ARMENIAN PRODUCTION EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN TBILISI IN LATE APRIL

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The first exhibition of the Armenian
goods and services, “Armenia Today Expo 2005”, will be held in Tbilisi
on April 21-23. It is organized with the support of the RA Ministry
of Trade and Economic Development, the RA Foreign Ministry and the
Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen. The exhibition will display
the main branches of Armenia’s economy – machine-tool construction,
stone working, chemical industry, electronics, electrotechnology,
production of foodstuffs, drinks, jewelry, building materials, paints
and lacquers, as well as tourism and passenger and cargo transportation.

The purpose of the exhibition is to increase exports of the Armenian
production, to establish a practical mutually beneficial cooperation
with Georgian businessmen and develop the already existing relations,
to strengthen the ties with the Armenian community of Georgia. NT was
informed from the Logos Expo Center that up to now 38 organizations
have submitted bids for participating in the exhibition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“UNACCOUNTED-FOR FREEDOM FIGHTERS” ARMENIAN UNION JOINS “COMMUNITY AND
RIGHT” NGO

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. “Unaccounted-for Freedom Fighters”
union was included into the “Community and Right” NGO in order to
enhance the efficiency of its activity. Rima Arakelian, the Chairwoman
of the Union, informed about it at the March 18 press
conference. According to her, the idea of uniting arose as a result of
the programs implemented jointly during previous years. R.Arakelian
mentioned that from now and then they will go on searching
unaccounted-for freedom fighters, rendering assistance to their
families, the number of which is 6000. Samvel Mkrtchian, the Chairman
of the “Community and Right” organization, didn’t exclude their future
involvment in the political activity in order to realize their ideas
and programs. According to him, the Union came up with a suggestion to
make additions to the 16th and 34th articles of RA Law “On
Servicemen’s Social Security”. They offer to set up a right of early
retairing for servicemen’s parents and to fix a higher pension for
them. R.Arakelian informed that at present they are searching 350
unaccounted-for freedom fighters, the information about whom is rather
little. S.Mkrtchian said that, according to unofficial data, there are
about 100 unaccounted-for freedom fighters in Azerbaijan’s prisons at
present.

57.3-KM SECTOR OF 160-KM “NORTH-SOUTH” ARTSAKH ROAD ALREADY BUILT,
CONSTRUCTION OF 40.2 KM UNDERWAY

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The construction of 57.3-km sector of
the “North-South” Artsakh road lasted 5 years, the 40.2-km sector is
still being built. According to the Executive Committee of “Hayastan”
(“Armenia”) pan-Armenian fund, the construction in the “Vanki
Khachmeruk – Kichan,” “Kichan – Drmbon,” “Stepanakert – Chanakhi
Khachmeruk,” “Azokh – Tsakuri,” “Tsakuri – Hadrut” road sectors is
underway. And the construction of the “Drmbon – Martakert” and
“Chanakhi Khachmeruk – Sarushen” sectors will begin in April-May. A
tender has been announced for the construction of the above-mentioned
2 sectors.

HAMLET GASPARIAN: TURKISH NEWSPAPERS TURN UPSIDE-DOWN RA AMBASSADOR’S
WORDS ABOUT GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Turkish newspapers “Radical” and
“Miliet” have turned upside-down the statement attributed to the
Armenian Ambassador to the European Union Vigen Chitechian. The
spokesman for the RA Foreign Ministry Hamlet Gasparian stated this,
when commenting, at the request of reporters, on the allegation by the
above mentioned newspapers that during his speech made at the
Commission on Cooperation between Armenia and the European Parliament
in Strasbourg last week, Vigen Chitechian said, “The Genocide problem
was created by the Diaspora.” Hamlet Gasparian underlined that in
connection with the genocide issue Ambassador Chitechian usually uses
the expression “The Diaspora itself has been created as a result of
the Genocide.” “I think the Turkish press, for propaganda purposes, is
trying once again to mislead the international community into thinking
that there is a contradiction between the approaches taken by Armenia
and the Diaspora to the Armenian Genocide. “This is an old Turkish
trick indented for those uninformed,” the RA Foreign Ministry
spokesman stated.

COMBAT FRIENDS PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS TO RAZMIK VASILIAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The funeral of the Chief Commander of
the Armenian National Army, Lieutenant Colonel Razmik Vasilian took
place at Erablur Pantheon on March 17. The hero of Karabakh freedom
war was laid to rest with all due military ceremonials – the lowering
of the Armenian National Flag, volleys fired by the guard of honor and
the performance of the national anthem. Numerous combat friends came
to the Pantheon to do homage to Razmik Vasilian. A great and devoted
son of the Armenian people, this is how they descibed the late
hero. It was noted that as far back as 1988, Vasilian initiated the
formation of the Armenian National Army (ANA), on the basis of which
the National Army of Armenia was later created. The ANA detachments
formed with R. Vasilian’s efforts took an active part in the Karabakh
war. Paying their last honors to the late commander, the freedom
fighters restated their readiness to withstand the enemy blows and
defend Homeland in the future as well. Razmik Vasilian, aged 45, died
after a long illness.

ACADEMICIAN RAFAEL GHAZARIAN CONSIDERS NECESSARY PRESIDEN’T IMMEDIATE
RESIGNATION

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. “President Robert Kocharian who
established the eastern dictatorship in the country poses the greatest
danger for the favorable solution of the Karabakh conflict,” Rafael
Ghazarian, RA NAS Academician, declared at the conference organized on
March 18 by the “In Defence of NKR” committee. According to him, the
problem is in the “deficit of ligitimacy” of the President because of
which the latter is ready to make concessions both to the West and
Russia in order to retain his “shaky” position. “But neither the sale
of our entities to Russia at very low prices nor the peace-makers’
sending to Iraq will help him.” In the academician’s opinion, the West
strives for exerting pressure on the Armenian President in order to
make the latter resign. Meanwhile Rafael Ghazarian mentioned that the
same “all-powerful West that can easily remove Kocharian from his post
delays this issue for some reason, perhaps, the West wants Kocharian
to sign the document on Karabakh settlement they need, that’s why
Robert Kocharian should resign until it is not too late.” In the
opinion of Lenser Aghalovian, another Academician of RA NAS, 11 years
that passed since the establishment of the truce were quite enough in
order to solve the issue on the resettlement of territories. And such
passive attitude of authorities to this issue gives him an occasion to
draw “quite an unequivocal” conclusion that starting from 1994 the
Armenian authorities have been adhering to the policy of return of
territories.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALBERT BAZEYAN: ISSUE OF CONCESSIONS POSSIBLE ON THE PART OF ARMENIA
IS TO BE SOLVED BY NKR PEOPLE

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. “Speaking about the Karabakh problem
we have to fix that this issue should be solved only by peaceful means
and in no case by war,” Albert Bazeyan, Chairman of the political
board of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, declared at the March 18
conference organized by the “In Defence of NKR” committee. Emphasizing
the necessity of Karabakh party’s participation in the negotiations
process Bazeyan mentioned that the negotiations will be successful if
only the conflicting sides are ready to make concessions. According
to him, this first of all refers to Azerbaijan, which isn’t ready for
concessions at all. As for compromises possible in this issue on the
part of Armenia, according to Bazeyan, this issue is to be solved by
the Nagorno Karabakh people. He expressed bewilderment that today the
necessity to liquidate the consequences of the conflict is pointed out
at international instances while the conflict may be settled only in
case of liquidation of its causes. The Harapetutiun party’s leader
once more emphasized that the most important in the Karabakh issue is
Nagorno Karabakh people’s right to self-determination. In his
assurance, the favorable settlement of the problem depends much on the
situation in Armenia itself. “Armenia may develop successfully only in
case of supremacy of law and establishment of a legitimate power
enjoying people’e confidence.”

RA PRESIDENT GREETS PROPOSAL TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO COOPERATION
BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND BELORUSSIAN REGIONS

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The friendly relations between
Armenia and Belorussia exert a great influence on the development of
the whole range of inter-relations. The evidence of this is also the
considerable enlivening of cooperation especially in the sphere of
economy. RA President Robert Kocharian said this during the March 18
reception of Vladimir Konoplyov, Chairman of Belorussian House of
Representatives. According to RA President’s Press Service, Vladimir
Konoplyov said that though the commodity circulation between Armenia
and Belorussia increased for three times there is still a great
potential not used yet. He proposed that more attention should be paid
to inter-regional cooperation referring to the positive experience of
the contacts established between Sunik and Minsk. President Robert
Kocharian greeted the proposal.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SEYRAN OHANIAN: AZERBAIJAN CREATES TENSION ON CONTACT LINE OF NKR AND
AZERI ARMED FORCES

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Azeri party creates tension on the
contact line of Nagorno Karabakh’s and Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces.

Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanian, NKR Defence Minister, declared to
the Public Television of Armenia that the Azeri party constantly
carries on sniper firing and tries to advance its positions creating
tension. At the same time, the General emphasized that the “defence
capability of the units of NKR Defence Army is at a high level and
they are able to provide the security of the republic and people.”

Features Communications

Press Release

March 18, 2005

International Badminton Federation

Badminton: CHINA GEARING UP FOR SUDIRMAN CUP

Thursday 17 March 2005

China will be looking to capitalise on their home ground advantage when the
IX Sudirman Cup (world mixed team championship) wings its way to Beijing in
two month’s time.

The 2005 edition of this coveted team event will be staged from 10-15 May at
the Beijing Capital Gymnasium, where the formidable Chinese team will be
determined to reclaim the trophy they lost to Korea two years ago in
Eindhoven (NED).

A total of 42 nations are due to compete at this ninth Sudirman Cup
competition, including Mongolia and Turkmenistan who will be making their
debuts at this biennial event, which is named after a former IBF
Vice-President and `father’ of Indonesian badminton, Dick Sudirman.

The Sudirman Cup format takes the form of round-robin group play, with the
teams drawn into groups dependent on their final ranking position from the
previous competition.

Only the eight teams in group one have a shot at the title and the coveted
cup, and these are holders Korea, China, Denmark, Indonesia, England,
Sweden, Thailand and Hong Kong – newly promoted into the top eight after
topping group two at the 2003 event.

The group one draw and remaining group boundaries will be announced on
Monday 21 March.

Only three nations have won this event since its inauguration in 1989
‑ Indonesia won the first event in Jakarta, with Korea winning in 1991
and 1993. China took home the trophy on the next four consecutive occasions
(1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001), before Korea regained the world team title in
2003.

ENTRIES FOR THE 2005 SUDIRMAN CUP
Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, South
Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Wales.

ENDS.

For further information contact Lindsey Bell, Head of Communications, at

International Badminton Federation, Manor Park Place, Rutherford Way,
Cheltenham, Glos, GL51 9TU, UK

Tel: + 44 1242 234904 Fax: + 44 1242 221030

E-mail: [email protected] Website:

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