ARKA News Agency
Dec 16 2004
200 million amd directed in Armenia for celebration of victory in
Great Patriotic War
Baku tries to keep Karabakh from the participation in negotiations as
a full party
RA President meets the Governor of Armavir region of Armenia
*********************************************************************
200 MILLION AMD DIRECTED IN ARMENIA FOR CELEBRATION OF VICTORY IN
GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. 200 million AMD directed in Armenia for
celebration of victory in Great Patriotic War in 1941-1945, RA
Government press office told ARKA. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
BAKU TRIES TO KEEP KARABAKH FROM THE PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS AS
A FULL PARTY
YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Baku tries to keep Karabakh from the
participation in negotiations as a full party, as NKR President
Arkadi Ghukasyan stated during the republican session. According to
ARKA’s reporter in Stepanakert, Ghukasyan stated that the efforts of
the NKR government target at establishing dialogue with Azerbaijan
around the final peace settlement of the conflict as NKR people wish.
“The position of Azerbaijani authorities led the negotiations process
to blind alley, the way out of which is impossible to be found
without full participation of NKR representatives. The Karabakh side
has always adhered to peaceful settlement of the conflict, and
contributes to the work of the co-Chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group, the
mediating potential of which is not exhausted. NKR is ready to start
direct dialogue with Azerbaijan and to discuss all the problems
regarding the perspective of future relations. However, the
authorities of Baku hinder it and do not contact the Karabakh side”,
Ghukasyan said.
The Karabakh conflict started in 1988, when Nagorno Karabakh
predominantly populated with Armenians declared its independence from
Azerbaijan. The peak of military conflict fell to 1992-1993. Military
actions ceased after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed armistice on May
12 1994. The cease-fire regime has been observed up to date. Today,
negotiations are carried out to settle the conflict through
international mediation. OSCE Minsk Group with the chairmanship of
the USA, France and Russia is involved in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.
UN General Assembly supported the inclusion of the issue Situation in
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the agenda of November 59th
session. This corresponding appeal of Azerbaijan was supported by 42
delegations, 2 voted against and 99 states, including Russia
abstained from voting. A.H. –0—
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT MEETS THE GOVERNOR OF ARMAVIR REGION OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/ RA President Robert Kocharyan had a
working meeting with the Governor of Armavir region Albert Geroyan.
According to RA President’s Press Service Department, during the
meeting Geroyan introduced the situation in the agrarian sector of
the region to the President.
Issues regarding the sale of land lots by auction were discussed. The
financial means gained from it will go into covering needs of the
region, i.e. of repair of roads, schools, cultural and sport
institutions of the region.
In 2004, about 500 thsd. Tones of vegetables, 80 thsd tones of
grapes, including 40 thsd tones of technical grape, 75 thsd tones of
wheat, 120 thsd tones of melons and gourds were grown in Armavir
region of Armenia.
For 10 months of 2004 communities of the region were given 14 thsd.
hectares of land, and 1 thsd hectares of land lots were sold by
auction and about $23 mln is expected to be received from the sale.
A.H.–0—
*********************************************************************
–Boundary_(ID_iF+iS9+3CSUh0O69Y1BQ6A)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

President says Russia-Armenia co-op negatively affects conflict settlement
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 18 2004
President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the close cooperation between
Russia and Armenia is impeding the process of the Upper Garabagh
conflict settlement.
“Speaker of Russian State Duma (parliament) said during his visit to
Armenia that this country is Russia’s forepost in South Caucasus. We
always considered Armenia a country. It turns out that it is a
forepost”, Aliyev told journalists on Friday.
“And who do we negotiate now –the forepost itself or the forepost
owner? If Armenia clarifies this issue, more favorable conditions
will be created to hold talks.”
–Boundary_(ID_gDz6fcr5F+U3Tzc/vd7WFQ)–

ARKA News Agency
Dec 14 2004
V.Oskanian: broad discussions of Karabakh issue should be started
The RA commission on securities is to become a member of an
International organization of Commissions on Securities in 2005
Armenian Finance and Economy Minister hospitalized because of heart
attack
Speaker of State Duma of Russia to arrive in Armenia today
*********************************************************************
V.OSKANIAN: BROAD DISCUSSIONS OF KARABAKH ISSUE SHOULD BE STARTED
YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. Broad discussions of Karabakh issue
should be started now, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian stated
today at the briefing. According to him, discussions should include
not only parliamentarians, but publicity and press. “First President
of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian also considered it necessary to
conduct such discussions, unfortunately they never started”, Oskanian
said. “We want the soonest settlement of the conflict, without
violation of anyone’s national interests”, he said. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
THE RA COMMISSION ON SECURITIES IS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF AN
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF COMMISSIONS ON SECURITIES IN 2005
YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. The RA commission on securities is
going to become a member of an International organization of
Commissions on Securities in 2005. According to RA President’s Press
Service Department, the Chairman of the RA Commission on Securities
Edward Muradyan stated about it during a work meeting with RA
President Robert Kocharyan. He introduced to the President initial
results of the activity of the commission in 2004, as well as the
main programs that are planned to be implemented next year.
In the course of the meeting issues of development and regulation of
the securities market were discussed as well as international
cooperation in that field. A.H. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN FINANCE AND ECONOMY MINISTER HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF HEART
ATTACK
YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. Armenian Finance and Economy Minister
Vardan Khachatryan was hospitalized because of heart attack. As
Armenian mass media reports, we was transported to the Clinic on
Friday evening right from his office, then he was sent to Nork Marash
Medical Center. In words of Director of the Center Lida Muradyan, his
health situation at the moment is quite satisfactory. According to
his forecasts, he will leave the hospital in 1-2 weeks, after which
he will be able to resume his work and participate in the discussions
of the budget for the year 2005 in the Armenian Parliament. T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************
SPEAKER OF STATE DUMA OF RUSSIA TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA TODAY
YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. By invitation of the Speaker of the
Armenian National Assembly Arthur Baghdasaryan, the Speaker of the
State Duma of Russian Federation Boris Gryzlov is arriving in Armenia
today. As the Armenian Parliament Public and Relations Department
told ARKA, in the frames of his visit he will meet the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Arthur
Baghdasaryan, Chairmen of the Standing Committees of the Parliament,
Heads of the parliament Factions and Groups, Armenian PM Andranik
Margarian, Catholicos of All Armenian His Holiness Garegin II. T.M.
–0–
*********************************************************************
–Boundary_(ID_gOTTBE7pXY3Ajg3Q0mandQ)–

Azeri committee calls for international help in search for captives
Assa-Irada, Baku
18 Dec 04
The state commission on captives, hostages and missing persons held its
first meeting in a new composition at the National Security Ministry
on Saturday 18 December. The commission’s chairman and minister,
Eldar Mahmudov, stated that the commission, in its new format, will
be even more active in conveying to the Azerbaijani and international
community the facts about violation of international norms by Armenia,
which perpetrated ethnic cleansing, massacre and vandalism against
Azerbaijanis and holds them in captivity.
Members of the commission said that international organizations are not
providing the necessary assistance in searching for the Azerbaijani
captives and hostages and pointed to the importance of seeking other
ways of resolving the problem.
The speakers also reaffirmed that up till 1 December 2004, 4,852
Azerbaijanis had gone missing in the conflict zone, including 54
children, 323 women, and 410 elderly people. In 1998-2004, 1,360
Azerbaijanis were released from Armenian captivity, including 166
children, 335 women and 286 elderly people.
The undisputed facts show that at least 783 Azeri citizens, including
18 children, 46 women and 69 elderly people, were taken captive and
hostage by Armenia. However, this was concealed from international
organizations, including from the International Committee of the Red
Cross. The list of these people has been compiled based on witness
testimony by the Azerbaijanis released from captivity and from other
sources.
Most of these people were killed while in Armenian captivity, died
of either torture or disease, while some of them are still being held
in Armenia and the occupied Azerbaijani territories and used as slaves.
After the discussions, the commission approved the plan of activities
for 2005.

ARKA News Agency
Dec 17 2004
President of Producer Center Alfael elected the chairman of
Federation of Bicycle sport in Armenia
CBA and RA Government develop strategy on decrease of shadow economy
Russian military base in Armenia represents dangerous feeling to
Turkey
*********************************************************************
PRESIDENT OF PRODUCER CENTER ALFAEL ELECTED THE CHAIRMAN OF
FEDERATION OF BICYCLE SPORT IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. President of Producer Center Alfael
Levon Abaramian elected the chairman of Federation of Bicycle Sport
in Armenia, FBS told ARKA. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CBA AND RA GOVERNMENT DEVELOP STRATEGY ON DECREASE OF SHADOW ECONOMY
YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. CBA and RA Government develop strategy
on decrease of shadow economy, CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsian stated at
the meeting of CBA Council members with the members of Union of
Foreign Exchange Dealers of Armenia and representatives of exchange
stations. Sargsian said that the result of new strategy will be big
decrease of volumes of cash operations and big deals of exchange
stations will be strictly registered. Commenting the results of
inspections of exchange stations, Sargsian stated that similar
inspections will continue not only in the streets of Tigran Mets and
Kasian, but on other addresses as well.
Sargsian also said that at present new legal acts regulating activity
of foreign exchange dealers and exchange stations are being developed
at the moment. He offered the participants of the meeting to take
part in development of these documents and represent their offers.
L.D. –0—
*********************************************************************
RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA REPRESENTS DANGEROUS FEELING TO
TURKEY
YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. Russian military base in Armenia
represents dangerous feeling to Turkey, Armenian Political Scientist
Agasi Yenokian stated at the seminar “Influence of Armenian-Russian
military cooperation on the region and international security
systems”, organized by Armenian All National Movement. According to
him, in result Turkey gathers its military potential in the region
and develops certain military plans directed against Armenia. At
this, he thinks, for Russia, military base in Armenia is extremely
important in the view of security, because removes threat from own
borders thousand kilometers south. He also said that military
presence of Russia plays negative role in Armenian-Georgian
relations.
In the frames of interstate agreement 102nd Russian military base
located in Gyumri (Armenia). L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
–Boundary_(ID_lwLVfMlCI6tMLYxmS4oTqg)–

Matsakis launches scathing attack against Papadopoulos
By Jean Christou
Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
Dec 19 2004
CYPRIOT MEP Marios Mataskis was one of the first to let fly over the
outcome of the EU summit yesterday, calling it a catastrophe that had
resulted in Cyprus becoming a non-entity within Europe. He accused
Britain of being Cyprus’ number one enemy for its role in the summit
deliberations.
“In effect yesterday the solution of the Cyprus problem was signed,”
Matsakis told the Cyprus Mail. He said the results of the summit
essentially meant that Cyprus had lost its leverage and now would have
to endure the return of the Annan plan with very minor alterations
“and we will be blackmailed into accepting it”.
“I don’t understand. I want to hear explanations. The government is
responsible. President Papadopoulos must explain to the people of
Cyprus what went wrong yesterday. We had high hopes. We had the upper
hand. Why did we give in? We gave everything and we took nothing,
nothing,” he said.
Matsakis said the decision meant that Turkey was under no obligation
to recognise the Republic of Cyprus. “No recognition of Cyprus. No
withdrawal of Turkish troops. No recognition of the Armenian
genocide. Turkey gave absolutely nothing and they got everything.
These were extremely bad results.
“President Papadopoulos yesterday signed our non-recognition. We are
not part of the European Union. We are not a recognised state. We
are nothing.”
Matsakis, known for his animosity against the British bases in Cyprus,
saved some of his most scathing remarks for the British government
for its unquestioning support of Turkey and its tactics at the summit.
“Britain’s role was undermining as they always do,” he said. “Britain
has always been our number one enemy.”
Matsakis said the Greek Cypriot side was in a deep hole that it could
not get out of, “like someone whose house is burned down and who was
trying to find the remnants”.
“I don’t think we realise the catastrophe that has happened. It’s a
complete catastrophe.
What we fought for for years, and the sacrifices that people made. A
division now would be a blessing. We are heading towards a far worse
solution that a complete division.”
Matsakis said the first mistake made by the government was to accept
the Annan plan as a basis for negotiations. The Greek Cypriot ‘no’
in the referendum was not a mistake, he said but the government’s
actions in Brussels on Friday had destroyed that ‘no’.
“We don’t exist as far as Europe is concerned after yesterday’s
decision. We are a nonentity. We are like gypsies. We have no
government, nothing.”
Matsakis said Papadopoulos must be called to account for what happened
and that parliament should meet to discuss what had gone wrong and
how things could be put right.
“We have to see who is responsible and see who is governing
this country, this so-called country, because it seems like AKEL
is governing,” he said. The President needs to give convincing
explanations and he needs to be put through an interrogation with
the press.
We fought very strenuously and we achieved a very good motion of
resolution for Cyprus at the European Parliament and our government
gave it all away yesterday,” he added.
“Of course, I can imagine how much pressure there was but this is where
true statesmen and governments show their worth. We were led to believe
they were up to it and able to withstand the pressure, but it seems
they were not and we need to know why. I feel very angry about it.”

GRYZLOV DID ARMENIA DISSERVICE
PanArmenian News
Dec 17 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Head of the Russian State Duma, representative of
“Unity” faction Boris Gryzlov did Armenia a disservice by calling
the independent state an outpost. However, for Armenia being Russia’s
ally does not mean being Russia’s outpost. An alliance can be formed
with an independent state on the basis of mutual interests but never
with an outpost. We do not call Russia an Armenian outpost only
because it is Armenia’s ally and do not think Russians would like
such an interpretation. Armenia is an independent state with its own
interests and is no one’s outpost or vanguard. We have maintained
our independence. Preserving allied relations with Russia we do not
forget whose army together with the Azeri OMON deported the Armenian
population of Karabakh in 1991 and even intruded into the territory
of Armenia (village of Voskepat, Noemberian region of Armenia).
However it was Azerbaijani President but not Armenian officials, who
reacted to Gryzlov’s statement. “We thought Armenia is a state but not
an outpost”, he said today. Really, Armenia is by no means an outpost,
but there are still some people in the capital of the former USSR,
who have not realized yet that the USSR collapsed 13 years ago and
nowadays Russia needs Armenia no less that Armenia needs Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RESIDENTS OF OCCUPIED ARMENIAN TERRITORIES APPEAL TO EUROPEAN COURT
PanArmenian News
Dec 16 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of the families of those deported
in 1991-1992 from the Armenian-populated regions of Getashen and
Shahumian have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights against
Azerbaijan. It is being done on the initiative of Shahumian-Getashen
philanthropic society. The suit will specifically raise the issue of
protection of the right for property of those deported. It should
be reminded that residents of Getashen sub-region of North Artsakh
(Karabakh), populated by Armenians, were deported and partially
killed in the course of Ring joint operation of the soviet army
and the Azeri OMON in 1991. One of the goals of the operation was to
“frighten” Armenians, who headed for the independence from the USSR and
“encourage” the Azeris faithful to the Soviet authorities. The soviet
army launched the cleansing operation in Getashen May 1. Here we cite
an extract from the telegram of Getashen residents of May 4, 1991:
“The soviet army annihilates us. Helicopters fire on us from the sky,
tanks trample us on the ground, Azeri OMON take our children, women and
the elderly hostage from our homes and yards, break their hands and
legs, ribs, scalp them and stab them. We stood firm for three years,
but we cannot resist to the soviet army, our husbands cannot protect
us with hunting guns the army destroys us, making to recognize the
Azerbaijan authority and leave native villages. But they don’t even
let us flee – they fire upon us.” Residents of NKR Shahumian region,
which is at present occupied by Azerbaijan, were banished from their
houses in 1992 after the Azeri managed to seize the region with the
assistance of the bribed Russian generals. You can find addinional
details of the Ring operation and others at

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
20 December 2004
DEACON ORDAINED FOR SERVICE IN CHURCH IN SYDNEY
Sydney, Australia – On Sunday, 19th December, 2004 in the Armenian Apostolic
Church of Holy Resurrection, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian,
Primate of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand ordained Acolyte Shnork
Nigoghossian as Deacon. Also partaking in the ceremony were Reverend Father
Norayr Patanian, Reverend Father Bartev Karakashian, Deacons, Acolytes and
the Church Lousavorich Choir.
Deacon Shnork is the seventh ordained deacon of the Church of Holy
Resurrection.
During the ordination rite, through prayers and blessings, the
newly-ordained received the order of sub-deacon and deacon. It was deeply
moving when he committed himself to the service of God in front of the
congregation, humbly kneeling before the altar with arms raised and ears
blocked rejecting earthly standards.
The new order grants Deacon Shnork the privilege to perform sacred rituals
in the church that includes censing, chanting the Gospel reading during the
Divine Liturgy, and transferring the veiled chalice containing the gifts
(bread and wine) to the priest during The Eucharist.
The word “deacon” means “one who serves”. The position is believed to have
its origin rooted with the Apostles in the Jerusalem church. The primary
role of the deacon then was to care for the physical needs of the
congregation, a role which continues until today in traditional churches.
St Paul writes in his first letter to Timothy “Deacons are to be men worthy
of respect, sincere .. they must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith
with a clear conscience.”
Deacon Shnork Nigoghossian has served the Armenian Apostolic Church over the
past 15 years. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, is married to Askanoush
and has two children. For many years, Deacon Shnork has been actively
involved in all aspects of church life.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Tigran Petrosian Memorial Tournament
Chessbase News, Germany
Dec 19 2004
18.12.2004 An international Internet chess tournament is taking
place, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the birth of the 9th
world champion, Tigran Petrosian. Four teams, from Russia, China,
France and Armenia, are participating, with none of the players
leaving their places of residence. More…
Tigran Petrosian Memorial Internet Tournament
The six round tournament will take place each day from December 18-23
with games starting at 12:00 noon in Paris, 14:00 in St. Petersburg.
15:00 in Yerevan and 19:00 in Beijing.
Four boards will face-off each day, as in the Olympiad, with each
opponent facing his corresponding board representative. Each country
will face each of the other three countries two times for a total of
six rounds. Fischer time control will be used (1 hour 30 minutes plus
15 minutes added at move 40; 30 second increments are added after
every move).
The overall prize fund is $55,000 with the following breakdown: 1st
place $20,000, 2nd place $15,000, 3rd place $12,000, 4th place
$8,000. The games will not be counted toward players’ official
ratings.
Armenia (average rating: 2626) France (average rating: 2627)
GM Aronian 2675 GM Lautier 2682
GM Lputian 2634 GM Fressinet 2640
GM Sargissian 2611 GM Bauer 2622
GM Art. Minasian 2581 GM Nataf 2565
Russia (average rating: 2688) China (average rating: 2590)
GM Svidler 2735 GM Bu 2615
GM Dreev 2698 GM Ni 2611
GM Khalifman 2669 GM Zhang 2596
GM Zvjaginsev 2650 GM Wang 2536
Tigran Petrosian
Tigran Petrosian was a legendary chess champion, an Armenian hero,
and a creative genius. Nearly twenty years after his passing, FIDE
has named 2004 in his honor, and the Tigran Petrosian memorial
internet tournament held from December 18-23 online is the last in a
string of tournaments in 2004 around the world held in his honor.
The legacy of Petrosian is at the same time profound and
multifaceted.
To Armenians around the world and in Armenia alike, Petrosian
symbolized the overcoming of the struggles of a downtrodden nation, a
nation which survived Genocide, the horrors of Stalin, and global
dispersion to cheer their favorite son toward victory. For Armenians
everywhere he embodied achievement of excellence in the most
intellectual and competitive of games. The boy who was born in
Tiflis, embraced in Armenia, rose to the heights in Moscow, and loved
by his compatriots around the world. He was a unique figure in modern
Armenian history, and his relationship to Armenians around the world
was similarly distinctive. After he lost both parents before he was
16, he became the adopted son of Armenians everywhere. Though some of
his compatriots around the world had no particular understanding of
the game of chess, they would flock to his games in tournaments held
in the farthest reaches around the globe – from South America to
Europe, from the Soviet Union to the USA. Everywhere, Petrosian was
greeted with fanfare, exhilaration and cheer.
His chess style was enigmatic, misunderstood, underappreciated. He
died much too young, living life with passion and exuberance until
cancer took him away from us much too prematurely. Like any champion,
his legacy is immortal, his games are creations which will be loved
forever, and we are the lucky ones to have benefited from his genius.
For the generations of chess fans who emulate him to the millions of
Armenians who cherish his memory, we are proud and honored to offer
this tournament to all to enjoy.