TO LEAVE FOR LATVIA
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| 20:24:10 | 02-09-2005 | Official |
On September 5 the Delegation of the Secretary of the Security Council
under the RA President, the Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will
leave for the Republic of Latvia on an official visit.
On September 7 the delegation will leave for Estonia where they
will spend two days. As a result of the visits in both Republics the
delegation will sign memorandums about Military cooperation between
Armenia and Latvia, and Armenia and Estonia.

“OSCE PUTS INTO PRACTICE DUAL PRINCIPLES”
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| 20:19:12 | 02-09-2005 | Politics |
The Human Rights Defender of RA Larissa Alaverdyan is concerned with
the policy of several international structures, including the OSCE.
“I have numerous questions to the OSCE, especially about the practice
of dual principles. Before becoming Ombudsman I have thoroughly
investigated the Karabakh conflict and I think that OSCE puts into
practice dual principles in this respect”, says Larissa Alaverdyan.
Referring to the announcement of the EU representative Len Marker
in the OSCE Ministers Committee latest session that a variant of
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict is the uniting of Armenia
and Karabakh, Mrs. Alaverdyan said, “The Armenian authorities must
make it clear on what international document the announcement is
based. In my opinion, Len Marker reminded the 1921 act according
to which Azerbaijan gives up Karabakh. Today there are two Armenian
Republics in the region. I am deeply concerned about the fact that
OSCE does not recognize Karabakh as an independent republic”.

ARMENIAN MOD HEAD TO LEAVE FOR LATVIA ON OFFICIAL CALL SEPTEMBER 5
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 02:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 5 Secretary of the Security Council at
the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will leave for
Latvia on an official call. In the course of the visit he is scheduled
to meet with the PM, MOD head, General Staff chief, as well as head of
the Parliamentary Committee on Security and Defense. Within the visit
framework Treaty on Military Cooperation between the MOD of Armenia
and MOD of Latvia will be signed. September 7-9 the official visit
of the Armenian delegation will continue in Estonia. Here similar
meetings are planned. Upon the completion of the visit a Memorandum
on Mutual Understanding in Military Cooperation between the Armenian
MOD and the Estonian MOD is expected to be signed. The documents being
arranged for the signing are sent for creating of the necessary legal
framework, which will provide for military cooperation between the
countries mentioned and Armenia, reported IA Regnum.

LATVIA TO PROMOTE DEFENSE REFORM IN ARMENIA
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 04:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A delegation of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of
Armenia headed by Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will be in Latvia
on a working visit September 5-7, reported the Latvian MOD. Latvian
Defense Minister Einars Repse (New Era Party) and Serge Sargsyan plan
to discuss defense cooperation opportunities and sign a respective
agreement. To promote defense reform in Armenia and its compatibility
with the NATO, Einars Repse is going to indicate Latvia’s readiness
to share experience of participation in peacekeeping operations and
provide practical assistance in military training. According to the
data of the Latvian MOD, having become a NATO member, the republic
has seriously assisted the South Caucasian region in security reform:
the Ministry has already arranged close cooperation with Georgia this
year and now the Latvian department works over its development with
other countries of the South Caucasus. Latvia considers the signing
of an agreement on defense cooperation in the course of the Armenian
delegation’s visit an important move to that end, reported IA Regnum.

TURKEY AND ARMENIA SHOULD SIT AT BARGAINING TABLE WITHOUT ESCAPING FROM THEIR PAST
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 03:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Turkey and Armenia should not put obstacles for
cooperation, but should sit at bargaining table without escaping
from their past and constantly moving forward via dialogue,” stated
Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur Baghdassaryan
at a meting with experts at US Center for International Strategic
Studies. “There is nothing bad about the neighboring country becoming
a EU member,” the Armenian Speaker answered to a question on Turkey’s
possible accession to the EU. “I see the future of the region in the
enlarged European Union,” Baghdassaryan stated. At that he noted that
“The Armenian Genocide cannot be consigned to oblivion.” The Speaker
again reminded that in its time the Holocaust was not prevented also
due to the international community not recognizing and condemned
the Armenian Genocide. It should be noted that A. Baghdassaryan left
for the US on an official call August 31. The head of the Armenian
Parliament will take part in the world forum of speakers and will
meet with representatives of the US executive, reported IA Regnum.

ARMENIA ISSUE CAN CHANGE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ATTITUDE TOWARD TURKEY
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 04:16
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “If Turkish authorities continue their attacks
of famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk due to his recognition of
the Armenian Genocide of 1915, many of us – those, who support
Turkey – will have to change their attitude toward that country,”
stated European Parliament member, British Laborite Denis MacShane,
reported RFE/RL referring to the Independent (UK). The other day
Turkish prosecution brought a charge against Pamuk, who stated a
few months before that Turks in their time had killed a million of
Armenians. In Denis MacShane’s words, “it is a painful strike for
the UK and all politicians, who support Turkey.”

Countries Pledge Hurricane Aid to U.S.
By BARRY SCHWEID
The Associated Press
09/02/05 23:53 EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) – In an accelerating drive, more than 50 countries
have pledged money or other assistance to help Americans recover from
Hurricane Katrina.
Cuba and Venezuela have offered to help despite differences with
Washington. Oil giant Saudi Arabia and small countries like Sri Lanka
and Dominica are among the nations making pledges.
“I hope that will remind Americans that we are all part of the same
community,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday as offers
kept pouring in.
None has been turned down, Rice said at a news conference, disputing a
report from Moscow that a Russian offer had been rejected. However,
she said some offers were being taken up immediately and others
“somewhat later,” depending on the needs on the ground.
But Cuban President Fidel Castro said he hoped an offer made Tuesday
to send 1,100 Cuban doctors would be accepted “immediately so as not
to lose another minute.” Castro said in a live broadcast in Havana
Friday night that he had just sent a diplomatic note to the U.S.
mission in Havana to make the offer a second time.
In her news conference, Rice singled out Sri Lanka for praise for
making a contribution even as it struggles to recover from the tsunami
and earthquake disaster of last December.
And she said contributions from poor countries were being accepted
because “it is very valuable for people being able to give to each
other and to be able to do so without a sense of means.”
Australia announced a donation of $8 million to the American Red Cross.
“The United States is so often at the forefront of international aid
efforts to help less fortunate nations,” Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer said. “So it is only fitting that Australia should contribute to
the daunting task of helping the thousands of American citizens whose
lives have been thrown into turmoil by this unprecedented disaster.”
France, “determined to show its solidarity with the United States,”
offered a range of aircraft and two ships, with helicopters and
planes capable of airlifting tons of supplies, a disaster unit with
20 soldiers, a civil defense detachment of 35 people and an airborne
emergency unit, the French Embassy said.
Canada is loading three warships and a coast guard vessel in Halifax
with emergency supplies and food, and will dispatch them to Louisiana
next Tuesday, Dan McTeague, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Minister
Pierre Pettigrew, said in an interview.
Up to 1,000 divers, engineers and reconstruction experts will be
aboard, McTeague said.
Prime Minister Paul Martin has announced the release of 30,000 barrels
of gasoline and oil for U.S. use.
Japan said it would contribute $200,000 to the American Red Cross
for its relief operations. Upon request, Japan is prepared to provide
up to $300,000 worth of tents, blankets, power generators, portable
water tanks and other equipment, the Japanese Embassy said.
The United States historically has aided victims of disasters, but it
is not universally recognized as providing the level of aid expected
of a rich nation.
In July, President Bush resisted British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s
ambitious goals for assisting Africa, though Bush took steps to double
U.S. aid to more than $8.6 billion by 2010.
The United States, which has the world’s largest economy, lags behind
other rich nations in the percentage of its giving to nations in
Africa, the world’s poorest continent.
By Friday, offers had been received from Armenia, Australia, Austria,
Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba,
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France,
Germany, Greece, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea,
Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and the United Arab
Emirates.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONDOLED ON CONSEQUENCES OF HURRICANE IN US
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 03:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian has sent a
telegram to US President George Bush, condoling upon the consequences
of Katrina hurricane, reported the Press Service of the Armenian
leader. The message specifically notes, “With a deep pain I got to know
about Katrina destructive hurricane, that swept the US eastern coast,
resulting in destruction and ripping apart many lives.” “Sharing your
pain I condole with the families and friends of the victims on behalf
of the Armenian people and myself,” the telegram says.

AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Today
LIVE WEBCAST OF AGBU BUENOS AIRES FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 3
On Saturday, September 3, 2005, AGBU Buenos Aires () will be
airing a live webcast of its artistic and cultural festival, “Armenia, One
People, One Nation, One Culture,” the proceeds of which will benefit the
city’s Doctor Pedro de Eiizalde Children’s Hospital ().
About 500 musicians and dancers will take part in the mega-event at the
city’s Exhibition Center. The evening will be hosted under the auspices of
the City of Buenos Aires and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia.
Streaming video of the live webcast can be viewed by visiting the AGBU
Buenos Aires webcast homepage () on the day of the event and
clicking on a banner that will launch the viewing portal. Up-to-minute
information about broadcast times and system requirements will be available
on the viewing portal as well. The six-hour live broadcast will begin
Saturday 5:00 PM (18:00) in Buenos Aires [Sunday 1:00 AM (01:00) in Yerevan;
Saturday 11:0O PM (23:00) in Beirut; Saturday 10:00 PM (22:00) In Paris?
Saturday 4:00 PM O6:00) in Mew York; Saturday 1:00 PM (7 3:00) in Los
Angeles; and Sunday 6:00 AM (06:00) in Sydney].
This is the first AGBU event to be broadcast live to the public on the
Internet, international viewers are invited to send comments and good wishes
before and during the event via email to: [email protected]. In
addition to fundraising for the Pedro de Elizalde Hospital, the evening is a
pre-event in honor of next year’s AGBU Centennial.
The webcast will begin with a 90-minute program devoted to Buenos Aires
Armenian schools, followed by performances by a wide array of choirs and
dance troupes concluding with gala festivities that will include speeches
and music.
Participating music and dance ensembles are:
– “Alakiaz” Choir from the Mekhitarian School of Buenos Aires,
– AGBU Cordoba “Ararat” Dance Ensemble,
– “Arax” Choir of Buenos Aires,
– “Arevakal” Choir from the Vicente Lopez Armenian School of Buenos Aires
– “Erevan 50” Orchestra of Montevideo, Uruguay
– “Gayane 11 Dance Ensemble from the Armenian National Center of Uruguay
– “Gomidas” Choir of Buenos Aires
– “Grung” Choir of from UGAB of Montevideo, Uruguay
– “Haiastan” Orchestra of Buenos Aires
– “Kaiane” Dance Ensemble from the Armenian Cultural Union of Buenos Aires
– “Krikor Naregatsi” Choir from the Santa Cruz de Varak Church of Buenos
Aires
– “Kusan” Orchestra of Cordoba
– “Masis” Dance Ensemble from the Archbishopric of Buenos Aires
– “Nairi” Dance Ensemble from Hamazkain of San Fernando Valley, United
States
– “Nairi” Dance Ensemble from HOM of Buenos Aires
– AGBU Buenos Aires “Nerses Shnorhalli” Choir
– “Nor Arax” Orchestra of Buenos Aires
– “San Gregorio el Iluminador” Choir from the Sourp Kevork Church of Buenos
Aires
– “Sasun” Dance Ensemble from HOM of Cordoba
– “Shiraz” Dance Ensemble from Hamazkain of Montevideo, Uruguay
Participating local schools will be:
– Arzruni School
– Mekhitarista School
– Armenian School of Vicente Lopez
– Isaac Backchellian School
– Khrimian Armenian Cultural School
– AGBU Marie Manoogian Institute
– San Gregorio El Iluminador Educational institute.
Established in 7 971, AGBU Buenos Aires is dedicated to preserving and
promoting the Armenian heritage and culture through educational, cultural
and humanitarian programs. For more information and to watch the live
Saturday, September 3 webcast, please visit

AZG Armenian Daily #157, 03/09/2005
Independence Day
A VICTORY AT A PRICE
On August 30 of 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted its
independence declaration based on territorial wholeness of Democratic
Republic of Azerbaijan of 1918-1920. Three days later, on September 2,
the Councils of Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh and Shahumian
region called a joint sitting declaring the independent Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh. On December 10 of the same year, a referendum
was held all over Karabakh besides Azeri-populated regions. The
overwhelming majority of participants said “yes” to the Republic of
Nagorno Karabakh.
Legally and historically the right of Nagorno Karabakh for an
independent state is indisputable. Azerbaijan declared its independence
within the borders of Musafat Azerbaijan of 1918-1920, of which Nagorno
Karabakh never was a part. The League of Nations did not rejected
Azerbaijan’s membership as the latter pretended to join the most
influential organization of its time with “disputable territories”
behind. On November 30 of 1920, the Revolutionary Committee of
Azerbaijan accepted the epistle to Armenia’s Revolutionary Committee
that said: “From now on, the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan
is to be considered non-existing. Nagorno Karabakh, Zangezur and
Nakhichevan are recognized as part of Soviet Socialist Republic
of Armenia”. But Narimanov (chairman of the Council of People~Rs
Commissars of Azerbaijan) edited the letter of December 2 presenting it
this way: “The provinces of Zangezur and Nakhichevan are inseparable
part of Soviet Armenia but the workers of Nagorno Karabakh get the
right of self-determination”.
By formation of the Soviet Union Nagorno Karabakh was forced into
the structure of Azerbaijan and remained there for 7 decades on
terms of an autonomous region. The collapse of the Soviet Union
gave birth to two independent states, Nagorno Karabakh Republic and
Azerbaijan, on the territory of Soviet Azerbaijan. The latter was
immediately recognized by the world community whereas Karabakh is
still unrecognized, deprived of international support and suffering
the consequences of Azeri blockade.
Azerbaijan’s response to the September 2 decision was the war. Despite
success in the first half of the war, Azerbaijan was defeated in the
war that it provoked and agreed to a cease-fire only in 1994 averting
additional territorial loss. The victory of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh was tearful. The Armenian people, Armenians of Artsakh first
of all, paid incredibly great price for Karabakh’s liberation.
Each September 2, officials of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, part of
whom are former freedom fighters, take part in regular celebration of
birthday of Nagorno Karabakh Republic and lay flowers to the graves
of the perished. Only a life of dignity in free though unrecognized
republic may offer relief to the mothers, wives and children of
thousands of young Armenians who put their lives on the altar of
freedom.
By Tatoul Hakobian