ONE MORE FORECAST
A1+
| 20:22:02 | 01-09-2005 | Politics |
The draft constitutional amendments adopted in the second reading
by the NA would become a good basis if it were adopted in the
first reading, since many clauses need further elaboration
and coordination. However it is already impossible taking into
consideration the fact that the third reading is called for editorial
remarks only, constitutional right specialist Vardan Poghosyan
considers.
In his opinion, the draft contains a number of complicated and
dangerous clauses. “The ruling coalition is not ready to make
mutual concessions. It even did not adopt some items proposed by
the United Labor Party, which earlier announced of its support to
the draft. Moreover the draft was not adopted in the atmosphere of
political consensus. “In such an atmosphere the referendum is doomed
to failure”, Vardan Poghosyan said.

CYPRIOT DEPUTY OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN PASSED AWAY
A1+
| 20:02:34 | 01-09-2005 | Official |
Armenian Foreign Ministry Vartan Oskanian sent a telegram of condolence
on the death of 71-year-old member of the Armenian community in the
Cypriot House of Representatives Petros Kalayjian.
The FM noted of the contribution of this outstanding political and
public figure and his role in the strengthening of the Armenian-Cypriot
relations. Kalayjian was three times elected representative of the
Armenian community . He was also the chairman of the “Hayastan”
Armenian Foundation in Cyprus, member of the church council and one
of the founders of the Armenia-Cyprus friendly union.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS – ANOTHER INSTRUMENT IN KARABAKH ISSUE “REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IF DOOMED TO FAILURE”, Vahagn Aytsoyan states.
A1+
| 19:49:55 | 01-09-2005 | Politics |
The Armenian National Movement has never changed its position on the
constitutional amendments”, ANM board member Vahagn Aytsoyan stated
in a conversation with A1+ reporter.
V. Aytsoyan describes the enthusiasm of the Venice Commission as
regards the draft constitutional amendments in the following way,
“An extra instrument on Armenia in Karabakh issue is beneficial to
all parties. Constitutional amendments will not contribute to the
development of democracy in Armenia. Robert Kocharian has no right
to implement constitutional changes. He has violated the Organic Law
more than any other official.”
When asked “Has Levon Ter-Petrosyan ever violated the
Constitution?” the ANM board member said, “No. I can’t remember such
a case.” He is convinced that the referendum on the constitutional
amendments in Armenia is doomed to failure. “1/3 of the Armenian
population will never say “yes” to the reviewed Constitution”, he
said adding that the authorities will not falsify the outcomes of
the referendum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOPE DIES LAST
A1+
| 18:40:00 | 01-09-2005 | Politics |
It is rumored that ArmenTel Company is going to disconnect the cellular
communications for ten days and then put on account of each subscriber
5000 AMD as compensation.
“It is nonsense”, head of the department for public relations Hasmik
Chulityan told A1+ reporter. She assured that the communication
quality will considerably improve within the next several days.

CONQUERING ARARAT
AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005
Three mountain-climbers from Armenia, Hakob Gnuni, Vazgen Gnuni and
Karo Kendanian, conquered Mount Ararat these days and erected Armenian
tricolor on its top. They climbed the mountain together with climbers
from Greece.

DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIA
By Berj Garibek, Telemetry Operations Engineer ITT Industries/NASA
AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005
Dear friends at Azg, I’ve been following the developments occurring in
my fatherland, Armenia, and follow carefully the latest news updates
that concern Armenia and Artsakh. I’ve never been to Armenia, since I
was born in Baghdad, Iraq and now I live in Los Angeles, California;
however, Armenia’s future and well being, like every other Armenian
in the Diaspora, greatly concerns me. Since our victory in Artsakh,
1994, Armenia has been encountering great obstacles in order to
achieve a level of economic superiority over its neighbors, control
emigration and continue with its progress towards democracy. However,
Armenia’s neighbors continue its work against Armenia’s welfare
and increase their efforts to further isolate our homeland from the
outside world. When the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project was in
progress, our leadership did nothing to prevent the realization of
the gas pipeline project. Of course, we had little power to influence
world leaders; however, our main ally (Russia) was asleep! Now we are
facing another obstacle: Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi Railway Construction.
By the time the Russian bear wakes up, and Armenia’s leadership start
taking actions against this dirty Turkish-Georgian-Azeri game, Armenia
will be on verge of making compromises that will impact negatively
on its existence.
Proposed Solution: Armenia should start acting like it has the upper
hand in the region, and we do! First we need an able leadership,
who can make solid and sound decisions regarding the issues related
to Artsakh. The repeated trips of President Kocharian to meet with
the Azeris have produced nothing but frustration! We need to have a
leader that will stand up and say, “Azeris, these are Armenian lands,
not one inch from these territories will be returned to you, because we
won the war. Turkey won the war 85 years ago, now it occupies western
Armenia, the only way we get these territories back is through war,
not diplomacy, because diplomacy doesn’t work with the Turks.” For
Georgia, our leadership should start using some threatening language,
“Look what happened to Azerbaijan in 1994, we’ll do the same to you
if you don’t stop working against our interests”. And for Turkey,
that will be in a different email (that’s if you liked what I stated
in this email). Keep up the excellent work, and long live Armenia.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER OF ARGENTINA VISITS ARMENIA
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005
Rafael Bielsa, foreign minister of Argentina, visited Armenia. Within
the framework of his official visit, Mr. Bielsa visited “Zvartnots”
airport, which is owned by “Corporacion America” Argentinean
company. Mr. Eduardo Ernekian, head of the company, accompanied the
Argentinean foreign minister during his visit.
The Argentinean guests walked in the airport and watched the
construction of the airport’s new terminal. The construction of the new
building will be completed till 2008. “Corporacion America” will invest
$105 million for that. This will be the first part of the investment
program of the airport that amounts to $230 million in total. The
arrival halls of the new building will function by the autumn of 2006.
The airport will be equipped with new equipment and the
security systems that keep in line with the highest international
criteria. Particularly, they showed the new security equipment that
defines the identity of the passengers by their fingerprints.
Rafael Bielsa and Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign minister, gave a short
press conference after their visit to the airport. The ministers
touched upon the official meetings of the past two days. Mr. Bielsa
pointed out his visits to the airport and to the Argentinean school
among the unofficial meetings. He said he was especially touched to
see two little children dance Argentinean tango in a country that is
so far from his motherland.
The ministers also said that they agreed to construct the Embassy of
Argentina to Armenia. Though the place of the Embassy hasn’t been
defined yet, the Ambassador of Argentina to Armenia has already
been appointed.
As for the Armenian-Argentinean relations, Mr. Bielsa said that the
Argentinean Armenians are more Argentineans, while he became more
Armenian when he visited Armenia. He added that the relations between
our countries are more than wonderful.

DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE IN BESLAN
By Ruzan Poghosian
AZG Armenian Daily #156, 02/09/2005
Children Should Not Fall Victims of Terrorists
One year ago these days the world community experienced tremble
of horror. Hundreds of people including 170 children died in the
1st secondary school of Beslan in Southern Ossetia. Today, the
world remembers all innocent victims sending the people of Beslan
condolences.
The letter of condolence of the UN Children’s Fund to the people
of Beslan is an appeal at the same time to protect children from
conflicts. The message of Maria Kalivis, UNICEF regional director in
Central, Eastern Europe and CIS, reads, “The sanctity of childhood
was attacked on these 3 days of September. It was done in most inhuman
way. It’s high time to oppose the violence against children”. Kalivis
finds the measures that are being taken today insufficient and thinks
that it’s possible to do more.

FINNISH PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 26-27
Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 07:46
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will
pay an official visit to Strasbourg September 13, reported the
Press Service of the Armenian MFA. After that, September 14-18
V. Oskanian will take part in the work of the 60th session of the
UN General Assembly. September 23-24 the he is scheduled to visit
Venice and Bologna. It should be noted that OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is scheduled to visit
Yerevan September 5-6, while Finnish President Tarja Halonen will
visit Armenia September 26-27.

KOCHARIAN TO VISIT GREECE, SLOVENIA AND BELGIUM BEFORE YEAREND
Pan Armenian News
01.09.2005 07:36
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Before the end of 2005 Armenian President Robert
Kocharian intends to pay a state visit to Greece, Press Secretary of
the Armenian leader Victor Soghomonyan told journalists in Yerevan
September 1. Besides, according to the information provided by
V. Soghomonyan, before the end of the current year Mr. Kocharian
intends to visit Slovenia and then to go to Belgium in the second
decade of October. The Presidential Press Secretary also informed
that Presidents of Finland, Moldova and Lithuania, as well as
Indian Vice-President will visit Armenia in the near future. In Mr.
Soghomonyan’s words, the date of Moldavian President Vladimir Voronin’s
visit of to Armenia is being specified at present, reported IA Regnum.