONS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The French-owned Yerevan Brandy
Company has retaliated today allegations that it has bottled half of 1.6
million deciliters of brandy spirit which it inherited together with the
ownership of Armenia’s biggest winery, saying it is open to any organization
that would like to inspect whether it has violated any of the takeover
terms.
The allegations were sounded yesterday by Aram. G. Sarkisian, the
chairman of a minor opposition Democratic party, who alleged that YBC has
bottled 800,000 deciliters of the spirit it inherited, which it could not do
or in case of doing so it had to fill the gap. Sarkisian alleged the YBC
could not produce as much brandy as it has been selling, judging by the
amount of grape it purchase annually from local grape growers. Sarkisian
also alleged the French Pernod-Ricard that owns the YBC is going to sell it
at $770 million, having paid for it only $28 million.
Zara Nazarian, a spokeswoman for YBC said in order to diffuse these
allegations the YBC could only provide an opportunity for all to examine its
performance and the fulfillment of the takeover terms. She said YBC is going
to buy this year 25,000 tons of grape, 27 percent more than last year and 80
percent more than in 2003.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 15:14:37 | 20-09-2005 | Social |
ARMENIAN YOUTH TO RETURN TO HOMELAND
September 21 17-year-old David Harutyunyan will arrive in Armenia from
Yekatirenburg.
Native of Karabakh, the boy left the homeland together with his father. For
13 years they have lived in the Russian town of Nizhni Tagil. Thanks to the
efforts by Armenian Human Rigts Defender Larisa Alaverdyan and head of the
department of human rights of the Sverdlovks oblast Tatyana Merzlyakova the
boy was found and he will soon return to Armenia, where his mother lives.

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN
20.09.2005 04:13
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Growth of Productivity and Competitive Ability: Strategy
of Sustainable Development of Armenia forum, organized by Armenia 2020,
opened in Yerevan today. During the opening ceremony Armenian President’s
Advisor for Economic Issues Vahram Nersisyan read R. Kocharian’s message to
the forum participants. His message specifically said, «Initiatives of the
kind are useful to our country. We appreciate efforts of organizers,
directors and project participants. Sustainable development of Armenia is
our goal.» NA Speaker A. Baghdassaryan welcomed the forum participants on
behalf of the Parliament. He noted that «strategic elaboration is available
in all fields in Armenia.» He noted light industry among the promising
fields, adding «a business plan should be arranged to define the priority
fields.» It should be noted that the forum will discuss opportunities and
prospects of development of individual sectors, specifically, IT, tourism,
health and others. Besides, the outcomes of the Approaches to the Future of
Armenia research, held by Armenian and American sociologists will be
analyzed. Program of further actions is expected to be worked out resulting
from the forum. Over 350 Armenian and foreign large entrepreneurs, officials
and NGO representatives take part in the forum.

Pan Armenian News
GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT YEREVAN IN LATE SEPTEMBER
20.09.2005 03:57
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The second session of the Armenian-Georgian
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation will be held in Yerevan
September 29-30. Georgian Premier Zurab Nogaideli will head the Georgian
delegation at the session. The event participants will discuss export of
electric power to Georgia, transit of Armenian cargo through Georgia’s
territory, as well as the social and economic situation in the Georgian
region of Javakheti, populated by Armenians, reported RFE/RL.

Pan Armenian News
T. DAVTYAN: FOREIGN INVESTMENT GROWTH AVAILABLE IN ARMENIA
20.09.2005 02:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development of
Armenia Tigran Davtyan held a seminar on Foreign Investments in Armenia in
Yerevan September 19. Three basic subjects were discussed at the event: the
role of foreign investments in Armenia, trends of free investment field and
improvement of the investment field. T. Davtyan specifically noted the
growth dynamics of foreign investments in the Armenian economy, cited some
examples of large investment programs. He also distinguished 5 fields of
foreign capital investment: Zvartnots International Airport, mining
metallurgy, telecommunications, food industry and information technologies.
T. Davtyan noted that foreign investors are exempt from taxes as different
from Armenian ones. However, in his words, starting with 2007 the tax
legislation will apply to both Armenian and foreign investors.
Simultaneously he noted that most likely taxation will not stop foreign
investors, who wish to invest in the Armenian economy. In Mr. Davtyan’s
words, the growth of foreign investment in science is especially pleasant.