Pan Armenian News
NKR MFA: ICG REPORT WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
16.09.2005 07:47
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
will soon express its position over the International Crisis Group (ICG)
report over Karabakh settlement, NKR FM Arman Melikyan said in the course of
a meeting with journalists September 16. `We now discuss the report, there
are certain approaches already formed. The matter lies not in to which
extent the Armenian or Azeri positions are presented in the report. We
should first of all understand the importance of the report to its authors
and the goals it should serve in the future. Obviously, the report is drawn
to assist the talks and may be used by the OSCE Minsk Group mediators and
other structures. Undoubtedly, the report includes provisions that we
consider unbiased and expedient. There are also provisions, which are in
conflict with our positions. However, undoubtedly, the report authors are
skilled professionals and they understand very well which work they do and
to what end. Having studied the report in detail we will prepare our written
comment, which I suppose to be very voluminous,’ A. Melikyan said. In the
opinion of the NKR FM, the ICG report will have a positive impact, as it
notes rather clearly that Armenia has not occupied any of Azerbaijan’s
territories and the armed forces situated in the territory of NKR are in
fact subordinated to the NKR authorities, IA Regnum reported.

Pan Armenian News
OSKANIAN HELD BILATERAL MEETINGS IN NEW YORK
17.09.2005 05:18
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During his visit to New York aiming to take part in the UN
GA 60th session, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian held a number of bilateral
meetings September 16, reported the Armenian MFA Press Service. The FM
specifically met with his Afghan counterpart Abdullah Abdullah, Croatian FM
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Lithuanian FM Antanas Valionis, Bosnia and
Herzegovina FM Mladen Ivanic and East Timor FM Jose Ramos Horta. In the
course of the meeting bilateral relations, regional development and the UN
reform were discussed.

Pan Armenian News
EVENTS MARKING UN 60TH ANNIVERSARY START IN YEREVAN
17.09.2005 04:44
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Events marking the UN 60th anniversary start in Armenia
Saturday. As reported by UN Resident Representative and UNDP Coordinator in
Armenia, Ambassador Consuelo Vidal, the festivities to continue till October
24 include a gala concert in the Republic Square in Yerevan with
participation of pop stars, a chess tournament among children of age of
10-12 years for UN Cup with participation of international grand master
Smbat Lputyan, exhibition of works of young photographers and a classic
music concert. Holding of a composition contest among schoolchildren on the
topic of the UN Role in My Life and the World is also planned. Vidal also
reported that a clip of We Are Our History new song was shot with
participation of Armenian pop stars to mark the UN 60th anniversary.

Pan Armenian News
MARGARYAN: BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA HAMPERS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
17.09.2005 04:10
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «5 years have passed since heads of states and governments
adopted the Millennium Declaration at the UN General Assembly, binding
themselves to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Joining the
Declaration Armenia included the Millennium Goals in its long-term strategic
programs,» Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan stated at a summit meeting within
the UN GA 60th session. In his words with the assistance of international
organizations and by a decision of the Armenian Government the Strategic
Program for Poverty Reduction was adopted in Armenia in August 2003. The
Premier noted terrorism remains a major threat the humanity has faced. The
acts of terrorism in US September 11, 2001, then in Beslan, Madrid, London
and other places indicate that countries should unite to fight terror.
Armenia censures terrorism in any form, A. Margaryan emphasized. «We hail
the Secretary-General taking steps to prevent future genocides. In this
respect I would like to specially underscore the importance of introduction
of a concept of protection of population from genocides, military crimes,
ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity to the final document of the
summit meeting,» Mr. Margaryan said. Armenians as people, who have
experienced the first genocide of the 20th century, know well its
consequences. Speaking of the conflicts in the South Caucasus the PM said,
«Peaceful settlement of regional conflicts is a major security and stability
guarantee in our region. Armenia keeps advocating peaceful settlement of the
NK conflict. The NK people has exercised its self-determination right,
provided for by international legal principles. Some peoples represented
here also used this right. We are convinced that only in an atmosphere of
mutual confidence and tolerance and will to recognition of the historical
reality peaceful and goon neighborly coexistence of the two peoples can be
secured. We attach special importance to regional cooperation in
strengthening mutual confidence in the South Caucasus. Unfortunately, the
blockade of Armenia’s borders, as well as lack of desire to cooperate hamper
it. Armenia supports UN efforts aimed at reforming the UN, specifically
those to enhance the authority and role of the GA, creation of a Human
Rights Council, as well as enhancement of efficiency of the Security Council
methods. We are convinced that the already reformed UN will be able to
successfully withstand the increasing challenges of the century.»

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA HAILS US CONGRESS PASSING TWO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTIONS
17.09.2005 03:11
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia welcomed the endorsement by the US House
International Relations Committee of two Armenian Genocide Resolutions and
expressed hope that they will be passed by the full House of
Representatives. `We welcome the decision by the House International
Relations Committee and consider it to be yet another step towards
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide,’ the spokesman for
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry, Hamlet Gasparyan said. `We hope that the issue
will be put before the full House of Representatives and that it will
discuss and adopt the resolutions,’ Gasparyan said. `I wouldn’t like to link
the resolutions adopted by third countries to Turkish-Armenian relations,’
he said. `As far as I know, the parliaments that have recognized the
Armenian genocide urged Turkey in one way or another to normalize its
relations with Armenia,’ Gasparyan remarked, reported RFE/RL.

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Cooperation
ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN SEMINAR ON RUSSIAN-KOREAN COOPERATION
On September 26, a seminar titled “Russian-Korean Trade-Economic Relations.
Current State and Prospects” will take place in Moscow. Participants of the
seminar are going to discuss issues concerning cooperation in Russian and
Korean investment projects, relations in the sphere of high technologies
etc. A session of the Russia-South Korea Business Council with the
participation of co-chairs Ara Abrahamian and Chong Pae will be held the
next day.
Businessmen from Armenia will also take part in the arrangements to discuss
issues of further development of Armenian-Korean cooperation. The Armenian
consul to South Korea, Armen Abrahamian, and the Union of Manufacturers and
Businessmen of Armenia will present Armenia at the meetings.
Armenia will participate in the arrangements as a third side by approbation
of the Russian and Korean sides.
By Aghavni Harutyunian

A1+
| 20:52:40 | 16-09-2005 | Official |
BLOCKADE HINDERS ARMENIA
Today in New York during the high-level meetings in the UN Assembly General
60th session the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan addressed the
Assembly.
He mentioned in his speech that one of the guarantees for stability and
security in the region is the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts, and
Armenia continues his attempts to find ways of peaceful settlement.
He said that the people of Nagorno Karabakh have made use of their right of
self-determination just like many other countries present and expressed
confidence that the peaceful co-existence of the countries in the region is
possible only in case of mutual respect, atmosphere of tolerance and will to
accept historical truth.
He also said that in the Southern Caucasus region special attention is paid
to the cooperation on the regional level, but unfortunately the blockade of
Armenia, as well as the absence of the wish to cooperate on the side of
several countries in the region hinder this.

A1+
| 19:32:38 | 16-09-2005 | Politics |
HISTORICAL CHANCE FOR KARABAKH
`The EU defends the steps towards the development of the negotiation process
about the settlement of the Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan’, announced the EU special representative to Southern Caucasus
Heikki Talvitie in Baku.
He mentioned that the settlement of the conflict is possible only by the
efforts of the parties underlining that `No one from abroad can solve the
problem’.
According to eh EU special representative, the Kazan meeting of Ilham Aliev
and Robert Kocharyan `gives us the possibility to mark that there is
historical chance for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict to be settled and it
must be made use of’.

A1+
18:58:41 | 16-09-2005 | Politics |
FROM THE RETURN OF DEPOSITS TO FUNERALS
«The deposits must be returned with dignity», said Galoust Sahakyan
justifying the present idleness of the Government. And Viktor Dallakyan
considers it natural that the NA session did not start with the discussion
of the draft about the return of the deposits, but finished it with that of
the Law on «Funerals».
Member of the fraction «Democratic Deputy» Rafik Petrosyan speaking about
the draft on «Funerals» mentioned that the Church is not against crematoria
and that the process is optional. «By the wish of the relatives of the
dead», he commented.
And the Secretary of the Justice Bloc Viktor Dallakyan made an interesting
observation. Reading the Governmental conclusion about a draft presented by
the Orinats Yerkir and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation invited
attention on the fact that the draft presented by the majority is rejected
by the Government formed by the majority reasoning that the budget cannot
allot money for that purpose. «That is, they do not know what they want and
what they are doing», said the deputy.

A1+
| 18:40:26 | 16-09-2005 | Politics |
PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFINGS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION
The opposition is against the Constitutional reforms as the authorizations
of the President are reduced, and those who tend to the President’s chair
cannot resist the temptation of high authorizations.
«The authorities were able to resist to the temptation», said Galoust
Sahakyan during the Parliamentary briefings today. Asked the question if the
authorities were not able to resist to the temptation in 2003 when they did
not manage to preach the Constitutional reforms and to adopt them, Galoust
Sahakyan reminded that the referendum coincided with the Elections.
Member of the Orinats Yerkir party Mher Shahgeldyan announced that they find
the democratization of the country extremely important and everything mist
be done for that purpose, in this case a more democratic Constitution must
be adopted.
Leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Levon Lazarian finds that
the opposition must be able to give ground for their «No» and the
authorities for their «Yes».
Leader of the National Unity Artashes Geghamyan reminded the Constitution of
Turkey at the end of the 19th century written by Abdul Hamid which was
considered the best in Europe. Nevertheless, it was under that very
Constitution that 300 thousand Armenians were killed. The same can be said
under Stalin’s Constitution. «So, what is written on the paper is of no
importance, as under these authorities we cannot expect anything good».
And is it possible that the organization of the Constitutional Referendum be
postponed? Artashes Geghamyan said that everyone understands that today, in
an atmosphere of non-confidence of the authorities organizing a
Constitutional Referendum will mean to fail it. «It means that even they
understand that the authorities have exhausted themselves».
Viktor Dallakyan announced, «It is not that people aren’t ready for the
referendum, they themselves are not ready for democratic, free and fair
voting».