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| 19:08:04 | 08-09-2005 | Politics |
SADOYAN FORETELLING
Justice faction member Arshak Sadoyan knows the consequences of the
constitutional amendments. In his words, the referendum will empower Robert
Kocharian to run for President for the third term.
`Kocharian will appeal to the Constitutional Court. It is not ruled out that
after all Gagik Haruryunyan will advance a proposal on the 4-th term of
Robert Kocharian’s office’, Arshak Sadoyan said during today’s press
conference. He has decided to say `no’ to the referendum on Constitution.
The deputy also noted he possesses information, according to which the
Armenian authorities are going to falsify the outcomes of the so-called
referendum.
Arshak Sadoyan proposed to send 10 people to each polling station to
thoroughly observe the course of the referendum. In his opinion, 20 000
people is enough to launch a `colored revolution without bloodshed’. If the
referendum fails the authorities will have to resign, Sadoyan is convinced.
He also puts some responsibility upon the opposition leaders.
BUQUICCHIO’S REPLY TO SADOYAN
`Something strange is happening to Europeans. They are late for plane, do
not send letter in time’, National Democratic Alliance head Arshak Sadoyan
when commenting on the message sent by Venice Commission President Gianni
Buquicchio.
On August 30 the latter answered Arshak Sadoyan’s letter sent on July 23.
Mr. Buquicchio wrote that he received the letter in time and the proposals
mentioned in it were `thoroughly read and studied. `As you know part of them
found reflection in the report of the working group of the Venice
Commission,’ he noted.
However, out of 82 proposals 76 were declined and 6 were partially adopted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT AND U.S. CONGRESS AGREED ON COOPERATION
09.09.2005 03:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Artur
Baghdassaryan met in Washington with U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, RA
NA press office reported. The parties discussed a wide rage of issues and
agreed on developing cooperation between the Armenian parliament and the
U.S. Congress. The RA NA Speaker also met with some Congressmen to discuss
the problems Armenia is concerned about, including lifting of the blockade
imposed by Turkey and the Armenian Genocide recognition. Presently two bills
are awaiting consideration by the Congress. The Congressmen are expected to
discuss the bill on the Armenian Genocide recognition and the construction
of a new railway line, which is aimed to impose greater blockade on Armenia.
Artur Baghdassaryan asked Congressmen to assist in these issues, thanked
them for their activities and invited to Armenia. The invitation was
accepted. The RA NA Speaker discussed the regional developments and the
constitutional reform in Armenia with head of the Bureau of European and
Eurasian Affairs, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried and John Fox,
Director of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of Europe and
Eurasian Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. During the meeting with
head of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Assistant Secretary
Glyn T. Davies the Armenian parliament Speaker touched upon the domestic
political situation in Armenia including the process of the constitutional,
electoral and juridical reform. Upon completion of the meeting Artur
Baghdassaryan departed for New York to take part in the 2-dn World
Conference of Speakers of Parliament. Besides, he is scheduled to hold a
number of meetings.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
SERGE SARGSYAN VISITED BALTIC MILITARY COLLEGE IN TARTU
09.09.2005 02:51
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the Armenian Portal
in Estonia, on September 8 the Armenian delegation headed by Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan and Armenian Ambassador to Estonia Ashot Hovakiamyan
visited the Baltic Military College in Tartu. Afterwards they attended the
Khachkar, which was brought in 1978 from Armenia as a token of friendship
between the Estonian and Armenian people initiated by outstanding Armenian
enlightener Khachatur Abovyan, who studied in the Tartu University. The
Armenian Defense Minister also met with the members of the Armenian
Diaspora, who expressed hope that the friendship between the two nations
will renew and the visits of the Armenian delegation to Estonia as well as
the visit of the Estonian President to Armenia will convey an impulse to the
Armenian-Estonian relations. To remind, the RA Defense Minister is visiting
Estonia with the framework of the NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan
(IPAP). Segre Sargsyan is scheduled to meet with Estonian Defense Minister
Jaak Joeruut and Chief of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defense Forces
Colonel Alar Laneman to discuss the military reform carried out in both
states, regional partnership and participation of the Armenian and Estonian
military in the international peacekeeping operations. Today the Armenian
Defense Minister will sign a memorandum on the development of military
cooperation. Before leaving the country he will visit the Armenian Church in
Tallinn.

Pan Armenian News
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ARMENIA TO ALLOCATE $200 THOUSAND FOR KARTINA VICTIMS
08.09.2005 08:57
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian government has assigned $200 thousand as a
humanitarian assistance to the people, who fell victim to Katrina hurricane
in New Orleans. Earlier Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated
that the RA MFA instructed the Armenian Embassy in Washington to inform the
U.S. leadership that Armenia stands ready to render the essential assistance
and take part in the rescue works. `Armenia is ready to render its humble
material and technical assistance,’ Vartan Oskanian stated, IA Regnum
reports.

AZG Armenian Daily #161, 09/09/2005
Region
EU LIKELY TO FINANCE KARS-AKHALKALAK RAILWAY
Francois Lamoureux, European Commission Energy and Transport
Directorate-General, stated that EU is interested in construction of
Kars-Akhalkalak railway during his visit to Baku on November 15. “We have
thoroughly studied that project in order to be able to finance that in
future. But, besides, the EU sources, we shall look for other sources as
well,” Lamoureux said.
The representatives of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on
the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak railway in Tbilisi on December 28.
Presidents Sezer, Saakashvili and Aliyev stated about “the railway corridor”
that connects the their countries, on May 25 2005.
The official Yerevan expressed concern about the construction of the railway
on May 31. Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, applied to Jacques Barrot,
deputy-chairman of the European Commission, coordinator of transport
affairs, to consider Armenia’s position.
“Being informed that at present, you are discussing the possibility to
construct a new railway from Turkey to Georgia, I introduce to you the
position of Armenia. As you know, there is a functioning railway link that
connects Kars with Tbilisi through Gyumri. This is an indispensable corridor
financed within the framework of EU TRASECA program. It hasn’t been utilized
because of Turkey’s political decision to impose a blockade on Armenia. The
current decision to build a new railway will require big financial sources.
Still worse, it goes hand in hand with Turkey’s policy of blockade that
lasts for decades. The Armenian-Turkish border is the only blocked one in
Europe. Armenia finds such a decision irrational and unacceptable. If
Armenia is a problem for Turkey, we are ready to keep from utilizing
Kars-Gyumri railway line. If Europe really wants cooperation in South
Caucasus, the reopening of this railway line will contribute to that process
in the best way. The decision not to utilize that corridor will create
obstacles for successful implementation of the European neighborhood
policy,” Oskanian said in his letter.
Armenia can’t hinder the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak railway, especially
when Europe renders political and financial assistance for that project.
There are still some expectations circulating in the diplomatic circles of
Yerevan that the issue of opening the borders with Armenia will be discussed
in the agenda of the negotiations over Turkey’s membership to EU on October
3. Though, Ankara is unlikely to give in. The Turkish authorities even
refuse to recognize the independence of Cyprus that is a EU member country.
In such conditions, the Europeans will probably gamble on the fact of the
Armenian Genocide, which will hurt both Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
An official of RA foreign ministry said in the interview to Azg that Yerevan
observes Kars-Akhalkalak project as a political act that hinders the
regional cooperation, while the construction of the new railway contributes
to Armenia’s isolation, which is quite artificial. The diplomat believes
that Kars-Akhalkalak means nothing but an attempt to stop utilization of
Kars-Gyumri. “While, in case of financially supporting Kars-Akhalkalak, EU
contradicts the very principle it announced. They are going to finance a
project that is aimed to isolate Armenia,” the diplomat said.
By Tatoul Hakobian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #161, 09/09/2005
‘Cilicia’
IMPRESSIONS AND MEMORIES COMING FORM ‘CILICIA’S’ DECK
A Meeting at Daily Azg Publishing House
On September 7, the crew of “Cilicia” sailing vessel visited daily Azg. The
sailors that were just back from the second navigation shared with their
impressions and memories with the editorial staff of daily Azg. The
crewmembers were thankful to the newspaper for continual coverage of the
vessel’s tour. Captain Karen Balayan presented editor-in-chief of daily Azg,
Hakob Avetikian, a unique photo of “Cilicia”. To shoot the vessel in the
open sea, the sailors needed to sail away from the vessel in a boat.
Writer and publicist Zori Balayan, who was on the Vessel for most of the
time, shares with his memories from the first navigation. “The sails got
ripped, the rows broke down and it seemed that there is no way out. But
there were experienced people among us who could steer “Cilicia”. The
sailors tell that both interested Armenians and foreigners used to gather
around the ship in every harbor. A Swede woman even approached the vessel in
Rhodos and kissed it. In some harbors, “Cilicia” attracted thousands of
spectators. In Beirut, numerous aged Armenians from local community who
already had no hope to tread the soil of the fatherland went aboard the
ship, some even on wheelchairs.
Asked which storm was the most awful one, the captain said, “There was no
time to think of the storms and gales. You have no time to scare when there
is work to do. You pay attention to nothing”.
Spirits, cigarettes and even cross words were banned on the ship. “Only on
some occasion would the captain order the cook to pour some drinks for us
but the youngest crewmembers got no alcohol. As to cross words, I heard only
doctor Gevorg Grigorian swearing at the 4-day-long storm”, Zori Balayan
recalls. The doctor performed a sailor’s role on the vessels, as the boys
were too trained and prepared to resort to medical help. Gevorg Grigorian
had an interesting pastime aboard the ship. He brought back home a
collection of plants, a kind of “laboratory” made on way back home. “He used
to put the unique fish that we caught in formalin that we did not need any
more and grew interesting plants”, Zori Balayan says.
Captain Karen Balayan says that the he does not think that the return of
“Cilicia” back to Armenia will not be easy either (it is now anchored in
Portsmouth, England). “The first stage was difficult because it was
unprecedented. In the second stage we had a primary goal to cross the ocean.
It is very likely that the northern seas will not let us out easily. So,
it’s a serious trial too”.
Zori Balayan does not consider the third stage (return) much of navigation.
“The vessel has to return home. We have already proved that we are able to
cross 20.000 miles. Now, if we even cross 1 million miles, it won’t be
anything new. We will perhaps get the ship on a plane from Sochi not to
damage it. The whole nation should accompany the ship from airport to the
Lake Sevan”, he says.
By Tamar Minasian

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| 20:26:39 | 08-09-2005 | Official |
STRUCTURAL OPPOSITION NEAR KOCHARIAN
Today Robert Kocharian received representatives of the Labor Party of
Armenia. LPA leader Gurgen Arsenyan informed the President of the party
activities.
The interlocutors also discussed the constitutional reform process and noted
the importance of the amendments adopted in the second reading.
They also touched upon the issues referring to public health, science,
culture and education.

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| 19:28:39 | 08-09-2005 | Official |
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVED ARMEN JIGARKHANYAN
Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with head of the Moscow
Dramatic Theater, actor Armen Jigarkhanyan.
The President appreciated the contribution of A. Jigarkhanyan to the cinema.
Having noted Jigarkhanyan’s role in the development of Armenian-Russian
cultural relations, R. Kocharian considered actor’s participation in events
on the occasion of the Year of Russia in Armenia and Year of Armenia in
Russia scheduled in 2006 desirable.

AZG Armenian Daily #161, 09/09/2005
Armenian Genocide
ARENC CONDEMNS 16 COUNTRIES IN HIS LETTER
Byulent Arenc, chairman of Turkish Parliament, applied with a letter to the
presidents of 16 countries, namely Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia, Lebanon,
Canada, Argentina, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece,
Uruguay, Sweden, Russia and Venezuela, condemning them for their decisions
to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
He emphasized the disappointment the Turkish people experienced after such
decisions and reminded that Turkish Prime Minister suggested to create a
committee consisting of Armenian and Turkish historians in order to
investigate the events of 1915.
Arenc seems to be concerned about how to deprive the European countries of
the opportunity to use the issue of the Armenian Genocide as a pre-condition
against Turkey during the coming negotiations.
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily #161, 09/09/2005
Turkey
TURKISH PRESS KEEPS ON WRITING ON SEPT. 6 POGROMS
Nationalists Attack Exhibition Dedicated to Pogroms
Covering the 50th anniversary of pogroms of Greek, Jewish and Armenian
communities in Istanbul, daily Azg mentioned in its September 7 issue that
all central newspapers of Turkey draw public’s attention to that horrific
data in order to prevent future massacres.
The papers are still responding to the anniversary. On the commemoration
day, the Istanbul offshoot of Turkey’s Union for Human Rights Protection
organized a march in memory of the victims and the “History” Foundation
exhibited photos.
At the end of the march the Union of Human Rights Protection delivered its
message to the public. President of the Union, Eren Keskin, personally read
the epistle informing meanwhile that cadets of 2 military academies took
part in the march. As to the photo exhibition, titled “50th Anniversary of
Events of September 6-7”, it was assaulted by Turkish nationalists.
Turkish papers together with state and private TVs draw Turkish public’s
attention not only on the anniversary of the pogroms but also the attack on
the exhibition.
Turkish NTV responded to the attack the very day it happened on 6 September.
It’s noteworthy that Turkish papers Radikal and Aksam responded in an
article with an identical title “50 Years Later With the Same Mentality”.
The 250 photos of retired admiral Fahri Coker’s archive displayed at the
exhibition featured pogroms of September 6-7.
The admiral was the chairman of the court that was set to investigate into
the pogroms. He handed down photos and documents to “History” Foundation.
Around 1 thousand people visited the exhibition on the opening day. It will
be open for 21 days.
The exhibition opened at 6 pm local time on 6 September. Right at that
moment the members of intellectuals’ clubs of Anatolia, headed by
vice-president Aynur Saydam, entered the hall. A group of 10-15 people,
headed by former spearhead of Istanbul’s clubs Levent Temiz, follow them
declaring that they represent the Union of Turkish Resistance.
Temiz suddenly holds forth saying, “Our homeland is occupied today. Even the
law enforcers have been neutralized. The Turkish youth whom Ataturk
entrusted republican Turkey will do its holy duty by exerting itself”. The
members soon joined in yelling “Traitors”, “Love or go away”, “Turkey
belongs to Turks” and attacked the photos and documents on stands. Most of
them were torn off. Grabbing the exhibits and waving Turkish national flags
the attackers march to the square of Beray. 3 protesters were arrested as
police interfered.
The France-Presse disseminated all details attached with photos of the
attack to its subscribers in every corner of the world. In the meantime,
president of the “History” Foundation, Orhan Milier, accuses the police for
the attack saying that no preventive measures were taken. But it is well
know that the organizers of the attack have warned 15 prior to the events
about possible protest and their threat was even published in the press.
By Hakob Chakrian