Don’t shun objective criticism

Politics
Yerkir/am
October 08, 2004

We have spoken about the low level of consolidation of our political
system so much that some people have probably come to think that it
can never be consolidated in Armenia. At least this is the impression
you get when you see the reaction to any attempts and initiatives
aimed at the consolidation of the political system in Armenia.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Supreme Body made a public
proposal-statement that evaluated the achievements and drawbacks of
the 16 months of coalition government’s activities and pointed out
the main problems the solution of which, according to ARF, will speed
up the development of the country contributing to the establishment
of justice and legal order. The proposal also includes practical and
realistic measures for achieving these goals. Some of these measures
are directed at the consolidation of the political system and civil
society in our country.

Unfortunately, some statements made in response to this proposal do not
contain any elements of political thought or analysis. And the funniest
thing is that such statements were made by people and media who are
most active in speaking about consolidation of the political system.

Some blamed ARF for not presenting everything in pessimistic
interpretation. Others blamed ARF for not presenting everything
too optimistically. Still others were disappointed to realize that
the rumors about the Coalition Government falling apart were not
justified. Many people cannot accept when things are called by their
names, when good is praised and bad is criticized. Some are most
surprised and outraged when they are told the truth.

Will we manage to accept the truth and the reality? If yes, then we
will manage to build a just country with a consolidated political
system and prevailing social justice.

CENN — OCTOBER 11, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. GMO Threat to Poland — ICPPC Calls for Help
2. Villa Man Tried For Assaulting Journalist
3. Inter-regional volunteer action “Days of Good Will, Good Deeds and
Good Results” will be Held in Capital and Regions of Armenia
4. International Training Program “Influence of Conflicts on
Environment” Starts in Armenia
5. MDGs Survey We the Peoples Report and Survey

1. GMO THREAT TO POLAND — ICPPC CALLS FOR HELP

On September 8, 2004 the European Commission decided to allow seventeen
varieties of a genetically modified (GM) maize onto the European common
catalogue of seeds. This is an unprecedented action as, up until now, no
GM seeds have been allowed on the common catalogue. It opens the door
for GM crops to be grown on a large scale throughout Europe. ICPPC has
sent a protest letter to the Polish Government condemning this action
and proposing instead to create a GMO free Poland.

The situation is very urgent, as there are real fears that Monsanto and
other multinational GM seed corporations will target the Polish
countryside. The Polish government is not willing to act independently
to block the sale and planting of these seeds and Polish consumers and
farmers remain largely unaware of the threat posed by GM foods and food
production. Much of the media appears to be constrained from actively
reporting or researching issues surrounding GM products and many Polish
farmers are, as yet, unfamiliar with the arguments commonly aired in
other countries.

ICPPC therefore decided, in July, to launch a national campaign to
highlight the dangers of GMO’s in the Polish countryside and to press
for as many areas of Poland as possible to be declared GMO Free Zones
(). So far we have 60 farms around Poland and one
Province, Podkarpackie, with a population of just over 2 million (Polish
total 39 million) declaring themselves to be GMO free zones. There is
growing interest in many parts of the country but far more needs to be
done. Much of the Polish countryside is exceptionally rich in
biodiversity – a virtual seed bank in its own right – and it is crucial
that this rich source should not be contaminated. It is equally crucial
that farmers and consumers should be aware of the threat to both the
environment and human health that GMO’s carry.

Because the first GMO seeds can be planted on Polish fields already this
spring, ICPPC is urgently calling for help to prevent this happening –
in our common interest.

You can lend vital support to this campaign by sending:

1. Financial support: which will be used by us to continue our anti-GMO
campaign. To be sent direct to ICPPC’s account 37 1160 2202 0000 0000
2382 9934, SWIFT code: BIGBPLPWXXX, account owner: Fundacja ICPPC,
34-146 Stryszow. Or you can send us money by , but
first send us an e-mail with the amount you wish to support our campaign
to [email protected].
2. A letter of congratulation and support to the first GMO Province on
the name of the local authorities of Podkarpackie Province, Senator
Kazimierz Jaworski and ICPPC. Please send letter by: fax ++48 33 8797114
or e-mail: [email protected]
3. A letter expressing readiness to cooperate with Podkarpackie Province
. Podkarpackie is located in Southeast Poland and is a very beautiful
and traditional agricultural area. Please send letter by: fax ++48 33
8797114 or e-mail: [email protected]

Thank you for any help you can provide,

With kind regards,
Jadwiga Lopata and Julian Rose,

ICPPC Directors

=================
ICPPC – International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside,
Mi?dzynarodowa Koalicja dla Ochrony Polskiej Wsi
34-146 Strysz?w 156, Poland tel./fax +48 33 8797114 [email protected],
,

2. VILLA MAN TRIED FOR ASSAULTING JOURNALIST

Source: RFE/RL Armenia Report, October 7, 2004

A man reportedly linked to a wealthy pro-government parliamentarian went
on trial Thursday, accused of assaulting a photojournalist who took
pictures of luxury villas belonging to high-level Armenian officials and
government-connected businessmen.

The incident took place in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor in central
Armenia on August 24, 2004. The photographer, Mkhitar Khachatrian,
visited it with a correspondent for the `Aravot’ daily, Anna Israelian,
to assess damage caused to local forests by expensive housing
construction. The reporters say Khachatrian was forced to surrender the
photo storage card of his digital camera after being beaten by one of
several well-built men that guarded the villas.

One of them, Gagik Stepanian, was arrested on August 26, 2004 and has
since been kept in detention on charges of `hooliganism’ and
`obstruction of journalists’ work.’ He is the sole defendant at the
trial that began in the court of first instance of Hrazdan, the
administrative center of the central Kotayk region. The 43-year-old
father of two faces up to two years in prison if found guilty. He has
already had two criminal convictions in the past.

Stepanian, 43, only partly pleaded guilty to the charges at the start of
the court hearings, denying that he hit and swore at Khachatrian. He
claimed that he simply `jostled’ the photographer and took away the
digital chip after being photographed with his girlfriend in the woods.
He also said that he did not know that they were journalists.

The claims were denied by Israelian and an `Aravot’ driver who drove the
reporters to Tsaghkadzor from Yerevan. She insisted that Khachatrian
only took images of the expensive houses.

The photographer, who works for the private Photolur agency, is not
attending the trial. He is expected to ask prosecutors to read out his
pre-trial testimony in the court and avoid cross-examination. He has
already been paid $250 compensation by the suspect.

The reporters believe the attack was provoked by a man who guarded the
villa of Armen Yeritsian, the deputy chief of the Armenian police, in
Tsaghkadzor’s new exclusive neighborhood. They say he told Khachatrian
to stop photographing it before ordering Stepanian and several other men
to attack him.

Stepanian is widely believed to work as a bodyguard for Levon Sargsian,
a wealthy parliamentarian notorious for punching an opposition colleague
on the parliament floor in 2002. Sargsian, who is better known to the
public as `Alraghatsi Lyov,’ has denied any connection with the suspect,
however. He was not questioned during the pre-trial investigation and
will not appear before the Hrazdan court.

The Tsaghkadzor incident has been strongly condemned by Armenian media
associations. They said it was made possible by the authorities’ failure
to prosecute the perpetrators of previous attacks on the local
journalists. Western media watchdogs have also expressed concern at the
violence.

3. INTER-REGIONAL VOLUNTEER ACTION “DAYS OF GOOD WILL, GOOD DEEDS AND
GOOD RESULTS” WILL BE HELD IN CAPITAL AND REGIONS OF ARMENIA

Source: Arminfo, October 6, 2004

>>From October 28, to October 29 the Inter-Regional Volunteer Action “Days
of Good Will, Good Deeds and Good Results” will be held in Aragatsotn,
Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Lori, Shirak and Syunik as well as in
Yerevan.

The press-service of Center for Community Dialogues and Initiatives told
ARMINFO that the goal of the action, initiated by (CCDI), IFES, NGOs,
local and regional authorities, is to encourage the volunteer movement
and NGOs’ activities as effective means for bringing communities
together to solve local problems. Participating in the “Days of Good
Will, Good Deeds and Good Results”, Armenians will have an excellent
opportunity to be active citizens and to make their contribution to the
community development process, united by the principle of volunteerism.

This year is the fourth annual “Days of Good Will, Good Deeds and Good
Results” action in Armenia. The previous three actions were held in
autumn of 2001, 2002 and 2003. All of these actions, supported by
different groups of the society, were highly successful: In total, 2,899
events were held, with 278,924 participants. The number of events and
participants increased by over 50% from 2001 to 2003.

The following events are planned for this year’s “Days of Good Will,
Good Deeds and Good Results” action: Visits to schools, museums,
scientific institutions, libraries and cinemas; Aid distribution and
book gathering for schools, museums, and libraries; Visits to the
disabled, refugees, orphanages, homes for the elderly, and hospitals;
Providing free professional consultation and services, such as Internet
access, haircuts, medical exams, and shoe repair; Gathering and
distribution of cloths, shoes, food, books and toys; Sports events;
Meetings with artists, writers and other well-known local persons;
“Round-table” discussions on local problems and how to solve them;
Various cultural events, such as free concerts, exhibitions, puppet
shows, chalk drawings on the street, storytelling to children, and
contests; Visits to state officials; Clean-up efforts at schools,
courtyards, monuments, riverbanks, and the lake shore; Community
improvement initiatives

Events have been conducted by local NGOs, city and regional authorities,
small and medium businesses, schools and universities, libraries,
museums, condominiums, sports clubs, and international organizations, as
well as by individuals and groups of individuals. Organization
committees, composed of representatives of NGOs, local authorities, mass
media, and interested individuals, are created to lead the works. Each
region has from one to five committees.

All participation or assistance is welcome. It is possible, for example,
to organize events or take part personally in a good deed or volunteer
effort. There are sponsorship opportunities as well. During the 2003
“Days of Good Will, Good Deeds and Good Results” action, the organizing
committees managed to involve 315 sponsors. Events conducted within the
framework of the action do not necessarily require a large investment.
Many types of sponsorship are possible: in the past, the action has
received not only financial support but also the donation of resources.
In 2002, for instance, a private company in Abovyan donated a special
vehicle for cleaning monuments. In Sevan, one stationery shop presented
stationery supplies for first grade children, and polyclinics in Lori
offered free dental treatment for kids from local homes for children.
Last year a municipality provided free transportation for those who
wanted to participate in the volunteer actions in the regional center.
Some factories provided candies and juiced to kindergartens. The action
encourages all forms of involvement and assistance.

4. INTERNATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM “INFLUENCE OF CONFLICTS ON
ENVIRONMENT” STARTS IN ARMENIA
Source: Arminfo, October 7, 2004

An international training program “Influence of the conflicts on the
environment” started in Armenia Wednesday.

Director of the Federation of youth clubs of Armenia (FYCA) Atom
Mkhitarian, the arrangement was organized by the FYCA jointly with the
European youth foundation of the European Union. Atom Mkhitarian
informed that 20 specialists engaged in the problems of peaceful
settlement of conflicts and environment have arrived in Armenia to take
part in the program, including representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Russia, Moldova, Malta, Denmark, Germany, France, Czechia and
Spain. “In the course of the work of the training program we want to
unite two global tasks – elaboration of formulas of consequences of the
conflicts on the environment, and determination of the spectrum of
actions of the youth to prevent or minimize these phenomena”, Atom
Mkhitarian said.

Atom Mkhitarian mentioned that the participation of Azerbaijani
representatives in the seminar is important with the demonstration to
European structures the potentiality of Armenia in the country’s
becoming a strategic center of youth policy in the region, which, in its
turn, supposes holding of numerous youth programs, conferences, forums,
etc.

In their turn, representatives of NGOs of Azerbaijan – Director of the
Center of public Diplomacy Hamlet Izmailov and representative of the
analytic center “Peace, Democracy, Culture” Roman Temnikov mentioned
that the Karabakh conflict has caused a big damage to the environment.
In particular, an enormous damage has been caused to the agricultural
lands in the conflict zone and around it because of their mining. Till
now peasants cannot cultivate land, the mines blow up and people die.
“It is our second visit to Armenia”, the guests from Azerbaijan say.
Speaking about the negative reaction of the authorities of Azerbaijan to
the visits of Armenian citizens, Roman Temnikov and Hamlet Izmailov
informed that public figures, representatives of the youth and
intellectuals may visit Azerbaijan freely, but the issue of arrival of
people in uniforms is determined at high state level.

5. MDGS SURVEY WE THE PEOPLES REPORT AND SURVEY

Dear Colleagues,

We the peoples… 2004 was successfully launched on September 8 at the NGO
conference of the UN Department of Public Information, with 2600 people
from 90 countries in attendance. We offer heartfelt thanks to each of
you who participated in our 2004 survey. Your views and insightful
comments on civil society’s engagement with the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) helped to build this report.

We are equally grateful to all the civil society networks that helped us
distribute the information about our survey. We could not have done it
without you.

We are also writing to inform civil society organizations around the
world of a major new survey, in which you can participate in the coming
weeks. This survey will be the springboard to a significant report to be
launched in March 2005. We the peoples…2005 will take a deeper look at
the state of progress in each of the MDGs, including the key Goal 8 and
the role of affluent nations. We hope very much that you will take part
in this survey, and add your organization’s voice to the growing body of
civil society opinion on the MDGs. We would be grateful if you could
also pass on this information to all your network members, partner
organizations and all groups interested in sharing their views. We will
solicit not only your analysis and policy insights, but also your
recommendations (see note below) for the future.

In a few weeks, we will send you a follow up e-mail with full details of
the survey, and information on how you can participate. We look forward
to your response and your recommendations for the reform of policies and
structures, and for new initiatives on the road to the achievement of
the MDGs and beyond.

In the meantime, we invite you to read we the peoples…2004. It is
available in English on the web site of The North-South Institute at
and the World Federation of
United Nations Associations (WFUNA) at Please send us
your suggestions and comments regarding the report at [email protected].
Versions in Arabic, French and Spanish will be posted later this month.

WFUNA and The North-South Institute have also set up an online forum for
discussion on the MDGs, where all civil society organizations can put
forward their thoughts and suggestions. To get involved, simply go to
, and click on
“polls”. We hope you will participate in this discussion.

Thank you again for your time and your input. Check out the report on
the web-sites, and watch out for another e-mail soon about the next
survey. We look forward to continued collaboration.

Sincerely,

John W. Foster
Principal Researcher
The North-South Institute
and
Pera Wells
Deputy Secretary-General
WFUNA

Armenian premier, Norwegian foreign minister discuss political, economic ties

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
11 Oct 04

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan today received Jan Petersen
[chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway].

At the meeting, the Norwegian foreign minister noted the importance
of expanding bilateral political dialogue. In turn, Markaryan spoke
about securing a legal basis for bringing mutual economic cooperation
closer together. The Armenian prime minister noted the prospects
for cooperation in the area of information technologies, agriculture
and hydroelectricity.

69 FOREIGN COMPANIES MAKE INVESTMENTS IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Azg/am
12 Oct 04

According to NKR Statistic Service, as of July 1, 2004, 69 foreign
companies form the US, Germany, France, Canada, Argentina, Switzerland,
Australia and CIS member countries have made investments in Nagorno
Karabakh.

Recently, Araz Azimov, Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister, told the
journalists that “Azerbaijan has the black list of the foreign
companies that unfold illegal business in the territories occupied by
the Armenians.” He said that these companies will not be allowed to
unfold activities in the territory of Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan can’t
ignore the fact of illegal utilization of natural resources in the
occupied territories, as well as Armenia’s policy of inhabiting these
territories illegally, ” he stated.

Karabakh has no problem with publishing the list of foreign companies
that made investments in Nagorno Karabakh. National Statistic Service
informed that 25 companies made investments in mining industry,
10 companies in agriculture, 11 companies in trade, 4 companies in
construction and hotel business. Other 19 companies made investments
in other spheres of business.

In the last four years, about $40 million were invested in the economy
of NKR, most of them by foreign companies. Anushavan Danielian, NKR
Prime Minister, affirmed in the interview given to Azg Daily, that
NKR investment field is very attractive for foreign investors. In
future about $15-20 million will be invested in the construction of
small hydro-electric power, in wine industry and mining.

Particularly, 800 employees are working at Base Metals ltd., branch
of Armenian Copper Program Company. We should also mention the Swiss
Frank Muller Company that has unfolded activities in Karabakh.

It’s worth mentioning that in 2005 $2,5 million of aid will be
allocated to Nagorno Karabakh from the US budget. Armenia will receive
$75 million in 2005, while Azerbaijan will get $38 million.

By Tatoul Hakobian

It’s Cold And Boring In Javakhk

Youth Leaves for Russia

Azg/am
12 Oct 04

“There are many young people leaving Javakhk for Russia in search
of jobs and better life now-a-days. They don’t give their way of
“Javakhki” thinking in that country. There are many cases of mixed
marriages with Russians. They often leave their wives and children
here and start a new family abroad. There are villages in Javakhk
with only female population”, Samvel Babayan, priest of Surb Khach
church in Akhalkalak, says.

Vartan Hakobian, 26, has been in Russia for 4 years and now is back
in Akhalkalak (administrative center of Javakhk). “There are less
people able to leave for Russia now because of the visa regime but all
those who managed to cross the border do everything not to return”,
Vartan says.

Georgian “Rose Revolution” didn’t reach Javakhk. Although 98 percent of
Javakhk’s population voted for Saakashvili, they are not satisfied now.
Nothing has changed for good, people say.

Ararat Yesoyan is the head of the Center for Reforms’ Support and
Democratic Development. He points out that the former Georgian leader
Sheverdnadze used to act on the sly and kept everything under wraps
but Saakashvili is different, he is outspoken.

“There has always been discrimination but today it’s more obvious.
Compulsory learning of Georgian, absence of autonomous leadership,
keeping Armenians off ranks, absence of electricity and propped up
emigration are signs of discrimination. All the programs of social
and economic development Tbilisi draws up for Javakhk remain only
on paper. They were written only to throw dust in foreigners’ eyes”,
Yesoyan says.

“It’s not a problem to learn Georgian but if forced, it may cause in
assimilation. There are more than 100 thousand Armenians in Tbilisi
with brilliant knowledge of Georgian. How many of them are better
off? Georgian language is a means of keeping us off the jobs”, he adds.

Davit Rstakian is the co-chairman of Virk party of Javakhk. He says
that situation got even worse with Saakashvili in power. There is
no paved road, no investment, no electricity. “Armenia allocated $2
millions to construct Ashotsk-Ninotsminda medium-voltage line. Why
there is no electricity now?”, Rstakian says.

Artur Yeremian, head of Akhalkalak administration, says that many
things have changed since Saakashvili took the office. “Georgia makes
its first steps as a state. The government had a debt of 22 months’
salary to the budget employees, yet, today all the debts to teachers
are reimbursed. 2.7 kilometers of road have been paved this year. There
is also money allocated to rebuild 9 schools”, Yeremian says.

Javakhk has been Georgia’s most underdeveloped region for
decades. For Akhalkalak’s population, 95 percent of which are
Armenians, agriculture (potato growing) and cattle-breeding are the
main source of survival. Javakhk is Georgia’s Siberia with 7 months
of winter and 5 months of spring.

Levon Levanian is national plenipotentiary representative in the
regions of Akhalkalak and Nonotsminda. He says that there is no
apparent discrimination against Armenians, only some rules are written
without considering minority’s opinion. He reminded the educational
law project according to which all school subjects will be taught in
Georgian but Armenian language and literature. “If the law project
isn’t changed that will mean a discrimination”, Levanian said.

Levanian mentioned rise of the pension and reimbursement of wages
among the reforms. “It’s fine that there is no road police any more
and people are able to transfer their goods freely”, he added.

Head of Javakhk’s A-info news agency Khachatur Stepanian agrees that
most of the news coming from Javakhk is disturbing. “If Armenians
of Javakhk live on the same level as inhabitants of other Georgian
regions that is only due to our diligence”, Stepanian says.

Ararat Yesoyan suggested journalists from Armenia pay more attention
to Javakhk and organize disputes over certain issues. “We want to
know the attitude of the Armenian government and the parliament, what
Armenians think. Officials recall us only when they need us”, he says.

By Tatoul Hakobian from Akhalkalak

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press To Refute Kerry’s Readiness To Recognize Armenian Genocide

Azg/am
12 Oct 04

The US presidential elections will take place on November 2. Armenians
as well as many other nations of the world pursue their goals in
the US elections. John Kerry’s words that he “will fight against
denial of the Armenian Genocide” made the Armenians of America give
preference to Kerry. Turkey, on the contrary, wants to see Bush taking
the second term.

Turkey considers failures of Bush’s administration in Iraq as grounds
for Kerry’s victory and fears that the Turkish-American discords will
make him keep his promise. Turkey also is well aware that senator
Kerry was a supporter of the Armenian issues in the Senate.

John Kerry wrote in a letter to the Armenian National Committee of
America on an occasion of a festival organized for his support on
August 28: “As a president of the USA I will fight against denial
of the Armenian Genocide, my administration will acknowledge April
24 of 2005 as 90-th anniversary of these atrocities, and I will do
everything that people learn from these crimes in order to prevent
future genocides. There may be no compromise in this moral issue”.

He also urged the Armenians to go and vote for him and Edwards
on November 2. Around 800 Armenian participants of the festival
expressed their willingness to support John Kerry.

The letter stirred up both Armenian and Turkish circles. While the
Diaspora and Armenia were exited over the fact, Turkey and Turkish
community of the US were opposing to it.

While Turkish analysts and political observers were speaking of the
possibility of Genocide recognition in case Kerry took the office,
Zaman in October 8 issue puts under the suspicion the existence of
such a letter and thus, Kerry’s promise to Armenians.

The Turkish newspaper writes: “Answering Zaman’s questions, John Kerry
refuted the claims of Armenians as regards his recognition of the
Armenian genocide. Kerry noted that though he supported senator Robert
Dahlâ^À^Ùs initiative in 1990, he mentioned of genocide neither during
the electorial campaign nor in the past 10 years. “Turkey is among
the oldest allies of America and will always be candidate Kerry said”.

The Zaman correspondent had the chance to meet Kerry at the
Democratic convention in Washington October 2. “Your statements about
acknowledging Armenian genocide greatly disappointed Turkish society
and American voters of Turkish origin”, he said. “When did I say
that?”, Kerry asked with amazement. When the correspondent reminded
about the Armenian festival Kerry refuted everything and noted that
he never said anything like that during last 10 years.

The Zaman writes in the meantime that no American newspaper
responded to Kerry â^À^Ùs statement nor even it was included in the
candidate’s homepage.

It’s interesting by what chance the Turkish journalist appeared at
the Democratic convention and how he managed to come up to Kerry
surrounded by American journalists. What we know is that the article
is signed by Mustafa Sungur and that it casts a false color on reality.

By Hakob Chakrian

MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION SIGNED BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND INDIAN BUSINESSMEN

YEREVAN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). A memorandum on cooperation aiming
to strengthen Armenian-Indian economic partnership was signed between
Martin Sargssian, Chairman of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of
Armenia, and K.K.M. Kutty, Chairman of the Industrial Confederation of
India, on October 11. Acording to Mr. Kutty, the document will allow
the two countries two enlarge trade turnover in the future years,
and found joint ventures. The Industrial Confederation of India will
open an office in Armenia soon to promote Armenian-Indian economic
cooperation. He said the representatives of the Chamber of Industry
and Commerce of Armenia will be invited to participate in next year’s
business forum to be held in India. According to M. Sargssian, the
memorandum will also allow the two countries to cooperate in organizing
exhibitions, as well as to exchange business information. He said
within the framework of the exhibition “In the Indian World” being
held in Yerevan October 10-13, Armenian and Indian businessmen have
reached an agreement to establish joint ventures producing medical
equipment and selling spare parts in Armenia.

HOUSE, SENATE NEGOTIATORS INCLUDE ARMENIA PNTR IN LARGER TRADE BILL:
BOTH CHAMBERS SET TO VOTE NEXT

WASHINGTON, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). One of the Armenian Assembly of
America’s (AAA) highest legislative priorities – normalizing trade
relations between the United States and Armenia – took a major step
forward on October 9 as House and Senate conferees for a key trade
measure agreed to attach legislation extending permanent normal trade
relations (PNTR) to Armenia. “The Assembly welcomes today action
to attach Armenia PNTR to the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical
Corrections Act and thanks House Ways and Committee Chairman Bill
Thomas for including it in this conference report,” said Assembly
Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We commend him and the
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) for their leadership and steadfast efforts to deepen the
U.S.-Armenia trade relationship.” “The ongoing Turkish and Azeri
blockades are two strikes against Armenia’s ability to prosper as
a free-market economy, so any U.S. trade benefits, such as those
resulting from the removal of the trade restrictions, are helpful,”
Hovnanian added. “It is our hope Congress will pass this legislation
at its earliest opportunity.” PNTR, known as “permanent normal trade
relations”. would remove a nearly 30-year-old provision requiring
Armenia and other countries to periodically obtain presidential
approval for continued access to low tariffs. In so doing, it would
signal an upgrade in Armeniaâ^À^Ùs status as a trading partner and
should lead to additional trade agreements between the United States
and Armenia. Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairmen Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) first introduced the
legislation known as H.R. 528 in February 2003, which passed the House
of Representatives later that year. The Assembly for its part, helped
push the measure through by working to secure the co-sponsorship of
more than 100 lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle. Last
year, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) along with Senators Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced S. 1557, which
was modeled after the House version of Armenia PNTR. This measure
has the bipartisan support of over 20 cosponsors. The next step in
the legislative process is for the House-Senate conference report to
go the floors of both Chambers for a final vote.

BRAZILIAN WRITER OPENS FOR HIMSELF CHARM OF ARMENIAN CULTURE

YEREVAN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). Paolo Coelio has been the most
readable writer for twenty years now, and his novels, though in
Russian, were available to the Armenian reader. RA Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan said about it during the
October 8 meeting with the world-famed writer. P. Coelio said that
there are a few translated works of Armenian writers, that’s why he
is acquainted with the Armenian literature poorly. But during his
visit to Yerevan he had time to visit the House-Museum of Parajanov,
walk along the streets of Yerevan and this, according to him, opens
for himself the charm of the Armenian culture.

STATE LIST OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS OF YEREVAN APPROVED

YEREVAN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). The RA government approved the state
list of immovable historical and cultural monuments of Yerevan. Lists
of monuments in two regions should be also specified for the approval
of the full list of immovable monuments in the territory of the
republic. After the approval of the list the work will start on
projecting the zones of monuments protection. According to RA Deputy
Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Gagik Gyurjian, the old list of
historical and cultural monuments of the republic was approved in 1984
and included 33,000 monuments, which are situated in the territory
of 20,000 hectares. According to him, list of monuments approved by
the decision of the Soviet of Ministers of the Armenian SSR doesn’t
correspond to the assessment criteria and methods of elaboration of
information and integration, common requirements of the cadastre. These
monuments will gain a certain status and will be considered not only
as town-planning entities but also will be protected by the law “On
Protection of Monuments” after the specification and approval of the
list in the whole territory of the republic.