STATE TV COMPANY “ROSSIA” TO TOUCH UPON THEME OF GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The Russian Cultural Fund and Rossia
State TV Channel in association with the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s (ARF) Moscow office, have produced a documentary called
“Who Had Paid Lenin?”
ARMINFO was informed in the press office of ARF Dashnaktsutiun, the
Russian Cultural Fund and Rossia State TV Channel in association with
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Moscow office, have
produced a documentary called “Who Had Paid Lenin?” The documentary
tells the truth about the 1917 October coup. Based on rich documentary
material, the film shows for the first time that the Bolsheviks seized
the power using Kaiser Germany’s funding under the plan offered
by Parvus. The fact is that the October coup was the result of the
cooperation between Parvus and Lenin.
As a reward for the assistance to seize the power, the Bolsheviks
signed the Brest-Litovsk Treaty with Germany, getting out of the war
and making vast concessions to Germany and its allies.
In the film, ARF Bureau member and Armenian National Assembly vice
speaker Vahan Hovhannisian speaks of the October coup impact on the
fate of the Armenian people. He speaks of the devastating consequences
the Bolshevik coup for the Armenians. By the Brest-Litovsk Treaty, not
only the Russian troops — so close to a victory — were withdrawn
from Western Armenia, but also the Kars and Ardahan regions of
Eastern Armenia were surrendered to Turkey. Once again, the Armenian
people, who had been subjected to a genocide, faced a threat of being
massacred. Later on, the concessions made by the Bolshevik government
to Turkey, were sustained in the 1921 Moscow and Kars treaties. Also,
the film contains documentary footage of the Genocide.
“Who Had Paid Lenin?” will debut on the Rossia Channel no December
22 at 11:35 p.m. Moscow time.

KARABAGH HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO FEEL MORE FREE NEXT YEAR
ArmenPress
Dec 20 2004
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: The 2005 draft budget of the
government in Nagorno Karabagh sets a significant rise in the amount
of money that it can use to address the population health problems.
Authorities there believe that raising the health allocations from 871
million in 2004 to 1.210 billion for next year, almost a 40 percent
growth, will facilitate their efforts to extend qualified medical
services to rural population.
Karabagh health minister Zoya Lazarian believes the additional
money will be instrumental in upgrading rural health stations and
buy new equipment for them. Overall the 2005 budget earmarks around
$20 for each resident of Karabagh to address their health problems.
Concurrently doctors wages will increase twofold and nurses by almost
40 percent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

10% GDP GROWTH REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN JAN-NOV, 2004
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The highest GDP growth in Armenia
was registered in Jan-Nov, 2004 – 10.0%. ARMINFO was informed in
the press service of the National Statistical Service of Armenia,
according to preliminary data, in Nov as against Oct the economic
drop made up 22.2%. By the end of Nov 2004 the GDP totaled 1,672.1 bln
drams or ($3,109.5). The GDP index-deflator grew by 6.0%. In Jan-Nov
the AMD/USD exchange rate was 537.74 drams against one U.S. dollar.
In Jan-Nov of the current year the volume of industrial produce
totaled 473.9 bln drams or $881.4 mln (or 27.2% out of GDP – ARMINFO),
increasing by 1.6% as against the same period of last year, in Nov as
against Oct it increased by 1.1%. Electricity generation in Jan-Nov
increased by 8.6%, and in Nov as against Oct it increased by 16.5%,
totalling 5,341.5 mln kW/h.
In Jan-Nov of the current year the Gross agriculture produce increased
by 14.3% as against the same period of 2003, totaling 412.5 bln drams
or $767.1 mln and in Nov as against Oct it decreased by 41.5%. Volume
of construction increased by 9.1% in Nov as against Oct, and in
Jan-Nov it increased by 16.2%, reaching 229.3 bln drams or $426.5
mln. Retail trade turnover totaled 699.9 bln drams by the end of Nov,
increasing by 9.2% in Jan-Nov as against the same period of last year,
and in Nov as against Oct it increased by 2.5%.
By the end of Nov, 2004 foreign trade turnover totaled $1.9 bln
(1,001.6 bln drams), increasing by 4.5% as against the same period
of 2003, and in Nov as against Oct it decreased by 6.3%. In its
structure the exports increased by 3.2% in Jan-Nov as against the
same period of 2003, and in Nov as against Oct it increased by 14%
totalling $645.9 mln. The imports totaled $1,219.3 mln, increasing
by 5.3% during the first eleven months of the current year, and in
Nov as against Oct it increased by 16.2%. Negative trade balance was
$573.4 mln by the end of Nov.

Turkish Daily News
20 December 2004
Government gets hero’s welcome at home, but worries are high for future
Fending off criticism
Foreign Minister Gül accuses critics of the Dec. 17 outcome of ‘lacking
vision’ for the future and says Turkey is set to strive for settlement in
Cyprus
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
Having sealed a historic deal to start accession talks with the
European Union on Oct. 3, 2005, which critics at home attacked as
“submissive,” the government took its case to the public and the
president yesterday and assured them that there would be no recognition
of the Greek Cypriot government.
“Nobody should attempt to overshadow this momentous development. Those
who try to do so lack vision for the future,” Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gül told a meeting of his Justice and Development Party
(AKP) yesterday. He and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan later
met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to explain to him what Turkey
had won at a Dec. 16-17 summit in Brussels. At the two-day summit,
EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with long-time aspirant
Turkey on Oct. 3 only after the sides forged a compromise deal under
which the government pledged to sign a protocol extending Turkey’s
1963 Association Agreement to 10 new members of the union, including
Greek Cyprus.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has denied that this amounted
to recognition of the Greek Cypriot government, but conservative
critics lashed out at the government, saying it “sold out Cyprus”
for an insufficient nod from Brussels for the start of talks.
“The second Sevres talks are set for Oct. 3, 2005,” said the
headline of Islamic Milli Gazete. Nationalist Ortadoðu said Erdoðan
“Surrendered,” and conservative-secular Cumhuriyet described the
outcome of the Brussels summit as a “date in return for Cyprus.”
“I ask the government, ‘What is it that you are celebrating?’ Is there
a victory unknown to the nation?” said Mehmet Aðar, chairman of the
True Path Party (DYP), earlier yesterday Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Zeki Sezer warned “the price of recognizing Greek Cyprus” could be
too high for the government to pay.
Gül responded to critics, saying the summit outcome was a
success. “Those who want to overshadow this success are trying to make
things look like a deal under which gains came in return for Cyprus,”
he told the AKP meeting. He emphasized that Turkey would not sign
any bilateral protocol with the Greek Cypriot administration. “This
is out of the question,” he said.
According to Gül, failure to forge a deal in Brussels would be
tantamount to putting the future of 70 million Turks at risk because
of Greek Cyprus with its 600,000 people.
The government also conferred with Turkish Cypriot leaders after the
close of the EU summit. Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktaþ has
praised the government’s stance, which he said was “firm” and added
that the Turkish government had not given in.
New effort for solution
The Dec. 17 deal effectively gives Turkey 10 months until Oct. 3 to
sign the protocol with the EU Commission, which diplomats say would
be equivalent to de facto recognition of Greek Cyprus.
Turkish leaders have repeatedly said Ankara would not recognize Greek
Cyprus unless it were to become part of a comprehensive settlement
on the island.
Gül said Turkey would undertake efforts to ensure that the Cyprus
issue gets a lasting solution and added that preparations were already
under way, without elaborating further.
Greek Cypriot newspapers carried reports of plans for a new round
of talks on a solution in Cyprus and added that such plans had the
support of the EU. While in Brussels Annan said his good offices were
available whenever the Cypriot parties were ready to resume talks.
Greek Cypriots rejected a reunification plan drafted by U.N.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan in an April 24 referendum. Turkish
Cypriots voted in favor of the plan, which is named after its author.
New era or ‘test of fire’
According to Gül, the fact that the EU had set out a definite date
for the start of talks was a marker in the history of Turkey.
“As of Friday, life in Turkey has changed,” Gül said in praise of the
summit decision in an interview with private CNN Türk. “The important
issue is that Turkey’s direction has become definite. Turkey has
entered a period of permanent stability.”
A majority in Turkey is hopeful that Turkey will have a bright future
now that its EU bid is on a definite path. This optimism was the main
feeling that motivated a colorful welcome-home ceremony for Erdoðan
and Gül in Ankara on Saturday, when thousands presented them with
flowers and applauded Erdoðan as the modern-day “conqueror.”
But that new era is no doubt full of uncertainties, including whether
Turkey can really become a member of the EU one day. One Associated
Press analysis described the difficulties once the talks open as a
“test of fire” for Turkey.
Yesterday, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said there was a big
chance Turkey would in the end not join the European Union because
of the referendums France and Austria will hold on its accession.
“There is a big chance (that Turkey will not become a member) and I
find that not a pleasant idea. In a way the rules of the game have
changed during the match,” Bot told the Dutch television program
Buitenhof. Also yesterday, Austria pledged to push for an EU-wide
referendum on Turkish entry, saying the issue of Turkish accession
should not be settled in an “ivory tower.”
In Cyprus, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said his government
could still block Turkey’s path to EU membership if it does not sign
the protocol.
If the customs agreement is not signed, “then the Republic of Cyprus
has the right not to consent to the start of the entry talks,”
Papadopoulos said in a televised address.
In addition to leaving the Cyprus issue open until Oct. 3, the
summit outcome is also raising worries over the process of accession
itself. Most important of all, the EU summit said the accession talks
would be “open-ended” and that there would be no guaranteed outcome
at the end.
Heeding strong domestic opposition, the EU leaders may come up with
additional hurdles to delay Turkey’s entry. One such hurdle could be
recognition of an alleged genocide against Armenians, a charge that
Turkey categorically rejects.
Several critical newspapers in Europe said the deal with Turkey would
mark the end of the EU’s political ambitions to become a power on
the world stage.
Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder, who staunchly backed Turkey’s bid, “could go down in history
… as the German chancellor during whose term in office and with
whose approval the idea of a politically united Europe was abandoned.”
Turkey will have to deliver results in meeting “benchmarks” on a number
of key issues, from Kurdish rights to ensuring “zero-tolerance” of
torture, and in passing additional penal code reforms. Erdogan will
also have to make good on recognizing Greek Cyprus.
Overcoming that first hurdle, Turkey then faces a test in a vast
array of policy areas to meet minimum standards before talks begin
in such complex policy issues as environmental protection laws and
food safety standards. And during the negotiations, any of the EU’s
25 nations can call for a freeze in the talks if they feel Turkey is
backtracking on reforms.
–Boundary_(ID_C3GWPqShojruVD4vGX492g)–

Armenian leader says jealousy behind Azeri counterpart’s “outpost” remarks
Arminfo
20 Dec 04
Yerevan, 20 December: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is under
the impression that Azerbaijani President [Ilham Aliyev] is currently
worried about Armenia’s warm relations with Russia. This opinion was
voiced by Kocharyan at a press conference during a working visit to
Armenia’s Lori District. He was commenting on Aliyev’s statement that
Azerbaijan does not know who to talk to: Armenia or the real owner
of this outpost [Russia].
Aliyev had in fact misinterpreted Russian State Duma Speaker Boris
Gryzlov’s statement that Armenia is Russia’s outpost in the south.
“Ilham Aliyev is somewhat worried, I guess needlessly. No-one
prevents him from building this kind of relationship. And jealousy
is inappropriate here. We, for instance, are not worried about
Azerbaijan’s friendly relations with Turkey,” Kocharyan said. He said
that Aliyev’s statement should not affect the Karabakh settlement.
Kocharyan said he was planning to give an interview on the situation
around the Karabakh conflict, but Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s
recent interview to the press was so comprehensive and detailed that
he decided not to repeat what the foreign minister had said.

CONTRACT ON TRANSFER OF VANADZOR CHEMICAL PLANT TO SLOVAKIAN COMPANY SLZ TOL
BE CONCLUDED ON JAN 10, 2005
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 24. ARMINFO. A contract on transfer of Vanadzor
chemical plant to Slovakian company SLZ will be concluded on Jan 10,
2005. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan made this statement at a
press-conference after his visit to Lori region on Dec 18.
He says that next year it will become clear whether it is possible
to exploit the plant with profits on the investments the Slovakian
party intends to attract. The transfer of the plant does not mean that
its work will be guaranteed as it is connected with a possibility of
receiving profits the following year, the president says. He emphasized
that the owner of Vanadzor chemical complex has invested funds in the
plant, but failed to put it into exploitation. “One should not make
rash steps in the big business, everything must be well-calculated
here,” the president says.
It should be noted that SLZ intends to reactivate the plant on February
15, 2005 and to restore the production of carbide, corundum and acetate
ribbon. For this purpose, the company intends to invest $880 mln for
purchase of raw materials and $600,000 for current expenses. The owner
of 100% of the plant’s shares is the OJSC “Zakneftegazstroy Prometey,”
which belongs to the Russian businessman, Armenian by origin, Senik
Gevorgyan. Vanadzor chemical complex consisting of the chemical
plant, the chemical fibre plant and Vanadzor thermal power plant was
privatized in the May of 1999 for $1.5 mln. It has been idling since
then. The owner has already invested some $20 mln in the enterprise.-m-

STATE BUDGET OF ARMENIA FOR 2005 ENVISAGES OVER 1 MLN DRAMS FOR SOLUTION
HOUSING PROBLEMS IN LORI REGION: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The state budget of Armenia for 2005
envisages over 1 mln drams for solution to housing problems of rural
residents of Lori region for the first time. Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan made this statement at a press-conference in the
town of Vanadzor.
In his words, next year large-scale construction is planned in the
rural areas. Active construction in regional centers will start with
various facilities to be erected in the town of Spitak. Construction
of dwelling-houses in Spitak will be continued as well. A special
stress will be put on the certificates due to which the above 1 bln
drams will be distributed. The logic is as follows: a flat in Gyumri
costs some 3 mln drams, while construction of the given flat requires
10 mln drams – due to distribution of the certificates, the problem
of the families which have not received flats will be solved. The
methodology of the given action already exists. In armenia it was
introduced by Urban Institute and USAID, the president says.
He notes that the roads Stepanavan-Tashir, Stepanavan-Odzun-Alaverdi,
Armavir-Gyumri (along the boundary), Gyumri-Amasia and Aparan-Artik
will be constructed within three years in the regions of Shirak and
Lori. Next year, funds will be allocated for reconstruction of the
roads of regional importance. By increasing the financing year by year,
we shall achieve a progress in the sphere, Robert Kocharyan says.
The president says that due to reforms in the taxation sphere,
more predictable conditions in the sphere of entrepreneurship have
been created. A great attention is paid to improvement of the living
conditions of the region’s population. As regards gas supply to the
country, on the whole, and in the region, in particular, the president
notes that the gas users in the country number more than 80,000 and
8-10,000 in Lori region. The same indicators are observed in Shirak
region. As regards water supply to the region, project works are in
process and 24-hour water supply will become real both in Vanadzor
and Gyumri within the coming 2-3 years. In Vanadzor 3 of 5 operating
ATXs are digital, the remaining two are being digitized. Considerable
changes are expected in the sphere of telecommunications, with
the existing inconveniences felt earlier because of the monopoly
of ArmenTel company were connected not only with its monopoly
but also with poor management and irresponsible attitude to its
obligations. However, as compared to many CIS member-countries,
Armenia is among leaders, as to introduction of digital tele-phone
network, which can be called an achievement, the president notes.
Besides, Robert Kocharyan informs that the budget for 2005 envisages
rather big sum (some 1 mln drams) to upgrade the level of social
well-fare of refugees as this issue is one of the priorities of
the program of refugees. The budget plans a rise in the wages of
teachers, militaries and medical personnel. Another 1 bln drams will
be allocated for construction work in the communities, including 800
mln to Lori region as majority of the villages in that region have
remained unnoticed by the government. A community center will be
built in Stepanavan, and construction of a new municipality building
and regional center in Gyumri will start in 2006.
The results of 2004 will be summed up by the Statistical Service
after January 20, 2005. However, one can state that the government has
fulfilled its commitments for 2004, the president says in conclusion.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON ISSUE OF RETURN OF POPULATION’S DEPOSITS WITH
SAVINGSBANK OF FORMER USSR
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The fact that Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on convocation of a parliamentary
extraordinary sitting to discuss the return of the population’s
deposits with the Savingsbank of the former USSR does not mean the
president supports the given initiative. President Robert Kocharyan
made this statement at a press-conference on Lori region.
In his words, he has never promised to return the population’s
deposits when running for presidency. Today, discussion of the state
budget for 2005 is more important and urgent for Armenia as the whole
financial activity is connected with this document, the president
thinks. Meanwhile, involvement into such a disputable and complicated
issue before discussion of the state budget will endanger the budget’s
adoption. This budget provides for a rise in the wages of teachers,
medical personnel, militaries and others, the president says. He notes
that it seems to be a escpecially planned action pursuing a goal of
creating tension to divert the attention of the government and the
parliamentary coalition from solution to the major issues. I am sure
that the number of reasonable MPs in the parliament is much higher
and the right ways towards solution to this issue will be found,
Robert Kocharyan says.
In the president words, a commission was convened in the parliament,
which works on the issue of returning the population’s deposits and
a governmental commission will be formed in late January, 2005 in
conformity with his instruction in order that the given problem be
further studied. As long as we lack a final idea of how to solve the
issue, we will not know the possible consequences of our decisions for
the country’s economy, and hereby, we shall not be able to solve the
problem, the president says. He expressed readiness to consider the
possible ways of its solution. Robert Kocharyan is of the opinion that
the action initiated in the parliament pursues a goal of making Orinats
Yerkir party to join the initiative hereby leaving the coalition in
an awkward situation. Meanwhile, the population’s problems bear no
relations to this interest, the president says.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
12/20/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Mixed Reaction to Turkey Decision 2) EU Fears Turkey Clash May Mask Cyprus Friction 3) Armenian Genocide and Territorial Losses on Russian State TV 4) No Karabagh in Settlement Negotiations, Stresses Baku 5) US Takes 'Terrible Tragedy' Route 1) Mixed Reaction to Turkey Decision BRUSSELS (Combined Sources)--While Turkish leader Tayyip Recep Erdogan returned home to a hero's welcome after agreeing to accession terms with the EU, there has been a less enthusiastic reaction in some European capitals. Erdogan arrived back in Turkey on Saturday, December 18 to a rapturous reception and was hailed as the "conqueror of Europe." He said, "We did not receive 100 percent of what we wanted, but we can say that we succeeded," according to Le Monde. Reflecting the momentous nature of the decision, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, "Turkey is a very different country than it was two days ago." STREET PROTESTS But elsewhere in Europe, the reaction has been less positive. Supporters of the populist Northern League Party in Italy took to the streets to protest at the decision. According to media reports, they unfurled banners saying, "Yes to Christian roots." Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel announced that his country would join France in holding a referendum on Turkey's accession, adding another potential obstacle in Ankara's path. This decision was criticized by Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot who said, "We have never said to the Turks, neither in 1999 nor in 2002, that a referendum would lie at the end of the process. We have to be fair." And Nicolas Sarkozy, former Finance Minister and rising star of French politics, renewed his call for a "privileged partnership" with Turkey, rather than full membership. Sarkozy, who hopes to take over from Jacques Chirac as French President in 2007, said, "If Turkey were European, we would know it…I'm for a privileged partnership but I'm reserved about membership, like a large number of notable voices". "Europe already has difficulty functioning with 25 members. The more members Europe has, the less we will be integrated, the less we will share common values and the more fragile we will be." France will put all issues to Turkey during negotiations over it joining the European Union, "including that of the Armenian genocide," French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Monday. "What has to be done now is start membership negotiations which are going to be very long, very difficult, during which we will put all issues on the table, including that of the Armenian genocide, with the hope of obtaining a response from Turkey before membership," he told French radio station RTL. To add the Armenian issue to a list of others--most notably Ankara's recognition of the Greek Cypriot government--is seen as a bargaining chip in the membership negotiations that are to begin in October next year, and a way of showing the French public that Turkey is being made to heed Paris's voice. Barnier said that Chirac, in supporting Turkey, "is expressing a vision, expressing where the interest of our country, our continent, lies for him." The French president has promised that the final decision on whether Turkey gets to join the European Union or not, as far as French voters are concerned, will come in a referendum at the end of the negotiations. VETO THREATS Cyprus warned over the weekend that it could still block Turkey's membership bid. Speaking on Cypriot television, President Tassos Papadopoulos said, "The Republic of Cyprus has the right not to consent to the start of entry talks." Controversy over Cyprus nearly put an end to the deal during last Friday's negotiations, with Turkey refusing to recognize the republic and the EU insisting that Turkey expand its customs agreement to the new Member States-- including Cyprus. And Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reports that the Kurdish minority in Turkey are disappointed because their hopes to have their language recognized were not raised as an issue. Of the 70 million people in Turkey, 20 million are Kurds. MUCH WORK TO DO Even Erdogan stressed the amount of difficult work to do. Turkey must now open and close 31 "chapters" during negotiations, covering such areas such as Justice and Home Affairs and Competition. Any EU member can veto the closing of a chapter leaving much scope for blocking Turkish progress. And even if the laborious process of agreeing accession is achieved, referendums in France or Austria could still see Turkey falling at the last hurdle. 2) EU Fears Turkey Clash May Mask Cyprus Friction BRUSSELS (Reuters)--European Union diplomats voiced concern on Friday that the Turkish president's refusal to let the leader of the ruling party become prime minister might reflect friction with the powerful military establishment over an early peace deal on Cyprus. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, a staunch secularist, vetoed constitutional amendments on Thursday to lift a parliamentary ban on Tayyip Erdogan, head of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), preventing him from leading the government. Erdogan, who has spearheaded Turkey's drive to win a date for starting EU accession talks and favors an early peace deal on Cyprus, was barred from standing for office because he received a jail sentence in 1999 for Islamist sedition. He denies his AKP has Islamist views. The AKP vowed on Friday to use its parliamentary majority to over-ride the veto. "This standoff could reflect serious differences between the military and the president, on the one hand, and Erdogan and his party on the other, over Cyprus," a senior EU diplomat said. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for an accord by February 28 to reunite Cyprus after the two sides failed to agree at last week's Copenhagen EU summit. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is widely seen as a key obstacle to a deal. "Erdogan and his advisers are very eager to move on Cyprus as soon as possible and eager to put quite lot of pressure on Denktash. The fact that this is not the line that some hardliners might subscribe to at this point could be reflected by this decision by the president," the EU diplomat said. NOT NECESSARILY SETBACK However, other EU officials played down the dispute, saying it was neither a major crisis nor necessarily a setback for Turkey's drive to meet EU standards of democracy and human rights. "This is not a major political crisis in Turkey and we would not draw conclusions on whether the move is in contradiction with the Copenhagen criteria," said one EU diplomat. Those criteria set standards on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law which every EU candidate must meet before it can open accession talks. EU leaders agreed last week to review in December 2004 whether Turkey has met the standards. Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said the EU had taken a strategic decision on rapprochement with Turkey and hoped the constitutional issue would not affect that process. "We expect developments regarding Cyprus very soon, as the secretary-general of the United Nations has said, therefore we hope and expect this (political) situation will not affect the resolution of this major issue very soon," she told Reuters. EU officials said Sezer had acted entirely constitutionally by refusing to approve amendments which appeared to be tailored to the political ambitions of one man. "This proves that the system works. Sezer is a strong defender of democracy and the constitutional order. We trust him," one EU government official told Reuters. The amendments have the full backing of Turkey's secularist opposition Republican People's Party, which has said it would vote in favor of the changes again when they go through parliament a second time. Another senior EU source said it was strange to have the respected leader of a party democratically elected to rule a country not allowed to take office. The EU has treated Erdogan as de facto leader of Turkey since the election. "It is not good to have somebody as a real leader not able to exercise power...And Erdogan is a real leader, a strong man. This is not good news," the source said. The amendments that Sezer vetoed would have let Erdogan stand in a by-election early next year. Erdogan's right-hand man, Abdullah Gul, is now prime minister but is expected to step down if his boss enters parliament. 3) Armenian Genocide and Territorial Losses on Russian State TV YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The Russian Cultural Fund and the "Rossia" TV company, in association with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's (ARF) Moscow office, have produced a documentary that seeks to unveil the truth about the 1917 Russian Revolution. "Who Paid Lenin?" uses rich archival footage and rare documents to affirm that the success of the revolution, and subsequent Russian concessions were the result of an agreement between Germany and Lenin. It tells of a plan offered to Lenin by Alexander Israel Helphand (Parvus), who was the connection to Jacob Furstenberg--Germany's immediate link to Lenin, whereby the Bolsheviks seized power. In the film, ARF Bureau member and Armenian National Assembly vice speaker Vahan Hovhannisian speaks of the devastating consequences the Bolshevik Revolution had for the Armenians. With the Bolsheviks signing the Brest-Litovsk Treaty with Germany, they pulled out of the war by making vast concessions to Germany and its allies. Namely, the Russians surrendered Ukraine, Finland, the Baltic provinces, the Caucasus, and Poland. Under the treaty, Russian troops--though at the edge of victory--withdrew from Western Armenia. The Kars and Ardahan regions of Eastern Armenia were surrendered to Turkey, leaving Armenians open to yet another massacre by Turkey. The 1921 Moscow and Kars treaties upheld those concessions by the Bolshevik government to Turkey. The film also contains historic footage from the Armenian genocide. "Who Paid Lenin?" will debut on Rossia TV on December 22 at 11:35 p.m. Moscow time. 4) No Karabagh in Settlement Negotiations, Stresses Baku BAKU (Armenpress)--Azeri Foreign Affairs Ministry Press Secretary Meti Mirza told "Interfax" news agency that Azerbaijan categorically rejects Mountainous Karabagh Republic's participation in negotiating a peace settlement to the conflict. "It's a mistake for the Armenian side to give direction on with whom Baku should negotiate," said Mirza responding to Armenia's Foreign Ministry's Press Secretary Hamlet Gasparian, who said last week that if Azerbaijan does not deem Armenia capable of implementing independent policy, then they may speak with Mountainous Karabagh directly. Gasparian was responding to Azeri President Aliyev, who said that Armenia is "Russia's advanced post in the South Caucasus." "If the Azerbaijani side…is confused and doesn't know with whom to hold the negotiations [on Karabagh], we will again have to point to Stepanakert. We hope they know where Mountainous Karabagh is situated," Gasparian warned. Calling for negotiations only between Armenia and Azerbaijan for seeking peace in Karabagh, Mirza also stressed: "The Armenian community in Mountainous Karabagh cannot participate in the negotiations with Baku because, as the Azerbaijani community, it sees only a one-sided resolution to the conflict." 5) US Takes 'Terrible Tragedy' Route WASHINGTON, DC (Washington File)--The United States said last week that it acknowledges the "terrible tragedy" the Armenian community in Anatolia faced during World War I, but declined to comment on whether the European Union should make it a precondition for the start of accession talks with Turkey. "Our position on the Armenia question is, I think, pretty well known…We've acknowledged the terrible tragedy that befell the Armenian community in Anatolia in the last years of the Ottoman Empire," State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher told a press briefing last week. He said Washington had been encouraging civil society and diplomatic discussions about the tragedy, as well as political dialogue between Armenia and Turkey on the issue. Boucher indicated the US position on the issue had remained unchanged since the president issued a traditional message on April 24, 2003. Asked whether the question of the Armenian genocide should or should not be a precondition for Turkey's entry to the EU, he said that it was up to the Europeans to decide. "We believe that Turkey has gone a long way in meeting the requirements of membership and the requests that were asked of Turkey, and it will be for the Europeans to make that judgment themselves." The European Parliament adopted a resolution last Wednesday calling on EU leaders to open entry talks with Turkey. It also urged Ankara to acknowledge the genocide but made it clear it would not be a condition for the start of accession talks. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. --Boundary_(ID_KRRuA1v3JN7XN9PrlfF2Mg)--

Investment Opportunities in the Republics of Armenia and Georgia
BISNIS Search for Partners
20 December 2004
BISNIS publishes Search for Partners leads to help U.S. companies find
partner and investment opportunities in the expanding markets of the
former Soviet Union. To receive Search for Partner leads regularly,
email BISNIS at [email protected] or call (202) 482-4655. To
search previously published Search for Partner leads online, visit
This issue of BISNIS Search for Partners includes opportunities in:
– Automotive
– Chemicals
– Construction and Engineering Services
– Construction and Transportation
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Automotive
Country: Armenia
Industry: Automotive
Company: Radiotechnika LLC
Radiotechnika LLC specializes in the importation and distribution of
construction materials. It also owns and operates two machine-tool
plants in Yerevan.
The company seeks a U.S. partner to establish production of container
trailers for hauling 40′ and 20′ containers.
LeadLink,
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Chemicals
Country: Georgia
Industry: Mining (mirabilite) / Chemicals production
Company: Merabiliti Ltd.
The company is looking for a U.S. investor who is interested in
production of sodium sulphate and cooperation with Georgian company.
LeadLink,
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Construction and Engineering Services
Country: Georgia
Industry: Construction and Engineering Services
Company: GeoEngineering Ltd.
GeoEngineering Ltd, a private company in Tbilisi, is the only local
engineering and construction company in the South Caucasus that has
successfully completed certification process and was awarded the ISO
9001:2000 Certificate in Engineering Surveys, Design, Construction,
Project Management, Research and Planning within the fields of Civil
Engineering, Energy and Transport Systems. The company is looking for a
strategic investor who can bring investment, new equipment/technology,
and jointly promote the company to international markets.
LeadLink,
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Construction and Transportation
Country: Georgia
Industry: Construction and Transportation (Cargo Terminal)
Company: Tbilisi International Cargo Handling (TICH)
TICH is seeking a partner for construction of a multi-modal cargo
terminal at Tbilisi International Airport.
LeadLink,
*******************Note************************************************************
These opportunities are provided solely as an informational service and
do not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Verification of these leads is the responsibility of the reader.