ARMENIA DOES NOT BELIEVE CIS IS ABOUT TO DISINTEGRATE
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 30, 2005 Tuesday
Armenia does not share the opinion that the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) is about to disintegrate, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanyan told a news conference in Yerevan on Tuesday. He
takes a positive view of the meeting of the CIS summit in Kazan.
“At the Commonwealth summit in Kazan, the presidents confirmed their
adherence to the CIS, and their readiness to develop cooperation in the
existing frameworks and in the new ones,” the Armenian minister said.
“I cannot say that the CIS countries adhere to the common stand on
reforming the United Nations,” the minister acknowledged. “All of
them, however, share the view that the United Nations reform should
be comprehensive, should apply not to the Security Council alone and
should be accepted by the overwhelming majority of the member-states,”
the minister said.
“Armenia is for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, which
should also envisage the broadening of the Security Council,” Oskanyan
said. In this context Yerevan “is for the increase of the number of
permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council,” the
minister said. At the same time, it is recognized in Armenia that
“such important transformations can only be made given the consent
of the overwhelming majority of United Nations members.”

ARMENIA WORLD CUP SQUAD
Agence France Presse — English
August 30, 2005 Tuesday 8:59 AM GMT
YEREVAN Aug 30
Armenia squad to play Holland on September 3 at Yerevan and the Czech
Republic on September 7 at Olomouc in 2006 World Cup European Group
One qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Roman Berezovsky (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Gevorg Kasparov
(Mika Ashtarak)
Defenders: Arutyun Vardanyan (Arau/SWI), Sarkis Ovsepyan, Alexander
Tadevosyan, Valery Aleksanyan (all Pyunik Yerevan), Karen Dokhoyan
(Samara/RUS), Yegishe Melikyan (Metalurg Donetsk/UKR)
Midfielders: Gamlet Mkhitaryan (MTC-RIPO/BLR), Karen Aleksanyan, David
Grigoryan, Agvan Mkrtchan (all Pyunik Yerevan), Romik Khachatryan
(OFI/GRE), Samvel Melkonyan, Armen Tigranyan (both Banants Yerevan)
Forwards: Edgar Manucharyan (Ajax/NED), Aram Voskanyan (Esil/KAZ),
Ara Akopyan (Alchevsk/UKR), Aram Akopyan (Banants Yerevan), Galust
Petrosyan (Zimbru Chisinau/MOL)

LE PIANISTE AMERICAIN D’ORIGINE ARMENIENNE, SERGEI BABAYAN, PASSE SOUVENT SES VACANCES EN TOURAINE
accueilli par Madeleine, dans sa maison de Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire. Rencontre.
– Correspondant NR : Philippe Haller.
La Nouvelle Republique du Centre Ouest – edition INDRE-ET-LOIRE
30 août 2005
Depuis qu’il a decouvert la Touraine en 1999 lors d’un concert
aux Semaines musicales de Tours, le pianiste Sergei Babayan revient
souvent passer ses vacances dans une maison de Saint-Cyr où Madeleine
l’accueille, comme jadis elle recevait Youri Bashmet et sa famille,
Vengerov, Repin ou Gergiev. Une maison accueillante, avec des souvenirs
du temps où la dame sillonnait le monde, camera en main.
” J’aime cette maison, confie Sergei, le regard brillant derrière ses
petites lunettes rondes, elle est pleine de paix. ” Entoure, choye,
il: trouve la, loin du bruit et de l’agitation des grandes villes,
le silence: et la serenite pour jouer et composer.
Petit garcon, a Erevan, Sergei a baigne dès son plus jeune âge
dans Tchaïkovski et Mozart. ” La musique etait comme un jeu. Mes
jouets c’etaient des disques. ” Très tôt, il montre des dispositions
particulières. A 3 ans, il s’assoit devant un piano et rejoue les
airs que travaille sa grande soeur. A 5 ans, un premier professeur :
” Un etre tellement delicat… Mes parents, mon professeur me donnaient
tout le temps dont j’avais besoin. ” Ce n’est que plus tard que Sergei,
sous d’autres latitudes, decouvrira des gens presses pour qui le temps,
c’est de l’argent.
L’itineraire d’un enfant doue
Un premier recital a 6 ans, un concert avec orchestre a 8 ans et
le bonheur continue avec l’entree au conservatoire Tchaïkovski de
Moscou. ” Le reve pour tous les musiciens en Union Sovietique. ”
Auprès de la fascinante Vera Gornostayeva qui ” avait ce don de tirer
de vous des choses que vous ignoriez “, ou du ” legendaire Naumov “, le
jeune Sergei, reconnaissant, va donner toute la mesure de son talent.
Un don ? ” Il y a bien sûr une part qui est donnee dans votre monde
interieur, mais il faut aussi la passion qui seule, peut rendre
realisable ce qui paraissait impossible. Je travaillais quand meme
huit a dix heures par jour ! ” (sourire).
En 1989, Sergei profite de la politique d’ouverture pour ” enfin ”
se presenter aux plus prestigieux concours internationaux : d’emblee,
quatre premiers prix ! Installe aux USA, devenu citoyen americain
il y a six ans, Sergei Babayan, marie a Rita, pianiste elle aussi,
poursuit sa carrière de soliste sur les plus grandes scènes a travers
le monde, emerveillant le public de la limpidite de son jeu et des
couleurs de son piano.
” On ne reve jamais assez ”
Sur le chemin parfois difficile de la vie, la musique parle a Sergei
de manière differente selon les temps. Dans un moment de doute vers
l’âge de 13 ans, c’est Rachmaninoff qui, avec son deuxième concerto,
” lui rappelle qu’il ne peut pas vivre sans la musique. Plus tard,
j’ai pense que Dieu existait en jouant Bach. Un jour, en voiture,
la musique de Rameau s’est ouverte tout a coup a moi. L’emotion etait
si forte que j’ai dû m’arreter immediatement “. Rameau au piano ? ”
La verite du style n’est pas dans l’instrument mais dans le coeur. ”
Le bonheur ? ” C’est de penser que lorsque je joue, je fais peut-etre
du bien a quelqu’un… Bach, Schubert, Mozart ou Messiaen et tant
d’autres nous font devenir meilleurs, car il y a dans leur musique
une incroyable puissance qui donne espoir. ”
L’art dans un monde tourmente ? ” Les artistes ont une mission parce
que l’art est une lumière interieure qui donne la possibilite a l’homme
de voler au-dela de ses limites. Si tous ceux qui ne pensent qu’a la
guerre et la violence ecoutaient chaque jour une cantate de Bach ou
un lied de Schubert, ils changeraient. ”
Rien d’etonnant a ce que Sergei se sente si bien chez Madeleine dans
cette maison si pleine de reve…
–Boundary_(ID_AdXLFJqvDZINUQ4PvkUWZQ)–

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: DISCUSSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
IN ARMENIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE TAKEN AS DEGREE OF POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT IN REPUBLIC
ARKA News Agency
Aug 29 2005
YEREVAN, August 29. /ARKA/. Discussion of constitutional reforms in
Armenian National Assembly scheduled for August 29 and follow-up
process will be taken as degree of political development in the
republic, the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans said in his
address to Armenian Parliament issued by the Embassy’s Press Service.
The Ambassador expressed hope that parliament members acknowledge
commitment toward their compatriots of reaching accord over the best
constitutional provisions. In his message to Armenian lawmakers,
John Evans stressed the importance of the parliamentary discussion
and said politicians of different levels as well as people have to
take it seriously. In his words, Constitution is the key law for every
country. It took 13 years to work out preliminary version of the U.S.
Constitution, after which the Constitution had been amended 27 times,
latest amendments were made in 1990, the U.S. Ambassador said. In
his words, the U.S. supports efforts of all those who have made
their contribution to the process of working out constitutional
reforms and urges all sides to hold constructive dialogue over the
matter, the message says. Evans noted that rules of political game
in every country are determined by Constitution and any political
party should be interested in setting these rules. In his opinion,
not only politicians, but also ordinary people should concentrate
their attention on constitutional reforms, because this is a principal
document for the country. International community, including the United
States, has always supports the CE efforts focused on constitutional
reforms package elaboration promotion, the Ambassador said. He views
the present draft constitution as a significant and progressive
step. Evans also expressed hope that all necessary measures would
be taken to enhance public awareness of this important process, to
enable people to express their will at the November referendum. M.V.

IRAN PAYS ATTENTION TO CENTERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS
IranMania News, Iran
Aug 30 2005
LONDON, August 30 (IranMania) – Head of Armenia’s State Agency of
Monument Preservation Artyom Gregorian said that no other country
rivals Iran in paying so much attention to holy centers of various
religions, including that of the Christian faith Speaking at a meeting
with the governor of the provincial town of Khoy, Mohammad-Amin
Rezazadeh, he referred to Iran as a country making effort to preserve
its religious centers, IRNA reported.
He lauded the fact that so much attention is paid to other faiths
by Islam.
Currently visiting Iran at the head of an Armenian delegation,
Gregorian noted, “Prior to advent of Christianity and Islam, the
people of Iran and Armenia lived together. Given the close relations
between the two religions, sowing the seed of discord between them
is out of question.”
For his part, Rezazadeh pointed to the amicable bilateral relationship
and hoped that it will continue in the future.
“We do our best to preserve churches and holy centers of the Christian
faith, similar to mosques and our own historical monuments.
“Special focus has been placed in recent years on reconstruction and
repair of ancient relics to attract tourists,” he added.
During its stay in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, the
16-member Armenian delegation toured a few of the provincial churches
including Qara-Kelisa and the mausoleum of Sadreddin in Siah-Cheshmeh.
The visiting delegation mainly aims to exchange the latest technical
developments in preserving and safeguarding archaic monuments and
their restoration.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATE DEPARTMENT TELLS WHAT RICE TALKED WITH ALIYEV AND KOCHARYAN
Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 30 2005
The United States attaches great importance to the upcoming meeting
of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and hopes they will make
the compromises necessary in order to reach a settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. That was the message when Secretary of
State Condoleeza Rice phoned Armenian President Robert Kocharian and
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev August 25, according to the U.S.
State Department, The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the
U.S. Department of State announced on Monday.In terms of official
policy, the United States does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as
an independent country and supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, maintaining that the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh is a
matter of negotiation between the parties, the statement outlines.The
United States also remains committed to finding a peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the Minsk Group process, which
is co-chaired by Russia, France and the United States. In its statement
on Rice’s discussions with the two leaders, the State Department
said, “Both leaders were upbeat about the prospects for making
progress.” “The Secretary stressed to President Aliyev the importance
of free and fair parliamentary elections this November in Azerbaijan,
and noted his important role in this,” the statement added. The
United States has repeatedly urged Azerbaijan to meet international
standards when it holds its November parliamentary elections and to
implement the recommendations made by an Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observer mission after the 2003
elections.As recently as July 2, U.S. representative Christopher
Smith, co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and a Republican
from New Jersey, issued a statement saying he was “very disappointed”
that Azerbaijan’s parliament had passed an election law that does not
incorporate many key changes recommended by international observers,
especially in the composition of election commissions. The United
States has also called on Azerbaijan “to implement fully the May
11 Presidential Decree calling for the conduct of free and fair
elections.”In her phone call to Armenian President Kocharian,
Rice said she “hoped Armenia would make progress toward enacting a
package of constitutional reforms now before the parliament,” the
State Department said. The government of Armenia submitted revised
constitutional reform amendments to the Council of Europe’s Venice
Commission in July, and the United States at that time welcomed the
Venice Commission’s agreement to those amendments. The proposed reforms
would improve separation of powers between branches of government and
increase the independence and freedom of the media. The U.S. State
Department has a fact sheet available summarizing the U.S. position
on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER DESCRIBES NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS AS ‘STEP FORWARD’
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
Aug 30 2005
29 August 2005 — Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
said weekend talks between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
over Nagorno-Karabakh marked a step forward.
But Mammadyarov told reporters in Baku today that “it’s still early
to speak of serious progress.”
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart,
Ilham Aliyev, discussed the conflict on 27 August following a CIS
summit in Kazan.
Mammadyarov said the issues being discussed include the return of
refugees and the restoration of roads and other contacts between
Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan, an Azerbaijani exclave separated from
the country by Armenian territory.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV DISCUSSED DAQLIQ QARABAQ CONFLICT WITH ROBERT KOCHARYAN, PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA IN KAZAN
Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 27 2005
Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharyan, president
of Armenia held talks on settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict in Kazan. The presidents first met face to face.
Later the meeting continued with participation of OSCE Minsk group
co-chairmen. There were also held exchange of views on certain question
agreed at the meting of FA ministers of two countries in Moscow on
August 24 during the talks lasting for an hour. The two presidents
as well as OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen positively appraised the
talks. The plane of President Ilham Aliyev landed in Heydar Aliyev
airport at about 7:30 pm.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO ‘DEMAND ARMENIA PULLOUT FROM OCCUPIED LAND’
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 30 2005
Baku, August 29, AssA-Irada
The Council of Europe will demand Armenia to pull out from the occupied
land of Azerbaijan, a high-ranking Turkish politician has said.
“The issue will be raised at the CE discussions once again”, deputy
chair of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and head of
the Turkish delegation at the CE Parliamentary Assembly Murat Mercan
told journalists.
Mercan said work is currently underway on the matter. “The
achievements to be made will bring a hope for the settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.”
Mercan is visiting Baku along with three other Turkish MPs on
the invitation of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. The Turkish
representatives have met with President Ilham Aliyev as well as New
Azerbaijan executive secretary Ali Ahmadov. The parties focused
on expanding ties between the two countries’ ruling parties and
Azerbaijan’s November 6 parliament elections. The vote will be
monitored by observers from Turkey, the Turkish representatives said.*

Georgia’s continuing quest for international investment
By M. Alkhazashvili
The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 30 2005
In recent weeks the existing investment climate in Georgia has become
a topic of heated discussion. The authorities’ declarations that
the country is attracting large amounts of foreign investment are
contrasted by the contentions of opposition forces and independent
experts that the investment climate has deteriorated.
The issue of foreign investments in Georgia will by high on the agenda
at two upcoming business conferences dedicated to Georgia. The first,
the America-Georgia Business Council’s 8th annual conference in Chicago
this October is headlined, “Georgia: Potential for Growth.” The second,
the Georgia Business and Investment Summit in Tbilisi this November,
is being organized by the European Finance Convention together with
the Federation of Georgian Businessmen and AmCham Georgia. A major
question facing participants is whether the investment environment
is improving in Georgia and what can be done for future improvement
of the investment environment.
One indicator is the Index of Economic Freedom published by the
conservative U.S. think tank the Heritage Foundation that drops
Georgia’s rank in the list of nations from 91st place to 100th
since last year. The report ranks 161 countries and lower scores are
considered better; this year Georgia scored 3.34, 0.15 points worse
than in 2004.
A statement made by the Heritage Foundation explains that the most
negative aspects of Georgia’s economy are the country’s investment
climate and the recent increase in the informal market. “Based on
increasing evidence of informal barriers to foreign investment,
Georgia’s capital flows and foreign investment is 1 point worse
this year,” the country report on Georgia states. It is noteworthy
that the report, basically a survey of surveys, does not taken into
consideration new legislation on taxes, financial amnesty and the
even more recent reform of licenses and permits.
Another way of measuring the pros and cons of the local investment
climate has been to observe the dynamics of investment over the
years and compare them to those of neighboring countries. Foreign
investments in Georgia have shown a tendency for growth since 2001.
That year USD 109 million entered the country in foreign investments.
In 2002, this indicator totaled USD 176 million; 2003 – 339 million;
2004 -500 million and in the first six months of this year – USD
245 million.
However, the influx of foreign investment into Georgia cannot hope
to compete with that of neighboring Azerbaijan. In 2002 two billion
dollars in investment entered that country; 2003 – 3 billion and 2004 –
4.192 billion. Obviously, the vast majority of this sum was directed
toward the petroleum and gas business.
It is precisely Azerbaijani oil that is responsible for much of the
foreign investment in Georgia as well. For example, in the first six
months of 2004, 81 percent of foreign investments in Georgia came
from BP, the oil company operating the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
project. After the completion of construction on this project, now
the natural gas pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum – which will transport
Azerbaijani gas through Georgia and Turkey to the Mediterranean Sea –
takes on key importance.
Construction on the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum pipeline, the Kulev energy
terminal and the Tbilisi International Airport are the projects that
will bring in the bulk of foreign investment this year and in 2006.
As far as Armenia is concerned, clearly the “Azerbaijani projects”
will not influence investment into this country. Key players in
foreign investment there are Russia and the vast Armenian Diaspora.
Foreign investment is overall on the rise, not counting a sharp
drop-off in 2001, though the total amount of investment is lower
than that of Georgia. The statistics look as follows: 2000 – USD 124
million; 2001 – 76 million; 2002 – 152 million, 2003 – 152 million
and 2004 – USD 183 million.
Finally, another way to look at foreign investments, their growth
or decline, is to look at activity on the ground. It is undeniable
that this year has seen several prominent international companies take
interest in Georgia. The U.S. insurer AIG opened its first office here,
the Russian bank Vneshtorgbank bought a large share in United Georgian
Bank and the Kazakh BankTuranAlem bought a large stake in the Silk
Road Group. Many others have taken an interest in privatization and
government tenders.
Still there is much to be done to improve the investment climate and
promote business activity – both foreign and domestic – in Georgia
and it is encouraging that this is a stated goal of the current
government. The big question is how the government will follow through
on this goal.