3 AZERI SERVICEMEN CHARGED WITH COOPERATING WITH SECRET SERVICES OF ARMENIA
AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005
Neighbors
A legal process against 3 Azerbaijani servicemen started yesterday
in Baku. Ruslan Bakirov, Khayal Abdulayev and Hikmet Tagiyev are
accused of parricide. According to Regnum agency, the court in Baku
charges them with crossing the Armenian border on 15 February of the
current year and cooperating with the Armenian special services. The
servicemen spending their compulsory army service refused all charges
saying that that they were taken captive. The Armenian side handed
Azeri soldiers over to Baku.
Iranian visas for Armenian citizens at the airport
The Embassy of Iran Islamic Republic to Armenia informed Liberty
Radio that Armenian citizens visiting Iran can get 7-day visas at
the Tehran airport.

EQUIPMENT OF 500.000 EUROS FOR ARMECONOM BANK
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005
Economy
Lloyds TSB Bank to Realize the Project Financed by Eurobank
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to
provide ArmEconom Bank with technical support amounting to 500.000
euros. The Lloyds TSB Bank of the Lloyd Group Inc. will realize the
project. The executive director of ArmEconom bank, Ashot Osipian,
and the head of international consulting department of the Lloyds
TSB, Edward Hayter, signed an agreement yesterday launching thus
the project. It’s worth reminding that the EBRD is the owner of 25+1
percent of the ArmEconom’s shares.
Ashot Osipian informed that 6 organizations competed in London for
the right to realize the project of technical aid to ArmEconom Bank,
emphasizing that he is glad that an influential bank as the Lloyds
TBS became the winner. The aim of the project is to ArmEconom a
bank matching international standards. The executive director also
mentioned that together with the Eurobank they will realize a project
of financing 5 enterprises to the sum of $1.5 million.
Edward Hayter said that thanks to the efforts of the bank he
represents and exports he has elaborated a plan of institutional
reconstruction of ArmEconom Bank, which aims at developing risks
managing system, improving the structure of corporative management,
installing streamlined technologies and methodologies and raising
the qualifications of the staff etc. The Lloyds TSB representative
noted that they were impressed to see ArmEconom Bank occupying a firm
position in Armenian market. It’s not strange, he said, that such a
bank captured Eurobank’s attention.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PENETRATING UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005
Education
Discussions of a new system of higher educational establishment
management have arisen anxiety in a number of Yerevan universities. The
government’s forced discussions came as a result of a decision taken in
July, which tends to completely reform the governance system of higher
educational establishments. If formerly the rector of a university was
elected at a session of a scientific council, then the new decision
makes it mandatory for the government to interfere in election by 50
percent. The universities have been already ordered to present the
lists of members in the governing board by 15 September. Each board
has to have 20-32 members. The heads of a university are not included
in the lists but only lecturers and students are.
Given the fact that the rectors of most of the universities are
in advanced age, it is clear that government officials are in a
favorable position of penetrating into the university management
sphere and dictating their own rules of the game or even appointing
any bureaucrat as rector.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DURING TODAY’S GOVERNMENT SITTING – HUMANITARIAN AID
A1+
| 18:14:37 | 08-09-2005 | Politics |
The Armenian government has assigned $200 thousand as a humanitarian
assistance to the U.S. population, who suffered from Katrina hurricane
in August 2005.
To note, Azerbaijan has offered assistance amounting in $500 thousand.
NEW REALIZATION ZONE
The RA government has confirmed the zones of amortization (lands,
buildings, constructions) called for state use with a total area of
12.2 hectares.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIBETAN DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATED IN NEW YORK
Phayul, Tibet
Aug 8 2005
RTYC NY & NJ[Thursday, September 08, 2005 18:22]
September 5- Coinciding China’s celebration of the 40th anniversary
of the so-called ” Tibet Autonomous Region”, the Tibetans in exile
on September 2nd celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment
of Tibetan Democracy in high spirit and optimism.
In New York, the Tibetan communities from New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut celebrated the Tibetan Democracy Day on September 3rd
(Saturday) at Armenian Church with the initiative of the Regional
Tibetan Youth Congress of New York and New Jersey. About 600 Tibetans
assembled to observe the day with speeches and Tibetan cultural
performances. The morning program began with offering of the mandala
to the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama by the North American
Chithue Mr.Tenzin Choeden and the RTYC President Mr Gyatso. This was
followed by the speeches by the Chief guest Mr.Tenzin Choeden, Mr.
Gyatso, and our special guest Mr.Bai Quiao Tang, the Director of the
Chinese Citizen Forum in New York. Mr.Gyatso made an introductory
note on the significance of the occasion and urged the Tibetans to
shoulder more responsibilities in order to upgrade the system of
Democracy in exile. Mr Choeden also highlighted on the importance of
the democratic system which the Tibetans in Tibet are deprived of,
and further urged the people to avail the opportunity of right to
Vote in the forthcoming elections. He further suggested that it is
high time that fresh qualified candidates should not hesitate to seek
nominations in the forthcoming Chithue elections. He also requested
Tibetans to be aware and keep update of the developments on Tibetan
issues all the time. Mr.Tang also expressed his appreciation of the
democratic system prevailing around the world. He pointed out that
Chinese government has actually misled the world by stating that
Tibet is a part of China. He also expressed his doubt that Tibetan
issue will be resolved that soon unless and until China becomes a
democratic nation. The Representative of H.H the Dalai Lama, however,
was not present as he was away to India.
In the afternoon, Mr.Choeden had about one n half hour question/answer
session with the audience on number of subjects ranging from the
Tibetan political situation to the matters pertaining to Tibetan Green
Book. This was then followed by the Tibetan songs and dance items
from Cholsum troupe, and other individual and group performances. The
afternoon program also included the presentation of the trophies
and certificates to the winners and runners up of the recently held
‘the Pawo Thupten Ngodup Memorial Basketball Tournament. The audience
witnessed for the first time the women teams receiving the Basketball
Tournament Trophies, a matter of great pride and a big boost for future
women participation in the tournament. Tibetan Women Association also
drew the raffles and announced the three winning numbers. The day’s
program concluded with word of thanks by Mr.Tenzin Kalden, the Vice
President of RTYC of NY and NJ.
In the evening, the people as usual got together to perform ‘Gor-zshe’
(Hand in hand Tibetan folk dance) which was followed by the evening
Fund raising dance party.

ARMENIA 83RD ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 02:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the Human Development Annual Report of
the UN Development Programme (UNDP), all republics of the Commonwealth
of Independent States are included in the group of countries with
average development level. Russia has occupied 62nd place on human
development index, Belarus – 67th, Ukraine -78th, Kazakhstan – 80th,
Armenia – 83rd, Turkmenistan – 97th, Georgia – 100, Azerbaijan –
101st, Kyrgyzstan – 109th, Uzbekistan – 111th, Moldova – 115th,
Tajikistan – 122nd out of 177 countries researched. Indices of
health state of nations, life length, social protection, per capita
Gross Domestic Produce, education and cultural level, crime and
environment record served as criteria for UN experts. Norway, Island,
Australia, Luxembourg and Canada got highest marks on the parameters
mentioned. The US and Japan have lost two points as compared with
past year and occupy 10th and 11th places respectively. All Baltic
states, were included in the countries with high development level
(Estonia – 38, Lithuania -39 and Latvia – 48). Mali, Burkina-Faso,
Sierra Leone and Niger were named among 32 most retarded countries.

BULENT ARINC SENT PROTEST LETTERS TO SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENTS, WHICH RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 04:03
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Arinc has sent
letters of protest to chairs of 16 parliaments, which had recognized
the Armenian Genocide. “There is nothing in our history, which we
would like to conceal or are ashamed of,” B. Arinc noted in messages
to Speakers of Argentine, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece,
Italy, Lebanon, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland,
Uruguay and Venezuela. “The national parliament is not the best rostrum
to discuss history controversial pages,” B. Arinc stated. He added,
“parliaments should make efforts to strengthen friendly relations
between countries and nations instead,” RFE/RL reported.

GOAL OF ARMENIA’S ARMED FORCES TO REACH NATO STANDARDS
AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005
Visit
Armenian defense minister Serge Sargsian told his Latvian counterpart
during his working visit to Latvia that Armenia’s armed forces do
not match the NATO standards perhaps because of lack of finances but
getting higher to NATO standards is Armenia’s goal. Sargsian stated
that Armenia plans to reform its army by the year of 2015. Latvian
prime minister Aigars Kalvitis expressed readiness to assist Armenia
in developing closer ties with NATO, press release of Armenian Foreign
Affairs Ministry informs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN: THE RUB IS IN DETAILS
By Tatoul Hakobian
AZG Armenian Daily #160
8/09/2005
Karabakh issue
Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, stated at the joint press
conference with Dimitri Rupel, OSCE chairman-in-office, that “the
rub is in details” of Nagorno Karabakh settlement issue. He said that
when the foreign ministers of both countries discuss the details of
the settlement, “they may encounter serious obstacles.” Mr. Rupel and
Oskanian emphasized that common “terms are being observed” in principal
issues between the sides. Mr. Oskanian didn’t want to go into details
of the principle issues that made the position of the parties closer.
Mr. Rupel said that on the level of principles of the settlement the
positions of the parties are very alike, there are some problems
concerning the details and the settlement would have been reached
if only these problems were solved. “The issues of territorial
integrity and national self-determination are among the most important
ones. These two values, these two determinations can be “dealt”
and this is the message I received in Baku and Yerevan,” he said.
In response to the issue whether Yerevan can accept a status for
Karabakh that can be less than independence, Mr. Oskanian said:
“I would put that question the other way around. We can’t discuss
a version that won’t secure the right of Karabakh people for
self-determination.” Mr. Oskanian didn’t comment on the possibility
of defining NKR’s status through a referendum. President of Nagorno
Karabakh Arkady Ghukasian said in response to the same question on
NKR’s status: “I can’t fancy that. It resembles being a bit pregnant.”
The official Yerevan has stated for many times that Nagorno Karabakh
has never been in the structure of independent Azerbaijan and will
never be. On the other hand, the current Armenian authorities keep
insisting on three principles: Nagorno Karabakh can never be a part
of Azerbaijan, it should have a common border with Armenia and the
international community should give security guarantees for Nagorno
Karabakh.
In response to the issue when NKR will be involved in the settlement
process, Mr. Oskanian said he doesn’t doubt that it will happen. “When
the foreign ministers go into details and when the discussions reach
certain level, it will be necessary to restore the Minsk group
procedure and Karabakh will be involved in that,” Mr. Oskanian
said. It’s worth reminding that Minsk group process was led to a
dead-end after the Lisbon summit in 1996. The last trilateral meeting
between Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan took place in Moscow, in April
of 1997.
Mr. Rupel neither condemned nor expressed any definite position about
the militant statements of Baku. Baku authorities often threaten to
settle the conflict through a war. Ilham Aliyev said that the military
budget of his country was tripled during the last few years and it
will amount to the whole state budget of Armenia, very soon. “The
statements I hear differ from what you hear (in Yerevan). I hear
statements of peace, of readiness to sign memorandum and reconciliation
in my conversations in Baku. Azerbaijan’s statements that I hear are
so close to mutual concessions and reconciliation as those made by
the Armenian government.”
Oskanian emphasized that Nagorno Karabakh conflict can have no military
solution, and the very fact that the conflict hasn’t been settled till
now, means that it could have no military solution. In response to
the question about the possible impact of Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline
on the settlement process, Vartan Oskanian said that they observe
the oil pipeline as and additional factor for preserving the peace.
Mr. Rupel met with the representatives of NGOs, RA Prime Minister and
RA President during his visit to Yerevan. Mr. Rupel passed “extremely
sincere message of Azeri president Ilham Aliyev” to Robert Kocharian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON MODERN BIOLOGICAL ISSUES
AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005
Science
An international workshop on issues that modern biology faces today
dedicated to Russian scientist Nikolay Timifeev-Resotski will launch
today at the American University of Armenia. Around 100 scientists
all over the world have gathered in Yerevan to make their reports on
genetics, radiobiology, radial biophysics and radioecology.
The workshop organized by Pan-Armenian Organization of Biophysics
will last till 11 September.