AZG Armenian Daily #165, 15/09/2005
Neighbors
RINO HARNISH: CONVERSATIONS THAT NAKHICHEVAN BELONGED TO ARMENIA ARE
RIDICULOUS
US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Rino Harnish told yesterday Regnum that the
conversations that Nakhichevan belonged to Armenia are ridiculous.
Commenting on the Azeri press according to which the US Embassy’s website
presents Nakhichevan and Nagorno Karabakh as historical lands of the
Armenians, Harnish said that it’s the result of “an elementary mistake”.

Armenpress
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ADVERTISE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Several Armenian non-governmental
organizations denounced today the country’s political forces for
‘monopolizing’ the process of constitutional reforms and slammed the
opposition for advocating a ‘no’ vote to the package of constitutional
amendments that will be put on a national referendum approximately in the
second half of November, saying they were ready to assume the task of
explaining to the people the positive core of the changes.
Elinar Vardanian, the head of the Center for Public Dialogue and
Development that is coordinating the non-governmental organizations’ efforts
to make voters aware of the reform process, said only well-informed citizens
would be able to make a right choice. “Many people want to politicize this
issue, we do not want this as speculations may result in further
polarization of the society,’ she said.
Two of these organizations have received already money from the budget to
advertise the package of constitutional reforms through a series of
seminars, also for local mass media.

Armenpress
ARMENIAN SOCIAL INVESTMENTS FUND BEST AMONG CIS NATIONS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Charles Griffin, World Bank social
sector development director, who is in Yerevan to participate in the 6-th
international conference of the Bank’s social investment funds, kicked off
September 13 to mark the 10-th anniversary of the Armenian Social
Investments Fund, described the Armenian Fund as one of the best among
similar structures across the CIS, saying it has contributed significantly
to development of educational, health and other infrastructures.
“We are very impressed by the performance of the Armenian Social
Investments Fund and are ready to provide another $15 million for
implementation of another program,” he said. Fund’s director Ashot
Kirakosian said the second program with a total budget of around $20 million
was nearing accomplishment. He said some 585 projects were either
accomplished or were nearing it, the bulk of which were aimed at school
building, repair, improvement of drinking water networks and health
establishments.
Kirakosian praised the Armenian Diaspora organizations for their weighty
input, around $1 million, in these projects. The conference is being
attended by 150 representatives of social investment funds from 28
countries.
World Bank resident representative Roger Robinson who was present said he
was proud of the Armenian Social Investment Fund’s performance. “Now I
understand why others want to come here to learn,” he said.

Pan Armenian News
V. MATVIENKO: PEOPLE OF PETERSBURG FEEL NOSTALGIA FOR ARMENIAN CULTURE
14.09.2005 07:03
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2005 the volume of commodity turnover between Yerevan
and Saint Petersburg has increased with 15%. However, according to Governor
of Saint Petersburg Valentina Matvienko, the current volume of economic
cooperation that amounted in $9 million does not meet the potential of the
sides. `We came to develop cooperation with Yerevan. Cultural workers and
businessmen, who will meet with their Armenian colleagues to discuss
prospect of cooperation, serve on our delegation. People of Petersburg feel
nostalgia for Armenian culture ‘, she said.

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIA EXPO 2005: FOREIGN INVESTORS SHOW INTEREST IN ARMENIA
14.09.2005 06:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia EXPO 2005, the fifth universal regional trade and
industrial expo forum started in Yerevan on September 14. The forum includes
a number of events, these being 6 international professional exhibitions, an
Armenian-Russian business meeting `Cooperation 2005′, Business Days of the
U.S. and China, a contest titled `High Quality’ and presentation of film
`Arakel’. Over 180 local and foreign industrial and commercial
organizations, companies and associations are taking part in the expo, the
total area of which has extended as compared to last year. The number of
foreign participants also considerably increased. Commodities from Nagorno
Karabakh, Indonesia were as well exposed. According to Minister of trade and
Economic Development of Armenia Karen Chshmaritian, Armenia EXPO 2005
attracts foreign investments and new partners, promotes international
cooperation and market enlargement.

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN ECONOMIC FIELD FAVORABLE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
14.09.2005 07:28
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 13 Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatul
Margarian met with Overseas Private Investment Corporation head Ross
Connell, RA MFA press service reported. During the meeting Tatul Margarian
noted that thanks to the economic reforms carried out in Armenia the
republic occupies a leading position among the countries of transitional
period and the Armenian economic field is favorable for foreign investments.
In his turn Mr. Connel expressed readiness of the Corporation to encourage
the investments of the American businessmen in the Armenian economy. To
note, the most serious program implemented by the Corporation in Armenia is
the financing of Marriott-Armenia Hotel.

GREEK AMERICANS CALL FOR ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The American Hellenic Institute (AHI),
today, urged House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry
Hyde (R-IL) to work for committee approval of Armenian Genocide
legislation, set to be considered by the panel on Thursday, September
15, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In a September 13th letter to Chairman Hyde, AHI Executive Director
Nick Larigakis, explained that, “Americans of Hellenic origin, and I
believe most Americans, have long held that the U.S. Congress should
be on record as recognizing the Armenian Genocide, commemorating this
crime against all humanity, and applying its lessons to help prevent
future atrocities and genocides.” He went on to note that “Sadly, due
to the powerful pressure brought to bear by the Turkish lobby’s
threats and intimidation, legislation along these lines has been
blocked from passage.”

22 PAINTINGS OF ST. PETERSBURG ARTISTS WERE GIFTED TO ARMENIA’s
NATIONAL PICTURE GALLERY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. 22 paintings of modern St. Petersburg
artists were gifted to Armenia’s National Picture Gallery. Saint
Petersburg mayor Valentina Matvienko participated at exhibition’s
opening ceremony.
In her words, works of Russian artists having a great contribution to
the development of Russian culture are represented at the
exhibition. To note, the exhibition has been organized within the
framework of St. Petersburg’s Days in Yerevan.

Pan Armenian News
INTERNATIONAL SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL HELD IN ARMENIA
14.09.2005 08:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the U.S Embassy,
famous American actor and film director Arnold Shvetzov will take part in
the International Shakespeare Festival of mono performances «Armmono» held
in Yerevan for the third time. Representatives of Switzerland, Georgia,
Poland, Russia, Turkmenistan, UK and Armenia will take part in the festival.
Within the festival framework Arnold Shvetzov will represent a performance
titled «Clown for Fortinbras’s Retinue».

pan Armenian News
IF BAKU SUBMITS KARABAKH ISSUE TO UN DISCUSSION ARMENIA WILL BREAK
NEGOTIATIONS
14.09.2005 07:49
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In case Azerbaijan submits any issue referring to the
Karabakh problem to the discussion of the UN General Assembly Armenia will
break the negotiations and Baku will have to hold talks directly with
Stepanakert, RA MFA Press Secretary Hamlet Gasparian stated when commenting
on the fact that the issue of the `seized territories’ was included in the
UN General Assembly 60-th Session. In his words, according to the UN
regulations the items not discussed during the 59-th Session are included in
the agenda of the 60-th Session. However Azerbaijan cannot undertake any
steps to accentuate attention on this item, since it would conflict with
agreements achieved earlier between the parties, H. Gasparian stated.