Fin Du Monopole De La SociÉtÉ Grecque Ote Sur Le RÉseau Gsm ArmÉnien

Tech Europe
25 novembre 2004

Les autorités arméniennes ont mis fin au monopole dont disposait la
compagnie ArmenTel, contrôlée par la société grecque OTE, a-t-on
appris le 19 novembre auprès des autorités. Le gouvernement arménien,
Armentel et OTE sont arrivés à un accord à l’amiable qualifié de
“réussite” par le porte-parole du ministère arménien de la Justice,
Ara Saguatélian.

En vertu de cet accord, ArmenTel est privé du droit d’exclusivité
dont il jouissait jusqu’ici pour exploiter le réseau de téléphonie
mobile arménien. Cet accord intervient après d’intenses négociations
entre Erevan et OTE sur l’avenir du monopole, après l’accord, au
début du mois, à la société Karabakh Telekom d’une licence
d’exploitation pour un deuxième réseau GSM en Arménie. En 1997, OTE
avait pris le contrôle de 90% de l’opérateur téléphonique ArmenTel en
échange d’un monopole de 15 ans sur le marché des télécommunications
en Arménie. ArmenTel reste le seul fournisseur d’accès à internet.
Karabakh Telekom exploitait depuis février 2002 le réseau GSM
régional du Nagorny-Karabakh, une région que se disputent l’Arménie
et l’Azerbaïdjan depuis le début des années 1990.

–Boundary_(ID_gc9wckPPdUw3lm3jS6ni4Q)–

Des Arméniens s’inquiètent de la Turquie dans l’UE après une rixe à Valence

Agence France Presse
28 novembre 2004 dimanche 3:21 PM GMT

PARIS 28 nov 2004

Le Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France
(CCOAF) a estimé que “l’agression raciste” dont ont été victimes
samedi à Valence des jeunes Français d’origine arménienne illustrait
les “risques” d’une entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne
(UE).

“Cette agression préméditée qui intervient au coeur de la France à
trois semaines du sommet du 17 décembre à Bruxelles où les chefs
d’Etat devront décider de l’ouverture des négociations pour
l’adhésion turque représente un avant-goût, hélas, des risques liés à
l’entrée d’une Turquie négationniste du génocide arménien en Europe”,
a déclaré le CCOAF dans un communiqué reçu dimanche.

“Nous demandons au président de la République de se faire le relais
le 17 décembre à Bruxelles de l’avis de l’ensemble des forces
politiques françaises qui considère qu’une Turquie négationniste n’a
pas sa place dans l’Europe”, poursuit le texte.

L’organisation demande également aux pouvoirs publics “de faire
diligence pour que les auteurs de ces agressions soient traduits
devant les tribunaux” et s’interroge : “les fils des rescapés du
génocide arménien sont-ils toujours en sécurité dans leur pays
d’adoption?”.

Une rixe, qualifiée par des organisations arméniennes d'”agression
raciste”, a opposé samedi à Valence des membres de ces associations
militant contre une entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE à des jeunes
d’origine turque, a-t-on appris auprès de la police et
d’associations.

La police a indiqué que cette “rixe sur la voie publique” avait fait
quatre blessés légers et n’avait donné lieu à aucune arrestation.

Le président de la coordination des organisations arméniennes de
Drôme-Ardèche Robert Tafankejian, qui faisait signer une pétition
contre l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne dans le centre
de Valence avec quatre autres personnes, a indiqué à l’AFP qu’une
vingtaine de jeunes d’origine turque les avait agressés.

–Boundary_(ID_EsKBKkS6H3xxabgfCCpGgw)–

Violences entre membres d’associations arméniennes et jeunes d’origine turque

Agence France Presse
27 novembre 2004 samedi 10:11 PM GMT

LYON 27 nov 2004 — Une rixe, qualifiée par des organisations
arméniennes d'”agression raciste”, a opposé samedi à Valence des
membres de ces associations militant contre une entrée de la Turquie
dans l’UE à des jeunes d’origine turque, a-t-on appris auprès de la
police et d’associations.

La police a indiqué que cette “rixe sur la voie publique” avait fait
quatre blessés légers et n’avait donné lieu à aucune interpellation.

Le président de la coordination des organisations arméniennes de
Drôme-Ardèche, Robert Tafankejian, qui faisait signer une pétition
contre l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union européenne, dans le centre
de Valence, avec quatre autres personnes, a indiqué à l’AFP qu’une
vingtaine de jeunes d’origine turque les avaient agressés.

“Ils ont commencé à nous jeter des bouteilles en verre et sont venus
nous taper, en nous lançant des injures racistes”, a-t-il déclaré,
précisant que lui-même et ses quatre compagnons avaient fait un
passage à l’hôpital pour des traumatismes crâniens, un nez cassé et
divers hématomes.

Il a indiqué s’être rendu au commissariat pour déposer plainte.

“On est profondément choqués, indignés par ce qui s’est passé. C’est
une agression raciste, c’est la reproduction d’une tradition qu’on
espérait ne plus voir se reproduire”, a estimé le président du
Conseil de coordination des organisations arméniennes de France
(CCAF), Ara Toranian.

–Boundary_(ID_U6qKkglGEvZJQ9FisOjFDQ)–

THE OFFICIAL BAKU`S TACTICS IS TO PROLONG THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS

STEPANAKERT, 27.11.04. DE-FACTO. “Azerbaijan’s attempts to transfer
the discussion of the Karabakh problem from the frames of the OSCE
Minsk Group into other international organizations” format will cause
prolonging the settlement process”.

NKR Foreign Minister Ashot Ghoulian stated to the DE-FACTO agency,
while commenting upon the Azerbaijan-initiated discussion of the issue
on the situation on the Nagorno Karabakh controlled territories in the
United Nations Organization. According to him, “neither the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chairmen, nor the countries concerned in the soonest peaceful
resolution of the problem greet such efforts of the Azerbaijani party”.

In Ashot Ghoulian’s opinion, the November 23 discussions at the session
of the UNO General Assembly were delayed, mainly, on Azerbaijan’s
initiative due to its uncertainty about the possibility to get the
necessary number of votes. At the same time, the NKR Foreign Minister
noted that “if the resolution project introduced by Azerbaijan is
all the same adopted, it will mean that the Azerbaijani propaganda
machine managed to take off the negotiation process from the true
way”. The head of the Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Ministry stressed that
the official Baku used this tactics every time the parties approached
to concrete agreements.

“Azerbaijan’s such activities aimed at drawing the attention of the
international community from the point of the Karabakh problem –
namely, the status of Nagorno Karabakh, hamper our progress in the
conflict’s settlement”, Ashot Ghoulian stressed.

 PRESS RELEASE  2004-11-27 10:03:00

–Boundary_(ID_ZITLWTzADJf8NG/jYvaokQ)–

WHO LISTENS TO THIS RADIO CHANNEL?

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
27 Nov 04

“Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorni Karabakh is on air,” every time
the radio channel “Voice of Justice” starts its programs with these
words. And why in Azerbaijani? Because it is more realistic to present
the problem of Karabakh, the ways of its peaceful settlement and
other actualities of our life to the Azerbaijanis in the Azerbaijani
language. The director of the radio channel M. Hajian informed that
the channel was founded and is funded by a group of businessmen who,
besides politics are interested in the ways of entering the Azerbaijani
market. In reference to the type of its audience, Hajian said that
the radio channel has received a number of letters from Germany,
Finland, Russia, America, New Zealand, Turkey, Japan, which thank
us. The channel began broadcasting programs in August 1997 four
times a week. “We cannot tell how many people exactly listen to us,”
mentioned Hajian, and the reason is the obstacles created by the
Azerbaijani authorities. The news program consists of two parts:
information, and interviews and programs. We are convinced that among
different mass media of Artsakh the “Voice of Justice” will have its
contribution to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem.

AA. 27-11-2004

MAMEDIAROV: ARMENIA ENDANGERS PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS

Azg/arm
27 Nov 04

A group of experts may be formed within the framework of OSCE Minsk
group to fix Armeniaâ~@~Ys policy of inhabiting the territories
under the control of NKR armed forces. According to Mediamax, this
information was spread by Baku mass media, referring to “the exchange
of views around this issue” that took place during the meeting of
OSCE Minsk group co-chairs Steven Mann (US), Yuri Merzliakov (RF)
and Henry Jackolin (France) with Elmar Mamaediarov, Azeri Foreign
Minister, and Araz Azimov, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister, in New York.

The current stage of the peaceful negotiations was discussed during
the closed meeting. Mamediarov said that “conducting the policy of
inhabiting, Armenia not only violates the relevant formula of the UN
Security Council and the norms of the international humanitarian right,
but also endangers the peaceful negotiations held by the mediation
of OSCE Minsk group.”

Yerevan keeps saying that no policy of inhabiting is being conducted
in the territories under the control of NKR forces on state level. On
the other hand, Armenia states some Armenian refugee families from
Getashen, Shahumian and Azerbaijan dwell in these territories.

It’s worth reminding that the co-chairs left for New York after
the discussion on “the current situation in Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories” put forward by Azerbaijan at the UN. The OSCE co-chairs
voted against Azerbaijan’s initiative at the UN. Earlier, touching upon
the discussion of Nagorno Karabakh issue at the UN, Steven Mann stated
that the abovementioned issue had been traditionally discussed within
the OSCE framework. In the interview to Freedom radio station he said
that he respects the UN formulae, but, on the other hand, he asked
the question: “Will this step (discussion of Nagorno Karabakh issue
at the UN) yield a progress in the settlement of the conflict?” Mann
said that the sides in conflict should pose this question every time.

The American diplomat considered the resumption of the military actions
“absolutely foolish”. He emphasized that no negotiation on Nagorno
Karabakh settlement was held in 2004. He characterized the meetings
of the foreign ministers as “dialogues and exchange of views”. “If the
negotiation will not be resumed and the positions of the sides remain
unchanged, “neither war, nor peace” situation can last for decades,”
Mann said.

–Boundary_(ID_xgyC9T86TIA3sS6N3jBiwA)–

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
George Shirinian

DATE: November 26, 2004 Tel: 416-250-9807

Portraits of Hope: The Armenians, Just Released in Germany, Reflects
in Its Afterword about the Zoryan Institute

Berlin — Verlag Hans Schiler has just released a unique new book
containing fifty-two articles in German by or about Armenia and
Armenians, both in Armenia and in the Diaspora. Released in October,
Portraits of Hope: The Armenians, is aimed at a wide, German-speaking
readership.

The editor, Huberta von Voss-Wittig, has previously published two
books, both translations of literature from French into English. She
explained the idea behind the book. “I started to take an interest
in the Armenians while my husband served as the German Ambassador in
Beirut and Nicosia. As an historian and journalist, I realized how
small my knowledge of the Armenians was. The deeper I got into it,
the more convinced I became that a book had to be written that shows
the human beings behind the mere facts and figures. The Armenians
are practically unknown to the German public today. That is why I
decided to make a book that addresses a wide readership. I convinced a
number of excellent German historians, authors and journalists-many of
them foreign correspondents in various countries for the best German
national newspaper-to contribute to the book.”

The book is divided into three broad sections. After an introduction
by famed Holocaust historian Yehuda Bauer, the first section deals
with Armenian history, and especially the Genocide. It contains
contributions by such renowned experts as Tessa Hoffman, and Zoryan
associated scholars Vahakn Dadrian, Taner Akçam, and Wolfgang Gust.

The second section deals with Armenians in the Diaspora, and is
subdivided into sections on history, literature, religion, art,
film and photography, music, activism, politics & diplomacy, and
“life-pictures.” It contains articles about such notables as Vahakn
Dadrian, Vartan Gregorian, Michael Arlen, Charles Aznavour, Atom
Egoyan, Vartan Oskanian, Catholicos Karekin II, and Catholicos Aram
I. Armenians from all over the world are represented.

The third section, “Places of Memory,” has articles on Armenians
in Jerusalem, Der-el-Zor, Bourj Hammoud, Franz Werfel and Musa
Dagh, the Murder of Talat in Berlin, and the Genocide Memorial at
Dzidzernagapert.

The book’s Afterword, written by K.M. (Greg) Sarkissian, President
of the Zoryan Institute, is a wide ranging essay that describes in
detail the Institute’s twenty-two-year history of accomplishments.

“This is a very important book for several reasons,” stated George
Shirinian, Director of the Zoryan Institute. First, it describes the
interesting and important activities of a number of very talented,
highly motivated, and tenaciously dedicated individuals. Second,
it demonstrates the commitment of Diasporan Armenians to the welfare
of their nation and may serve as an inspiration to others. Third, it
is an unusually broad and comprehensive representation of Armenian
activities, interests, individual voices, and issues. Finally,
as many of the articles stress the importance of the Genocide in
the modern Armenian reality, the book, hopefully, will sensitize
contemporary German society to the need for German historians to
conduct serious research and publish on the role of Germany in the
Armenian Genocide. We should all be grateful for the wonderful book
that Huberta Voss-Wittig has put together, providing us with a deeper
insight into where we have come from as a nation, where we are now,
and where we may be heading.”

While the book is in German, the English language version
of the Afterword is available on the Zoryan web site,
Go to “About Us” and click on “The Making of
a National Research Centre.” A printed copy may be had by writing to:
Zoryan Institute 255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310 Toronto, ON Canada
M3B 3H9

Huberta von Voss, ed. Porträt einer Hoffnung Die Armenier. Lebensbilder
aus aller Welt. Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler, 2004, 415p.

The Zoryan Institute is an international center devoted to the
research and documentation of contemporary issues related to the
history, politics, society, and culture of Armenia and Armenians
around the world.

–Boundary_(ID_QPRmn17rolI48Ti0bqe23A)–

TTELETHON IN SUPPORT TO ARTSAKH REGISTERS FANTASIC SUCCESS

LOS ANGELES, November 26 (Noyan Tapan). Over 11 mln dollars were
colleced during the “Telethon-2004” in support to Nagorno Karabakh
started in Los Angeles on November 25. It is a fantasic result as
compared with the previous telethons. According to the Head Information
Department attached to the NKR President, it was a response of the
Armenian Diaspora to the appeal of NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian,
who is in the United States these days, to compatriots living abroad
to render support to the completion of the construction of the
“North-South” higwhay being of strategic importance for Nagorno
Karabakh.

The most considerable donations were made by such famous Armenian
philanthropists of America as Luis-Simon Manukian (2 mln dollars),
Gevorg Hovnanian, Hrair Hovnanian, Sargis Hakobian, who rendered one
mln dollars each, Caroline Mugar (500,000 dollars), Vahe Karapetian
(100,000 dollars). Eduardo Ernikian, a citizen of Argentina, donated
1,5 mln dollars in support to Artsakh. Russian philanthropist Ara
Abrahamian allocated 250,000 dollars. A total of 1 mln dollars were
recieved from the European countries. The sum of donations made 950,000
dollars in Armenia, and in Nagorno Karabakh it made 160,000 dollars.

The NKR President expressed deep gratitude to all the Diasporan
Armenians for support to Artsakh, as well as to the citizens of Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, who took an active part in the telethon and
showed their patriotism and understanding of the importance of the
“North-South” highway in the provision of the military, economic and
social security of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. The NKR President
once again stressed that the Armenian people will be able to achieve
the national goals only due to the joint efforts of Armenia, Artsakh
and the Diaspora.

During Arkady Ghoukassian’s meeting with Zaven Khanjian, the President
of the “Americans for Artsakh” organization, held on the US Western
Coast on November 24, the latter expressed readiness to contribute
to the implementation of a number of projects on the NKR economic
development in Nagorno Karabkh, the improvement of the sphere of
education, the intensification of the cultural exchange between
Artsakh and the Diaspora.

The Union of Armenian Relief also implements its programs in
Artsakh. Arkady Ghoukassian visited their regional office. Different
issues regarding the prospects of cooperation between this organization
and Nagorno Karabakh were touched upon during the conversation.

The necessity of the continuation of the implementation of programs
on the establishment of proper conditions for study and education
of the rising generations in schools of Artsakh was mentioned during
the reception organized this day in honor of the President of Nagorno
Karabakh by the Armenian Educational Union.

Famous philanthropist Mery Najarian expressed her readiness to continue
cooperation with Artsakh in the future. She is one of the founders
of the “Medical Aid to Armenia” organization. The NKR President gave
a high assessment to the benevolent activities of couple Vardges and
Mery Najarians.

The same day, the NKR President had a meeting with Archbishop Mushegh
Martirosian, the Head of the Western Diocese of the Catholicosate
of the Great Cilician House. The Archbishop conveyed the Head of
Nagorno Karabakh the best wishes on behalf of Catholicos of the Great
Cilician House Aram I, as well as the readiness of the Catholicos to
render possible support to Artsakh. Archbishop Pargev Martirosian,
the Head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who
is in the United States these days, also participated in the meeting.

During all the meetings in the US the NKR President assured the
participants that Artsakh will not turn off the road of freedom and
independence and will achieve the goals put before it due to the
boosting participation of Armenia and the Armenians of the whole world.

NOVELTY IN ENERGY SYSTEM

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
23 Nov 04

After the maintenance of the cease-fire considerable work was
done in the energy system of Artsakh through funding of the state
budget, the foundation “Hayastan”, international humanitarian
organizations. Today we may state for sure that the energy system is
the most viable in the economy of the republic. In general processes
a great contribution was made by “Artsakhenergo” State CJSC which
pursues the technical maintenance of the sphere involving its town and
regional branches. Recently the Stepanakert branch of the company has
undertaken a new program. The old electricity meters at 11 Ayvazowsky
Street were replaced by new electronic electricity meters by “Energy”
Ltd. which will implement the replacement of electricity meters of the
houses in the Stepanakert quarters 34, 35 and 36. The director of the
Stepanakert branch of “Artsakhenergo” State CJSC Seyran Zakarian said
that the experimental replacement of electricity meters was successful,
and there will be no more need for control of electricity meters by
the workers of the electricity supply network as the new electronic
meters are directly connected with the main computer of the central
office. This new form of remote computer control allows controlling
the use of electricity, making a quick calculation of the exceeding
waste of energy. And finally the multiple-tariff network will allow
maintaining lower prices for electricity for families in hard social
condition.

NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN. 23-11-2004

Opinion – Armenios: un genocidio no reconocido;

La Nacion (Argentina)
Nov 22, 2004

Desde fines de 1890, una larga serie de asesinatos politicos cometidos
en territorio entonces otomano derivo en lo que, entre 1915 y 1923,
se convirtio en una verdadera ola de matanzas colectivas, a las
que hoy algunos se refieren -genericamente- como el “genocidio de
los armenios”, en el que se estima que habrian perecido mas de un
millon y medio de personas. El inicio de este tragico episodio se
suele ubicar en los asesinatos de decenas de armenios prominentes
que ocurrieran en Constantinopla, el 24 de abril de 1915.

Esta es una cuestion de la que curiosamente, salvo los armenios,
pocos parecen querer hablar. Para referirse a ella se suele entonces
recurrir a toda suerte de eufemismos hipocritas. Entre ellos, “la
masacre de los turcos” o “la tragedia de los armenios”. Cuando se
trata, historicamente, de un verdadero genocidio.

No obstante, nadie ha reconocido hasta ahora -oficialmente- este
genocidio. Ni los Estados Unidos, siquiera. Quien fue el candidato
democrata en las recientes elecciones norteamericanas, el senador John
Kerry, habia prometido que -de imponerse- reconoceria expresamente
el genocidio armenio, sin ambiguedades y de manera explicita. Cabe
apuntar, asimismo, que algo similar habia hecho, cuatro anos atras,
el actual presidente, George W. Bush. Pero, en la realidad, nada
ocurrio. El reciente triunfo republicano parece augurar que esta
cuestion quedara, como hasta ahora, relegada eventualmente al plano
de la academia, con algunas pocas discusiones en un reducido ambito
en el mundo de la politica.

La sensacion es que siempre hay intereses economicos o militares que
evitan analizar, en profundidad, lo que efectivamente sucedio y definir
serenamente -ahora que el tiempo ha disminuido significativamente la
intensidad de las pasiones- la naturaleza del crimen perpetrado. Entre
esas razones siempre invocadas esta, claramente, la importancia
estrategica de Turquia en el conflicto de Medio Oriente y su ponderable
conducta de las ultimas decadas.

El resultado es que se sigue silenciando una tragedia, de espaldas a
la humanidad y al pueblo que la sufrio, como si no importara. Esto es
cerrar las puertas a desentranar la verdad. En un mundo que quiere
ser cada vez mas abierto y transparente, esta actitud no pareceria
ser demasiado coherente. Especialmente para aquellos paises como el
nuestro, Israel y los Estados Unidos, que por una razon u otra han
tenido cercania con episodios de naturaleza similar.