Pan Armenian News
CSTO TO COOPERATE WITH NATO
15.09.2005 05:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov stated September 14
that according to an arrangement first contacts between the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which comprises Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, and the NATO will take place.
In the course of an unofficial meeting in Berlin the Russian MOD head had
with his counterparts representing NATO member states S. Ivanov noted that
before the end of the year a meeting of CSTO top officials with their NATO
colleagues will be held in Brussels. `Someone might dislike the CSTO or an
individual member state of the Treaty, however any action against drug
trafficking from Afghanistan is impossible without CSTO member states,’ S.
Ivanov stated, adding that Russia has presented a number of proposals,
including closer cooperation between the NATO and CSTO member states,
reported Interfax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO USA: ECONOMIC FREEDOM IN ARMENIA
HIGHEST IN LIST OF TRANSITIONAL STATES
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenian Ambassador to the USA Tatul
Margaryan met with Head of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation, an independent US Government agency, Ross Connelly,
Tuesday. The press-service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told
ARMINFO, during the meeting, the Ambassador stated that due to the
reforms by the Armenian Government, the country is in the lead of the
group of the transitional states as to economic freedom. The economic
field of Armenia is favorable for foreign investments, the Ambassador
said.
In his turn, Ross Connelly expressed readiness on behalf of OPIC to
stimulate investments of American businessmen in the economy of
Armenia, as well as the cooperation to upgrade the awareness of
American businessmen of the programs OPIC implements in Armenia. The
largest of the programs is financing of the Marriott-Armenia repairs.
According to the economic freedom rating prepared by the US Heritage
Fund, Armenia ranks the first in the CIS, and in the 44th place among
155 countries in the world.

PROPOSALS OF INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP (ICG) CONTAIN
ELEMENTS UNACCEPTABLE FOR KARABAKH: NKR FOREIGN MINISTER
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The proposals of the International
Crisis Group (ICG) contain elements unacceptable for Karabakh, NKR
Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan said at the NKR Parliament, Tuesday.
ITG proposes withdrawal of Armenia’s troops from the territories
under its control, security of the return of refugees, and
determination of Nagorny Karabakh’s status in 10-15 years etc..
In particular, the conflict is presented as confrontation of Armenia
and Azerbaijan. However, the minister thinks there are some positive
moments in the document. Thus, ICG displays understanding to the
sovereignty of Nagorny Karabakh and the international recognition of
NKR. Arman Melikyan says the NKR Foreign Ministry will response to
the report shortly.

MEETING WITH A. MELIKIAN

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
15 Sept 05
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On September 14 the foreign minister of NKR Arman Melikian met with
the delegation of the International Crisis Group NGO headed by Alain
Deletroz at the permanent representation of NKR in Armenia. Mr.
Deletrose presented the work of the organization, pointing out that
their purpose is to assist to resolution of international disputes and
prevention of wars. ICG prepared a report on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict entitled `Nagorno Karabakh: Local Conflict Monitoring’.
According to Mr. Deletrose, the purpose of the report is to help the
Armenian and Azerbaijani parties, as well as the mediators to reach an
acceptable resolution through talks. Mr. Melikian pointed to the
importance of involvement of the international community in the
maintenance of lasting peace in the region. He stated that the a
resolution of the conflict may be reached if all the involved parties
are reasonable and practical to recognize that the main conflict sides
are Nagorno Karabakh Republic and the Republic of Azerbaijan; any
attempt to present the conflict as a territorial dispute can be
perceived as an intentional distortion of the reality. At the end of
the talk the head of the ICG delegation extended the report to the
foreign minister of NKR, to be published on September 14. Mr. Melikian
thanked the representatives of ICG, assuring that Stepanakert will get
acquainted with the principles of the report.
AA.
15-09-2005

ARMENIAN CHURCH IN BAKU AROUSES DISPUTES

Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
15 Sept 05
The Armenian church in the centre of Baku is still there. The disputes
about this church are continuing. There are various suggestions in
this reference. Baku-based newspapers publish articles on destroying
the Armenian church. The authors make proposals based on the law on
preservation of historical and cultural monuments passed by Mili
Mejlis of Azerbaijan that buildings and monuments the mere appearance
of which causes pain and sadness should not exist. On the list of
these monuments the Armenian church is in the first place. In Zerkalo
Shirinzadeh writes: `In the 19th century Baku was not an Azerbaijani
city. The number of the natives (the Azerbaijanis), including the
inhabitants of the suburbs was barely 40 per cent. The rest were
Russians, Armenians, Jews, etc.’ Maybe this is the reason why there
was not a single Muslim building in the central luxurious part of the
city (the so called `old centre’) except for the Icheri Shihar
Mosque. But there was the protestant church, Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral and certainly the Armenian church which is a notable
building. Then the author of the article mentions that as a religious
institution the Armenian functioned longer (till 1990) than its
neighbouring buildings but so far its fate is uncertain. In another
issue Zerkalo published the article of the president of the
International Academy of Architecture Shamil Fatullayev: `At the
beginning of the 20th century Baku lacked a project of the town. In
1903 the Armenian community of Baku bought plots of land and started
construction.’ It should be noted that the magnificent buildings in
the centre of Baku, including the houses of opera and ballet, the
former Armenian dramatic theatre, the Armenian school of girls, were
built by Armenian businessmen on their own means. Among these are the
Dramatic Theatre, the Public Museum, the City Hall of Baku, the
Institute of Oil Industry, and another magnificent Armenian church,
the St. Mkrtich Church, which was destroyed and on its place the
conservatoire was built. Doctor Davad Akhundov, architect, author of a
number of works on architecture, suggests using the Armenian church as
a branch of the art museum or as a gallery. He opposes those who
suggest changing it into a mosque. `It is unacceptable. There are
human rules to respect other religions.’ `This will mean desecration,’
he says. In another article the commissioner on preservation of
architectural monuments of Azerbaijan Fahradin Miraliev agrees to
provide the Armenian church to another Christian community or some
religious organization which preaches peace and conformity. `There are
proposals to change the Armenian church into a mosque. I think there
is no need to,’ he says. The parishes of the orthodox churches
S. Michael Archangel and St. Mary are upset that such a beautiful
temple may be given to a sect or by an international bank to use as an
office. In the meantime, tourists visiting Baku take pictures of the
burnt walls of the Armenian church and the litter at its walls.
LEVON MKRTICHIAN KYOKHUNT.
15-09-2005

“COCA-COLA” IN ARMENIA WAS FINED $100.000
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Commission on economic
rivalry protection decided to fine “Coca-Cola Hellenik bottling
company Armenia” for about $100.000 (1% of company’s profit for
2004). The decision was made because of abuse of dominating position
in Armenia’s soft drink market in the first six months of 2005, on
the basis of “Jermuk Group” company’s complaint. To note, Coca-Cola
shares about 70% of sale market. Company’s representative was
displeased with such a decision.

UN REPRESENTATIVES SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund Thoraya Obaid
and Head of the UNDP Kemal Dervis discussed in Washington issues of
Armenia-UN cooperation.
Obaid highly appreciated the level of Armenia-UN cooperation
stressing that potentials of both Armenia and the UN make possible to
realize much more large-scale programs in Armenia, especially in
social sphere, in sphere of reproductive health, and in fight against
AIDS. Dervis stressed that Armenia-UN cooperation has been activated
recently and included various directions.

ARMENIA’s MINISTRY FOR FINANCES AND ECONOMY STARTS TO GIVE
COMPENSATIONS TO FORMER MEMBERS OF BUILDING SOCIETIES
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Ministry for Finances and
Economy started to give compensations to former members of building
societies, ARMINFO was informed in the Ministry.
Only two societies (in Yerevan and Lori region) have been given
compensations so far. The funds have been allotted for completion of
buildings construction of which started in soviet period and was
stopped because of soviet ruble devaluation.

ARMENIA’s VICE SPEAKER TO REPRESENT ARMENIA’s POSITION ON
ISSUE OF TURKEY’s ACCESSION TO EU
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. “December 2004 – October 2005: has
Turkey changed?” conference organized by the Armenian federation of
Europe and supported by Christian-Democratic party will take place at
the Euro-Parliament (EP) in Brussels, Sept 22-23, Vice Speaker of
Armenia’s NA, ARFD member Vahan Hovhanissyan informed in an interview
to ARMINFO.
Armenia’s representatives also will participate there. Hovhanissyan
will represent Armenia’s position on issue of Turkey’s accession to
the EU. The conference will be conducted under the aegis of the EP
Vice-Chairman Ingo Fridrikh. The conference aims to estimate
reforming processes in Turkey, required for the accession to the EU.
It is expected that former Foreign Minister of France Michele Barnier
will participate at the conference. Chairman of the EP socialist
group, EP member, christian democrat from France Jacque Turbon, known
by his anti-Turkish views, also will participate there.

ON NKR FOREIGN MINISTER A.MELIKIAN’S MEETING WITH
INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP ORGANIZATION
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. On September 11, in the NKR Permanent
Representation in the RA, Arman Melikian, the NKR Foreign Minister,
received the delegation of the International Crisis Group (ICG)
Non-Governmental Organization headed by Alain Deletroz.
Mr. Deletroz presented the organization’s activity to the NKR Foreign
Minister noting their aim in general to contribute to the peaceful
settlement of international conflicts and war prevention. In this
context, the ICG prepared the report on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
called “Nagorno Karabakh: Viewing the Conflict from the Ground”.
According to Mr. Deletroz, the report is aimed to render assistance
to the Armenian and Azerbaijani party, as well as the mediators in
finding acceptable solutions around the negotiation table. Mr.
Melikian emphasized the importance of the international community’s
involvement in the process of establishing lasting peace in the
region. He noted that the conflict would be settled only if all the
parties involved would be realistic and clearly realize that the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijani Republic were the main
parties to the conflict and any effort to present the conflict as a
territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan could be
interpreted as intentional distortion of the reality.
At the end of the meeting, the head of the ICG delegation handed the
NKR Foreign Minister the text of the report, informing that it would
be published on September 14. Thanking the ICG representatives, Mr.
Melikian assured them that the provisions of the report would be
carefully examined in Stepanakert.