FINLAND’S’ FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YEREVAN TOMORROW
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Finland’s foreign affairs
ministerErki Tuommio arrives tomorrow in Yerevan for a one-day
visit. Armenian foreign ministry said he will meet with president
Kocharian, parliament chairman and foreign minister Oskanian.
The same day he will attend a ceremony for signing a bilateral
agreement on encouragement and protection of reciprocal
investments. He will also laya wreath at the Genocide Memorial.
FOUR ARMENIAN HOSPITALS TO BE INCLUDED IN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF
ITALIAN HOSPITALS
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign affairs ministry
said Armenian and Italian officials signed on September 27 in Rome a
cooperation agreement for 2004 whereby the Italian health ministry
will help Armenian hospitals to increase their information
opportunities.
The ministry said the Italian government has released to that end
30,560 euros, a sum that is enough for 4 Armenian hospitals to be
included in the international networks of Italian hospitals, ensuring
distance health consulting and diagnosis.
government has released to that end 30,560 euros, a sum that is enough
for 4 Armenian h.
NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER IN THE LIMELIGHT OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Funded by US State Department ,
Community and Humanitarian Assistance Project Armenian Office of
Counterpart International has provided medical equipment and medicine
in the amount of 320,000 USD to Armenian National Oncology
Center. This is a donation of US National Oncology Coalition.
The center hosted representatives of the organization and the
project today. Counterpart International has committed itself to
continue dispatch of medical equipment to the center with the total
cost of assistance for the running year exceeding 1mln USD. Since
2001, the organization has supplied the center with medical items of
about 12 mln USD through its Community and Humanitarian Assistance
Project.
According to Sergei Khomchenko, a representative of the
organization and the project, Counterpart international assists the
most needy patients. He argued that prevention of oncology illnesses
is far more easier than their treatment. He said that smoking is
widespread in Armenia which is one of the major causes of the illness.
According to Hairapet Galstian, national oncology center head,
thanks to Counterpart International the center is equipped with modern
technology. He said that they are particularly in need of diagnoses
equipment which cost 1mln USD and are not affordable neither for the
state nor the center.
The center head said that government also earmarks funds for the
operation of the center.
US national oncology coalition supports medical program in some 10
countries throughout the world.
Mironov’s visit to Armenia is a new step in bilateral relations
03.10.2004, 23.41
YEREVAN, October 3 (Itar-Tass) — An official visit of Federation
Council Chairman Sergei Mironov to Armenia, which ended on Sunday, was
a new phase in Russian-Armenian relations, sources in the Russian
delegation and Armenia told Itar-Tass.
Russia and Armenia are political partners and allies, Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan and Mironov said. The interlocutors
discussed the entire range of bilateral relations during the visit.
The sides think that economic cooperation is lagging behind political
dialog. They discussed negative consequences of the closure of the
Russian-Georgian border on the Armenian economy.
Cargo transit via Georgia is a concern of Armenia, which does not
border on Russia. The Verkhny Lars checkpoint is the only motorway
between Armenia and Russia. `We discussed possible solutions to the
problem, bearing inmind our partnership with Armenia,’ Mironov said.
A joint declaration signed by Mironov and Armenian Parliament Speaker
Artur Bagdasaryan provides for legislative steps in the anti-terrorist
fight.
`Not only Russia but also all countries of this unique land of plenty
need stability in the Caucasus and Transcaucasia,’ Mironov told
servicemen of a Russian regiment stationed in Yerevan. `You are one of
the outpostsof security on Russian southern boundaries,’ he said.
Equatorial Guinea waits for sir Mark to speak
Sapa-AFP
October 04 2004 at 02:20AM
Libreville – The trial in Equatorial Guinea of 19 people including 14
suspected mercenaries accused of plotting to overthrow President
Teodoro Obian Nguema will not resume on Monday as previously
announced, sources there said.
Eight South Africans, six Armenians and five Equato-Guineans,
including a former deputy minister, went on trial in Malabo in August
for allegedly plotting to oust Obiang, who has ruled the small central
African country since 1979.
The case was adjourned on August 31 at the request of the state’s
attorney general, Jose Olo Obono, to get “further information” after
the arrest of Mark Thatcher in South Africa.
The son of the former British prime minister is suspected by
Equatorial Guinea and South Africa of financing the alleged plot.
The lawyer for the South African defendants recently told AFP that the
trial would resume on October 4. No official confirmation was
available.
Olo Obono could not be reached in Malabo in recent days.
Thatcher was arrested in South Africa, where he lives, and the South
African government has given permission for questions to be put to him
on behalf of Equatorial Guinea’s prosecutor’s office.
That hearing had been set for September 22 but has been postponed
until November 26. – Sapa-AFP
Turkey in facts and figures
EUbusiness
03 October 2004
Turkey, which hopes to get the nod Wednesday from the European
Commission to obtain a date in December to launch membership talks
with the European Union, stands at the center of a strategic zone
between the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Balkans.
Following is a factsheet on Turkey, comparing some figures with those
of the European Union:
GEOGRAPHY: Covering an area of 779,452 square kilometres (311,781
square miles), Turkey borders Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran,
Iraq, Syria, Greece and Bulgaria, and is washed by the Mediterranean
to the south, the Aegean to the west and the Black Sea to the north,
and surrounds the Sea of Marmara. It is divided between two
continents, Europe and Asia. The area west of the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus (the straits between Europe and Asia) accounts for five
percent of the total.
Comparatively, the total area of the EU countries is 3,691,214 sq km
(1,476,486 sq miles).
POPULATION: 70.7 million inhabitants (2003), including 13 to 19
million Kurds.
With Turkey joining, the EU’s population, which stood at 455 million
in January 2004, would pass the half-billion mark.
CAPITAL: Ankara, population 3.5 million.
Istanbul is the country’s largest city and industrial and commercial
hub with a population in excess of 10 million (Turkish State
Statistics Institute, 2000 – latest figures available).
OFFICAL LANGUAGE: Turkish.
The EU currently has 20 official, but only three working languages:
English, French and German.
RELIGION: Muslim (99 percent): 80 percent Sunni, 20 percent
Alevi. Armenians form the largest religious minority, with about
45,000 people, followed by some 35,000 Jews.
Turkey’s entry into the EU would bring the number of Muslims in the
European bloc to around 80 million.
RECENT HISTORY: Founded in 1923, the Republic of Turkey was created
after the collapse of the Ottoman empire at the end of World War
I. The republic became a modern secular state under its founder,
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (“father of the Turks”), until his death in
1938. His successor, Ismet Inonu, ran the counry as a single-party
dictatorship until 1946, when he introduced a multi-party
system. Turkey was the scene of military coups, followed by periods of
repression, in 1960, 1971 and 1980.
>From 1984 to 1999, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) led an armed
rebellion in southeastern Turkey, which claimed more than 37,000
lives. The PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey
and many other countries and international organisations, called a
unilateral truce after the capture in Kenya in 1999 of its founder and
leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who was tried and sentenced to death; his
sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The PKK has changed names several times since, and its latest
incarnation, the Kurdistan People’s Congress (KONGRA-GEL), in June
announced the end of their truce, which the Turkish army had never
recognized.
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: Ahmet Necdet Sezer has been president since
May 5,
Necmettin Erbakan, leader of the Welfare Party, became Turkey’s first
Islamic prime minister on June 28, 1996, in a coalition with his
predecessor, Tansu Ciller, the country’s first woman premier.
He was pressured into resigning by the army in June 1997 and was
replaced by Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party, who headed a
left-right coalition.
The Yilmaz coalition fell from power in November 1998 amid allegations
of corruption and links to organised crime. It was replaced by another
left-right coalition led by Bulent Ecevit.
In general elections in November 2002, the Justice and Devlopment
Party (AKP), which has its roots in radical Islam but describes itself
as simply “conservative”, swept to power and obtained the absolute
majority of seats in Parliament. Its leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
became prime minister in March
ECONOMY: The economy, which is based mainly on textiles, light
industry, tourism and agriculture, saw considerable growth until it
was hit by a severe crisis in the aftermath of the first Gulf War in
1991.
With 14 million foreign visitors generating 13.2 billion dollars of
income, tourism in 2003 was the country’s biggest earner. Long hit by
PKK terror attacks and the effects of the Gulf War, the sector boomed
in 2003 and 2004, with incoming tourist figures increasing by 43.5%
for the first six months of this year compared with the first six
months of 2003.
Turkey has been linked with the EU with an association accord signed
in 1963 and a customs agreement signed in 1996.
Turkey’s candidacy for EU membership was rejected in 1989, largely due
to its human rights record, but was accepted on December 10, 1999.
GNP PER CAPITA: 2.790 dollars.
By comparison, the highest per capita GNP in the EU belongs to
Luxembourg, with 38,830 dollars; the lowest, Latvia’s, is 3,480
dollars. The average per capita GNP of the EU is 19,775 dollars (World
Bank, 2003).
FOREIGN DEBT: 147.035 billion dollars (Turkish State Statistics
Institute,
ARMED FORCES: 514,850 men, of whom 402,000 are land forces, 52,750
naval forces and 60,100 air forces (IISS 2003/2004).
Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline to kick off soon
Sunday, October 03, 2004
IranMania.com
LONDON, Oct 3 (IranMania) – Official in charge of a gas pipeline to
Armenia noted that the project will kick off within two months after
announcement of tender winner, Petroenergy Information Network (PIN)
reported.
Mohammad Reza Lorzadeh added that the project is a major enterprise
launched by the National Iranian Gas Company and 14 major Iranian
contractors have been qualified for it.
“The Armenian gas pipeline will be constructed as EPC (engineering,
procurement, construction) and contractors should hand in their
proposals within next two months,” he noted.
The official said the winner will be announced after quoted prices are
studied by transactions commission of the National Iranian Gas Company
and its implementation will follow.
“The Iranian part of the pipeline is 110-120 km long and the pipeline
will carry 10 mln cu. m. gas to the northern neighbor per day. After
installing compression stations, the figure can be increased to more
than 15 mln cu. m.,” he noted.
Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani
Zaman
10.03.2004 Sunday
Detonations at Armenian stone quarries damaged some of the ruins
located in the 6000-year-old city of Ani on the Turkish-Armenian
border.
Sabit Osman Avci, who is President of the Protection of Historical
Heritage Foundation and a former Speaker of the Turkish Parliament
(TBMM), conducted studies in the region. Avci said that up until two
years ago there was onlyone stone quarry in the region; now the number
is eight. He warned that the dynamite being detonated at these
quarries damaged the ancient city of Ani.
“They [Armenians] clamor that Turkey destroys Ani,” explained
Avci. “Here are the stone quarries. The dynamite exploded in these
quarries causes serious damage to the standing buildings in Ani over
the course of time. The stone quarries in question should be closed.”
The ancient ruins of Ani are among the 100 historical works that need
to be protected in the world. The ancient city was a great center of
trade and is mentioned in records of the Silk Road from the Middle
Ages.
Examples of Sasani, Arabic, Armenian, and Seljuk architecture can be
found among the Ani ruins. Ani is home to the first Turkish mosque
built in Anatolia, Ebul Menucehr. Members of the Seljuk Dynasty built
the mosque in 1072.
10.03.2004
Kars, aa
Armenian president, Russian speaker discuss terrorism, economic ties
Arminfo
2 Oct 04
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met Russian Federation Council
Speaker Sergey Mironov today.
Arminfo news agency learnt from the Armenian presidential press
service that Kocharyan had spoken highly about Armenian-Russian
strategic partnership developing rather efficiently and dynamically.
Having described his talks in Armenia as useful, Mironov said that the
talks were focused on fighting terrorism and a special statement was
adopted. The statement calls for consolidating efforts of civil
society to fight this evil.
Kocharyan said that the current stage of Armenian-Russian relations
was characterized by deepening mutually beneficial economic
cooperation. He added that economy must become the basis of the
bilateral relations and spoke about the importance of intensifying the
activity of the Armenian-Russian intergovernment commission for
economic cooperation.
Mironov said that the Russian members of the commission were expected
to visit Armenia in a few days to discuss all topical issues of
economic cooperation.
The sides also discussed a need for expanding direct ties and
cooperation between administrative regions of Armenia and Russia. They
spoke about the importance of cooperation between MPs within the
framework of various international organizations.
The meeting also discussed the closure of the Russian-Georgian border
that caused a number of serious problems for Armenia in terms of cargo
and passenger transportation.
State interests more valued than people’s security, Armenian paper
Aravot, Yerevan
2 Oct 04
Text of an unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 2
October headlined “State interests and security of community”
Very soon the Armenian National Assembly will put a full stop to the
question of whether it is worth sending Armenian servicemen to Iraq or
not. Today the problem is being discussed by political scientists, who
are arguing for and against the dispatch. Those who do not approve
this plan worry about the fate of the large Armenian diaspora in Iraq.
Incidentally, not waiting for the Armenian parliament to take a
decision to this end, the Iraqi Armenians have already asked the
Armenian government not to take such a step. It is clear that they do
not want to become hostages in the hands of terrorists.
We do not know what our government’s reply to their request was, but
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has already questioned
whether it was expedient for the Armenian diaspora in Iraq to
influence Armenia to tackle its problems with other countries.
Following his logic, given that the [Iraqi] diaspora is not as
influential to lobby the interests of Armenia as the diasporas of the
USA and France, and also is not so rich to construct roads or
airports, then it should understand that the Armenian authorities
cannot take into consideration a possible danger to the Iraqi
Armenians, after our servicemen enter Iraq.
It is clear that those who approve the plan of sending our servicemen
to Iraq, including the Armenian prime minister, have their own
reasons. Recently Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan admitted some of
them in a televised interview. According to him, Armenia cannot stay
away because: a) Georgia and Azerbaijan are not staying away; b) given
that we support the fight against world terrorism, we cannot approach
it only as consumers; c) Iraq is very close to our borders and this
fact does not allow us to remain observers.
It is very likely that the Armenian parliament will adopt a decision
to send our servicemen to Iraq. But to declare that our state
interests are more important than the security of any Armenian
diaspora is little bit cynical.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress