YEREVAN OFFICE OF VDI INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION OF IT SPHERE IS GOING TO
INCREASE TWICE AS MUCH VOLUME OF WORK
YEREVAN, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). The Yerevan office of the
Vested Development Inc (VDI) international corporation carried out
the elaboration of programs on system provisison, the reformation of
projects, the elaboration of the data protection bases of the companies
of corporative government and the management systems of documents and
business during the year of its activities. Lev Sevilyan, the Director
of the office, said during the ceremony of summing up of the results of
the activities of the Yerevan Office for a year and the presentation
of VDI that 35 Armenian specialists of the office participated in
the elaboration of 12 programs and projects implemented by VDI. He
mentioned that the activities of the office will be widened next year
and the number of employees will reach 50 till the end of 2005. The
company will carry out not only the elaboration of different systems
and programs, but it will be a subcontractor in the sphere of system
service. Lev Sevilyan mentioned that the specialists of the sphere of
programming taken to job often have secondary vocational education. In
the future thay are retrained at the centers of Moscow and Yerevan, as
well as perfect themselves during the implementation of joint programs
with the specialists of VDI. Artak Ohanian, the Director of Business
Development Department of VDI, in his turn, mentioned that the opening
of tbe office in Armenia is mainly conditioned by the professional
skills and knowledge of the Armenian specialists. At the same time,
he stressed that the shortage of skilled specialists is the main
problem of the sphere of information technologies in Armenia. Artak
Ohanian also said that at first VDI started operating in 1993, then the
central office was opened in Boston (the US) in 1997 due to skilled
specialists. Besides the central office the company has another
five offices – three in Russia, and by one in Ukraine and Armenia
(with a total of 350 specialists). The company cooperates with the
companies of 20 countries (the US, Canada, countries-members of the
European Union), in particular, in the sphere of high technologies,
finances, insurance, telecommunication, energy and information.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH DIALOGUE IS POSSIBLE IN CASE OF COURAGEOUS VIEW ON
HISTORY AND TRANSFER FROM IT TO THE FUTURE,” WRITES TURKISH JOURNALIST
ISTANBUL, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). Two wrong approaches always throw
obstacles for the Armenian-Turkish dialogue. According to the first
approach, there is no history at all, according to the second one,
it is only history that exists. Turkish journalist John Dyuntar
expresses such an opinion in his regular article. Both of these
approaches, according to the Turkish journalist, make the dialogue
impossible. That’s why they become a reason for the fact that the
supporters of the both of these viewpoints become opponents and start
assuring the third sides that it is they who are right. Meanwhile,
according to Dyuntar, the decision consists of the courageous view
on the history and in transfer from it to the future. In Yerevan
the Turkish journalist had met with Babken Ararktsian, the former
Chairman of the RA parliament, the leader of the “Armat” (“Root”)
organization. B. Ararktsian said that his family is from Van by
birth. He also said that he wants the issue of the Armenian Genocide
not to hinder the Armenian-Turkish relations. John Dyuntar reports that
100 students study at the Department of Turkish Studies of the Yerevan
State University at present. 5,000 tourists from Armenia visited Turkey
last year. But he is puzzled in connection with the fact that meanwhile
the way from Yerevan to Istanbul lasts two hours, it is impossible
to cross the boarder through Kars by land, which takes only half an
hour. It is a great obstacle for trade, and Georgia takes advantage
from it. The dialogue between the two countries, according to the
journalist, may benefit from the circumstance that the Armenians have
friendly attitude towards Islam today, as the Arabs received their
refugees in 1915. According to the Istanbul “Marmara” newspaper, John
Dyunrtar also told about the meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II, during which the Supreme Patriarch positively estimated
the visit of representatives of the Turkish intelligentsia and said
such mutual relations help to resolve the available problems. When
the Catholicos was asked if he wants to visit Turkey, he answered
that he ought to visit all his flocks and, of course, wants to visit
Turkey. Karekin II emphasized that one should not turn the issue of
the Genocide into the theme of discussion, as it is an irrefutable
fact. As for the war of religions and civilizations, the Catholicos
of All Armenians said no war is waged in the name of the religion,
all the wars are of political nature.

EDUARDO ERNEKIAN INVESTS IN ARMENIA’S AGRICULTURAL SPHERE
YEREVAN, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). On December 21, at Zvartnots
Airport Director of the Tiera de Armeni company Anna-Christina
Shirinian and shareholder of Max Group Khachik Manukian signed an
agreement on joint activities. According to the agreement, at least
1,600-1,700 hectares of apricot orchards, 200-300 hectares of peach
and plum orchards and 500 hectares of grapevines are to be planted
in the area of 6 thousand hectares (3 thousand ha was sold to Tiera
de Armeni) located near the settlement of Baghramian (Armavir marz)
and belonging to Max Group. According to Khachik Manukian, it is
envisaged to start the construction of a fruit processing plant
with a processing capacity of 40 thousand tons of fruit per year at
the end of 2005. The harvest is expected in 5 years, meanwhile 20-25
million dollars will be invested. Tiera de Armeni, which was recently
registered in Armenia, is owned by Eduardo Ernekian. The American
International Airports company also belonging to the multimillioner
from Argentina implements the management of Yerevan’s Zvartnots
Airport. Max Group, one of Armenia’s big multiprofile companies,
has 15 thousand 200 hectares of land in the country’s various
marzes. Its shareholders are Khachik Manukian, Harutyun Pambukian
(both deputies of the NA) and Mher Bagratian. Kh. Manukian also stated
the two sides will make equal in amount investments, the Argentinian
side will implement the management of the business and the Armenian
side will carry out the agricultural work. The Airport lawyer Armen
Ter-Tachatian announced that profit made by Tiera de Armeni will
not have a commercial significance, it will go to a special fund
established by Ernekian and used to develop the agriculture.

CASES OF UNKNOWN VIRAL DISEASE INCREASE IN ARTSAKH
SPEPANAKERT, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). An unknown viral disease has
recently spread in Artsakh. There is no laboratory to diagnose the
disease both in Armenia and Artsakh. According to Karine Balayan, head
of the epidemic department of the NKR Republican Center for Hygiene
and Anti-Epidemic Control, during 11 months of 2003, 11,104 cases of
the disease was registered, while 12,888 cases were registered during
the same period of this year. It was noted that only in November, 2004,
1,442 cases of this viral disease were registered in Artsakh, including
463 cases in Stepanakert. It was also pointed out that the checking
conducted by the center revealed that the temperature in Stepanakert
schools was below 18 degrees. According to the data provided by the
education department of Stepanakert mayor’s office, as of December
17, 2,434 from the 7,288 pupils of Stepanakert schools did not attend
school because of the disease. For the same reason the NKR Ministry
of Education, Culture and Sports made a decision to discontinue the
teaching process at schools from December 20 to January 7.

COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF INTELLECTUALS FORUM CALLS ON NA TO ABANDON INITIATIVE TO
SEND MILITARY UNIT TO IRAQ AND TO BRING ITS AUTHORS TO JUSTICE
YEREVAN, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). The Council of Elders of Armenia’s
Intellectuals Forum calls on the National Assembly not only to abandon
the initiative to send a military unit to Iraq but also to find ” all
the authors, participants of this criminal initiative, deprive them of
their power levers and bring them to justice.” “It is to be regretted
and condemned that this provocative step was adopted with a clear
realization of its disastrous consequences for all the Armenians,”
the Forum’s December 20 address to the Armenian people reads. The
document authors qualify it as a next in turn “criminal attempt”
to retain power somehow and ensure one’s security. According to the
Council of Elders of the Intellectulas Forum, all the countries that
joined the statement to be included in the international coalition
forces in Iraq, except Armenia, had previously evacuated their citizens
and compatriots. The Council of Elders urges the political forces,
intellectuals and representatives of the public of Armenia, Artsakh
and the Diaspora to condemn “this plot and declare about the rejection
of every person who participated and supported it.” The authors of the
statement are convinced that by acting like that it will be possible
to prevent “the fatal sword hung over our compatriots.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY’S EU ENTRY IS LITTERED WITH OBSTACLES
By LINDA S. HEARD
Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
December 21, 2004
Special to Gulf News
Even as the Turkish people are rightly
celebrating their country’s first step on the road to EU accession,
their leaders know that there is many a slip not least the desire of
certain EU members to keep the union as a wealthy and elitist
Christian club.
Although negotiations with Turkey are due to begin in earnest during
October 2005, France and Austria are already touting the holding of
national referendums in the full knowledge that their respective
publics are largely against the Turkish bid.
Given that one member country can veto the entire process, Turkey’s
entrance could be thwarted almost from the get-go.
One of the future sticking points could be France’s insistence that
when talks begin proper, Turkey should acknowledge the mass killings
of Armenians from 1915 as a “tragedy”.
Armenians contend that some 1.5 million of their people were killed
or forcibly exiled during Ottoman rule under a policy of deliberate
genocide, while Turks maintain they fell victim to civil unrest.
Discriminatory
Whatever the truth, this requirement appears to be discriminatory on
France’s part some are referring to it as a red herring since Britain
wasn’t required to apologise for its flattening of the German city of
Dresden prior to its entry, France was not forced to apologise to
Algeria for its vicious occupation of that land, and Germany did not
have to come up with mea culpas to all and sundry over Nazi
brutalities.
Turkey’s reluctance to recognise the Republic of Cyprus could prove
to be a further stumbling block. Even as headlines in the Turkish
dailies Hurriyet and Yeni Safak were boasting, “We did it” and
lauding Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his coup at putting
Turkey on the first step of the EU rung, while side-stepping this
sticky issue, the Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos was
threatening to throw a spoke in the wheel.
“The Republic of Cyprus has the right not to consent to the start of
entry talks,” he said during a television address. In reality, Turkey
will eventually be forced into a de facto recognition of the Republic
of Cyprus as part of the customs union but says its negotiations with
the whole does not constitute its explicit recognition of a single
participant.
Even if Turkey successfully jumps the hurdles of public referendums
over its membership, its apology to Armenians and manages to mollify
Papadopoulos, the EU Commission has warned there are no guarantees of
Turkish entry. Indeed, it has announced it would recommend talks be
broken off “in the case of a serious and persistent breach of the
principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms -“.
The Commission has also recommended in a total departure from EU
regulations applying to current members that the free movement of
Turkish workers throughout the Union be curbed.
Turkey has made it clear that this is unacceptable, saying it will
refuse second-class status. There is no doubt that ageing and
shrinking European populations need a fresh injection of youthful
migratory workers, not least to cough up their pensions. The problem
many EU states have with Turkish workers is related to religious
demographics at a time when the French, for example, feel threatened
by their burgeoning Muslim population and the small percentage of
extremists within.
At the same time, Holland is coping with a wave of anti-Islamic
sentiment subsequent to the slaying of filmmaker Theo Van Gogh by a
youth who objected to his portrayal of Muslim women, while Austria is
beset by the rise of right-wing xenophobic political parties.
Germany already has its fair share of Turkish migrants, and complains
they are reluctant to assimilate while conveniently forgetting that
until 1974, its guest workers were forbidden from bringing in their
wives and children.
Until recently its half-million Turkish-born citizens along with 2.5
million Turkish workers within its borders were barely tolerated.
Indeed, former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt recently told a
newspaper that bringing millions of Turkish Gastarbeiter to Germany
was a mistake, adding, multiculturalism can only work under
authoritarian regimes.
Given the hostility experienced by Turks in Germany, there is little
wonder they have clung together and to their own culture.
The US president’s promises to back Turkey’s bid and to use his
leverage with his European pals has rubbed certain EU states up the
wrong way, including France.
Last June, Chirac lambasted George Bush for suggesting Turkey should
be given an accession date, saying his interference was comparable
with France telling the United States how to manage its own relations
with Mexico.
Permanent rift
Ian Bremmer, writing in the International Herald Tribune wonders why
Bush is so eager to see his Turkish ally ensconced in the bosom of
the EU. “Turkey’s inclusion in the EU causes real trouble for the
United States,” he writes, “because it makes a permanent rift between
Europe and the United States along the lines seen recently over Iraq
(when Turkey’s position was already closer to Paris and Berlin than
to Washington) much more likely”.
Bremmer further points out that “the addition of Turkey’s armed
forces makes a common EU defence more feasible which makes Nato less
necessary” and suggests Turkey’s current amicable relations with both
the US and Israel would likely cool.
There is no doubt that it is in Europe’s interests to draw Turkey,
which is geographically partly within the European continent, into
the fold.
If Turkey were to be rejected out of hand, it could be forced into an
even closer relationship with the United States or, alternatively, it
could throw in its diplomatic lot with Russia or, even, with its
neighbours Iran and Syria.
EU members should put aside their differences, quash their irrational
fears vis-a-vis the Turkish bid and extend its collective hand before
Turkey, tired of Europe’s endless procrastination and being
humiliatingly singled out, may choose to erect an iron fist.

AFTER ACCESSION TO EU TURKEY WILL COLLAPSE, WELFARE PARTY LEADER SUPPOSES
PanArmenian News
Dec 21 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The basins of the Tigris and the Euphrates in the
future should be passed under the international control in compliance
with a secret report “the Turkish Government conceals from the
people,” stated leader of Welfare Turkish party Recai Kutan, Eni
Shafag Turkish newspaper reported. If Turkey becomes an EU member,
it will be dismembered, the influential Turkish politician considers.
“The Government has concealed from the people the report arranged
by the EU, which notes that in the future sweet water will become
more expensive than the oil.” Exactly for that reason the Tigris and
the Euphrates should be passed under international control as most
powerful sources of sweet water in the Near East.

“USA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE KARABAKH AS PART OF AZERBAIJAN”
Azg/arm
22 Dec 04
A new map drawn in the US and depicting Nagorno Karabakh as an
“arguable territory” and not an Azeri region captured the attention
of two Baku newspapers who responded in yesterday’s issues.
In an article titled “Azerbaijan Without Karabakh?” Zerkalo wrote
that the map was drawn by the US National Geographic Center. Besides
Nagorno Karabakh, there are other states as well bearing the indication
“arguable territory”, namely, the West bank of the Jordan river,
Northern Cyprus, Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia. The paper noted that
the map weighs 5 kg and costs $165.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry is going to charge its embassy in
Washington with a mission to find out how Nagorno Karabakh happened
to be of other color than Azerbaijan in the American map and was
labeled as an “arguable territory”.
Another Baku newspaper,Yeni Zaman, wrote that the USA are the next
country after Armenia that is directly aiding the Armenians of
Karabakh. According to the paper, American annual aid to Karabakh
will amount to $3 million by 2005.
The paper notes that still in 1970s the CIA top-secret documents
“considered Nagorno Karabakh a historic Armenian territory, and
Karabakh systematically attempted to legally unite Armenia”.
The Yeni Zaman referred to CIA report which named Nagorno Karabakh
“an Armenian cultural and religious center” in 1988. The report
highlighted the fact that “Karabakh was a semi-independent unit for
centuries and was ruled by Armenian rulers even in times when other
Armenian regions were under Turkish and Persian yoke”.

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS PIPELINE PERKS FOR RUSSIA IN ARMENIA-IRAN ENERGY DEAL
Eurasianet
Samvel Martirosyan 12/21/04
Iran has moved closer to gaining a strategic foothold in Caucasian
energy markets with the start of work on a gas pipeline to Armenia
that has been heralded by Yerevan as bringing “definite changes in the
region.” The project has the potential to undercut Russia’s control
of Armenia’s energy supply, yet two new gas projects could act as
potential deal sweeteners for this longtime Armenian ally. Plans were
recently announced for an increase in Armenian orders for Russian
gas and a possible role in the Iranian pipeline project for Russian
energy giant Gazprom.
Construction on Armenia’s section of the 142-kilometer gas pipeline
began on November 30, with $30 million in costs for the 42-kilometer
strip from the Armenian border town of Agarak to Kajaran, south of
Yerevan, picked up by the Iranian Export and Development Bank. Upon
completion in late 2006, the pipeline will supply the tiny South
Caucasus state with 36 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas over the
next 20 years. Gas from Turkmenistan is also scheduled to be delivered
to Armenia via the pipeline.
At an official ceremony to mark the project’s debut, Armenian Deputy
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated that the pipeline, in the
works since 1992, would bring economic benefits to Armenia as well
as foster regional stability. “This project has been implemented
throughout Armenia’s political and economic sufferings,” Armenian
media reported Margarian as saying. “In Armenia’s years of hardship,
Iran has stretched out its hand to help us.”
Expanding Armenia’s energy sources is a critical goal for the
administration of President Robert Kocharian – for both economic and
political reasons. Chronic energy shortages contributed to much of
the country’s economic decline after the collapse of the Soviet Union,
and Armenia’s economic woes continue to attract the criticism of the
country’s opposition. Speaking to reporters about Armenia’s energy
deal with Iran, Kocharian commented during a December 2 visit by
Iranian Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf that “[w]e are ready to
do everything possible to support the current level of cooperation,”
according to the Russian news agency Interfax.
In exchange for the gas, Armenia will eventually deliver up to
1,000 megawatts of electricity to Iran with the construction of two
high-voltage power lines between the countries. Additional electricity
projects are also in the works. In 2005 or 2006 Armenia hopes to
start construction on two hydropower plants on the banks of the Arax
River between Armenia and Iran, according to Margarian.
Oil could reinforce Tehran’s ties with Yerevan still further. At a
December 4 meeting between Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian
and Iran’s Armenian Ambassador Alirza Hagigian, plans were discussed
for construction of a 60-kilometer oil pipeline from the Iranian town
of Julfa to the Armenian border town of Meghri.
Geopolitics, though, rather than the attractions of the Armenian energy
market, appears to drive much of Iran’s push for partnership. With
American troops stationed in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq and
Iran’s nuclear energy program under intense international scrutiny,
the country’s ruling clerics have taken steps to assure the outside
world that the Islamic Republic is a force for stability in the
region. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s September 2004 visit
to Armenia, a close US ally, reinforced that campaign with a “good
neighbor” message that “Iran is interested in peace and stability in
the South Caucasus.”
But in drawing closer to Iran, Yerevan has risked alienating another
longtime ally – Russia. Though Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris
Alyoshin assured reporters in Yerevan earlier this year that the
pipeline deal with Iran would only provide additional business for
Russian-operated electricity stations in Armenia, the deal has been
scrutinized with some trepidation. The Russian company United Energy
Systems controls 40 percent of Armenia’s electricity generation
facilities, while heavy hitters Gazprom and Itera control 55 percent
of ArmRogazprom, currently Armenia’s sole natural gas supplier.
When the Iranian pipeline is complete, however, Armenia will no longer
need to depend solely on Russia for its natural gas needs. In Yerevan,
Kremlin concerns about the prospect of Armenia providing a conduit
for Iranian gas to Europe, a key Russian market, are widely believed
to have resulted in a reduction of the pipeline’s size to a width
too narrow for exports.
Yet Russian energy companies have not been idle in defending their
interests. The Russian news agency Interfax reported an unidentified
Armenian government source as saying on December 8 that Gazprom may
be invited to build and repair one part of the Armenian-Iranian gas
pipeline, between Kadjaran and Ararat, at a cost of $90 million. As
payment for its work, Gazprom would receive the No. 5 generating unit
at the Razdan power plant, Armeniaâ~@~Ys largest heating and power
plant, which supplies 20 percent of the countryâ~@~Ys electricity
needs. Armenian President Robert Kocharian had earlier dismissed
reports of such a deal.
Still other sweeteners are in the works. On December 11, ArmRogazprom
CEO and General Director Karen Karapetyan announced plans to increase
gas supplies to Armenia by roughly 31 percent during 2005 to some
1.6-1.7 billion cubic meters. A $27 million expansion of Armenia’s
gas pipeline from Russia is planned to handle the increased flow. “I
am convinced that the problem of Armenia’s energy security will be
solved soon,” the Russian news agency Novosti reported Karapetyan as
saying, “given the forthcoming opening of the alternative Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline.”
For now, the government line out of Yerevan is that what benefits Iran
benefits Russia. At a May 13-15 summit in Moscow with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Kocharian took pains to stress that the pipeline deal
with Iran would not damage Russia’s own energy interests in Armenia
or result in a fall-off in Armenian orders for Russian gas. Gazprom,
Itera and United Energy Systems will all collect “major dividends from
the deal,” Kocharian said, Novosti reported. “They will benefit, too.”
Editor’s Note: Samvel Martirosyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and
political analyst.
–Boundary_(ID_RDC0vqePYfecS/w/Vx5AQA)–

CONGRESSMAN MORAN OF KANSAS JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS
WASHINGTON, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). At the urging of Armenian
Assembly of America activists, fifth term Congressman Jerry Moran
(R-KS) joined the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues on December
20, bringing the total Caucus membership to date in the 109th
Congress to 137. Congressman Moran, who serves on the Agriculture,
Transportation and Infrastructure and Veteran’s Affairs Committees,
was first approached by Kansas Armenian activists and ARAMAC Kansas
State Chair Alex Kotoyantz, who was instrumental in securing a
proclamation earlier this year designating June 18 as “Kansas-Armenia
Partnership Day.” “I was encouraged by the dedication of people like
Alex to join. The Armenian Caucus has played an important role in the
House of Representatives, and I am proud to be its latest member,”
said Congressman Moran, who becomes the first member of the Kansas
delegation to join the Caucus. “I have followed the work of the Caucus
and its role in building strong ties between the United States and
Armenia, and by joining this group of dedicated legislators, I hope to
do more to further enhance these already strong relations,” Congressman
Moran said. Welcoming Congressman Moran’s membership in the Caucus,
Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian said: “The Assembly extends
its appreciation and thanks to Congressman Moran for his expression
of support and decision to be more directly involved in issues of
importance to the Armenian-American community, including Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.” The Armenian Caucus was formed in 1995 to provide a
bi-partisan forum for legislators to discuss how the United States can
better assist the people of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Co-Chaired
by Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), the Caucus has, over the years, played a critical role on
a wide range of issues, including assistance programs for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, the ongoing Azerbaijani and Turkish blockades,
the Karabakh peace process and efforts to reaffirm the U.S. record
on the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress