TURKEY HAS TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, THOUGH IT WILL HARDLY
CONDITION ACCESSION TO EU

PanArmenian News
Sept 27 2004

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official Ankara recognizing the Armenian Genocide
will hardly be a condition for Turkey’s accession to the European
Union, Vice-President of the Assembly of West European Union Marco
Zakera stated at a press conference in the Embassy of Italy in Armenia
today. At the same time he noted that Turkey has to recognize the
Armenian Genocide and reminded that in its time the Italian Parliament
passed a resolution, which mentions the massacre of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire as genocide. In M. Zakera’s words, he is personally
for Turkey’s membership in the EU in case of fulfillment of certain
EU criteria.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS MUST PARTICIPATE IN NATO PA ASSEMBLY
SEMINAR IN BAKU

PanArmenian News
Sept 27 2004

27.09.2004 17:36

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian parliamentarians must participate in NATO
Parliamentary Assembly Rose-Roth seminar in Baku,” Armenian National
Assembly Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian stated in an interview with
Armenpress news agency. The organizers of the seminar will have to
seriously take care of securing the Armenian deputies, he said. In
the Vice-Speaker’s words, “if the Azeri party does not provide
entry permits, the NATO will have to continue the chosen practice by
canceling the seminar, too.” Everything might have been in a different
way, if such extremist approaches “were not under the auspices of
the top leadership – the country President,” he stated, adding the
Parliament will consider the question within the coming three days. It
should be reminded that the NATO leadership canceled Cooperative Best
Effort – 2004 exercises due to official Baku refusing to issue entry
visas to Armenian officers, who were to participate in the maneuvers.

THE IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE: FINALLY COMING TO LIFE
By Hooman Peimani

CENTRAL ASIA – CAUCASUS ANALYST
Wednesday / September 22, 2004

After about three years of its signing in 2001, the Iranian and
Armenian governments have finally initiated the process to implement
a 142-km gas pipeline agreement. Accordingly, Armenia will receive
1,500,000 cubic meters of gas from Iran per day once the pipeline goes
on stream. Two Russian energy companies (ArmeRuss Gazprom and Gazprom)
have started a feasibility study on the project for which a group of
their engineers visited in August the Armenian region through which
the pipeline will pass. As stated in July by Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, the project is of great importance to Yerevan.

BACKGROUND: Being surrounded from three sides by hostile or
unreliable neighbors, the operational pipeline will meet Armenia’s
gas requirements from a friendly neighboring supplier, while
significantly increasing Iran’s gas exports now mainly limited to its
uncertain exports to Turkey. The pipeline, which could be extended
to Georgia and Ukraine, could go even farther to reach Central and
Western Europe via Ukraine. If fully implemented, this will not only
increase Iran’s gas exports substantially, but it will drastically
boost the importance of Armenia and Georgia and, by default, the
South Caucasus, as a main export route for fossil energy to supply
the European economies. Armenian-Iranian relations have been on the
expansion track since Armenia’s independence in 1991 for various
reasons. Against a background of historical ties and the existence
of Iranians of Armenian origins who have kept a degree of contact
over centuries between the two nations even during the Soviet era,
political realities, economic imperatives and security considerations
have inclined Yerevan and Tehran to seek close relations. Being a
landlocked country, Armenia’s surrounding by two hostile countries
(Azerbaijan and Turkey) to its east and west and an unreliable
neighbour (Georgia) to the north makes its southern neighbour (Iran)
the only reliable outlet for accessing the open seas and regional and
international markets, added to its need for importing fossil energy
from a secure supplier. Concerned about the resumption of war with
Azerbaijan over the disputed Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno Karabakh
with a possibility of dragging Turkey into the conflict, Armenia also
needs Iran’s close and friendly relations as a regional power to deter
such scenario. As for Iran, close and cordial relations with the three
Caucasian states have been important as, besides economic interests in
the Caucasus, the region provides a land link between Iran and Europe,
a necessity for the Iranians to reduce their heavy reliance on Turkey
for that matter. Preventing the region’s domination by hostile America
has also been another incentive for Tehran to forge friendly ties with
the regional countries. Given the extensive and growing relations,
including military ones, between Washington and Baku and Tbilisi,
close ties with Yerevan, which has sought strong relations with both
Tehran and Moscow while having friendly relations with Washington,
is of special importance for the Iranian government.

IMPLICATIONS: Against this background, the interest of both Armenia and
Iran for constructing a gas pipeline is quite understandable. Lacking
any significant fossil energy resources, Iran is the most logical
long-term supplier of gas and oil for Armenia whose exports to that
country does not require the consent of Armenia’s other neighbours. The
possibility of the pipeline’s continuation to Georgia and Ukraine –
both of which have already expressed an interest in the scenario
– creates an additional motivation for the Armenians who could
economically benefit of such scenario by providing a major, and
potentially the major, route for Iran’s gas exports, while creating
stakes for Georgia in maintaining good ties with their southern
neighbour. Moreover, its potential to become a pipeline to supply
the European Union (EU) with Iranian gas makes its construction even
more interesting for the Armenians. The EU has been keen on importing
gas from Iran as a means to secure adequate number of suppliers for
its increasing gas requirements, to diversify its gas suppliers and
thus to reduce its heavy reliance on Russia and certain North African
countries for its gas imports. Brussels has given serious thoughts,
including a feasibility studies undertaken over a year ago, about
connecting the existing Iranian-Turkish gas pipeline to Europe via
Greece and/or Bulgaria. Various factors, including Ankara’s twice
closure of the pipeline since its inauguration in 1993 because of
its disputes with Tehran over the amount and pricing its gas imports,
and Brussels’ political considerations, have prevented the project’s
realization. In the absence of those considerations and provided the
prevalence of durable peace in the Caucasus, the Caucasian export
route could have a better chance to become a reality if the current
Turkish-Iranian disagreements on gas exports continue.

CONCLUSIONS: The recent enthusiasm of Yerevan and Tehran for
constructing the gas pipeline and the involvement of two Russian gas
companies in the initial phase of its implementation are good signs as
they create hope for its actual construction. However, in the absence
of a firm construction schedule, it is still a little too early to
consider the recent developments as a clear sign for the project’s
implementation. There is no question that both the Armenians and the
Iranians are determined to make this happen, while having the blessing
of the Russians as reflected in the mentioned involvement of their gas
companies. Russia’s potentially troublesome ties with Georgia make it
an unlikely long-term supplier of gas and oil to Armenia as it can only
access the latter via Georgia, given the hostile state of relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia whose future is anyone’s guess. This
explains Moscow’s backing of the project. Nevertheless, the recent
positive developments are still inadequate factors for the project’s
rapid implementation as demonstrated in the shelving or long delays
in the implementation of many energy projects in the Caspian region
such as those involving Iran and its neighbours. Developments in the
next few months, including clear announcements on the availability of
funds and a construction schedule, will certainly reveal whether the
Caucasus will become a potential major route for Iran’s energy exports
or the Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline will turn into a pipe dream.

AUTHOR’S BIO: Dr Hooman Peimani works as a Senior Research Fellow
for the Centre for International Cooperation and Security (CICS),
University of Bradford, UK.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
Sept 27 2004

RA Ambassador to US and Rector of University of Connecticut discuss
perspectives of cooperation in the sphere of education

Training courses for local doctors held in Stepanakert

Information openness must contribute into struggle against corruption

RA NA Vice-Speaker: role of mass media in fight against corruption
not powerful enough

*********************************************************************

RA AMBASSADOR TO US AND RECTOR OF UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT DISCUSS
PERSPECTIVES OF COOPERATION IN THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION

YEREVAN, September 27. /ARKA/. RA Ambassador to US Arman Kirakosian
and Rector of University of Connecticut discussed perspectives of
cooperation in the sphere of education, RA MFA told ARKA. Kirakosian
stated on his assistance to the project of implementation of program
of Armenian Studies in the University of Connecticut. He noted the
important role of this project not only for traditional Armenian
studies, but also in strengthening of cooperation of Armenian and
American experts and scientists from this field. Kirakosian also read
a lecture called “Present Condition and Perspectives of
Armenian-American Relations”.
At present administration of University of Connecticut discusses
issues on creation of regular chair of Armenian Studies. University
created special committee, one of which goals is to involve science
potential of Yerevan State University in given process. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

TRAINING COURSES FOR LOCAL DOCTORS HELD IN STEPANAKERT

STEPENAKERT, September 27. /ARKA/. Training courses for local
doctors, organized by National Institute of Healthcare of Armenia,
are being held in Stepanakert. As Zoya Lazaryan, NKR Healthcare
Minister told ARKA, during current visit of delegation of Armenian
Healthcare Ministry headed by Norayr Davidyan to NKR it was achieved
arrangement on organization of mobile training courses for Karabakh
doctors. “It was decided to hold these courses in Stepenakert and
then in future a number of doctors will be trained in Health
Institute of Armenia. “It is important to mention that these courses
are implemented in the frames of the state order”, NKR Healthcare
Minister told. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

INFORMATION OPENNESS MUST CONTRIBUTE INTO STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION

YEREVAN, September 27. /ARKA/. Armenia must define for itself if the
information openness must turn into an integrated part of it national
interests, as Konstantin Petrosov, Director of ARKA New Agency stated
on Seminar “Role of mass media in struggle against corruption –
transparency of state bodies’ activity and availability of
information” held in Tsakhkadzor. In his words, Armenia does not have
system approach to information by the state power. “It is fashionable
to talk about the struggle against corruption, however at the same
time many forget that corruption and economic crimes – the most
important problems faced by the state, and the information openness
can contribute into the solution of these problems”, Petrosov said.
He mentioned that if the state officials are forced to report to the
society (publication of income declaration of officials, obligatory
reporting on budget implementation, tenders, inspections and decision
taken by the state officials etc.) and this even is not to stop
corruption processes, at least it will strongly restrain them.
Director of ARKA Agency also mentioned other directions of the state
policy, implementation of which is impossible without information
openness. Particularly, building of a civil society is impossible
without society’s confidence to the state, authorities, public
institutions and mass media. Also, in his words, unsatisfactory
openness of our society hinders Armenia’s entering into the world
information society, creates distorted impression on economic
processes and reforms in the country. In Petrosov’s opinion, the
information openness is possible only when the authority bodies
clearly understand this necessity and promote it in all possible
ways. “For this it is necessary to develop national industry of
information services and raise efficiency of use of state information
resources”, he mentioned. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

RA NA VICE-SPEAKER: ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH

YEREVAN, September 27. /ARKA/. Te role of mass media in fight against
corruption is not powerful enough, as stated Vahan Hovhannisyan, the
RA NA Vice-Speaker at the seminar dedicated to the role of mass media
in fight against corruption held in Tsakhkadzor. He said that a
newspaper of a 2-thou-edition cannot lead the people, cannot mobilize
the society for a solution of a serious problem. According to
Hovhannisyan, “our people are not used to a single unified struggle,
being individualists”. He said that everyone receiving a ruling
position forgets about the fact that he should be under control and
be transparent in his activities in front of the society, thus
becoming “an infected part of the political elite, which considers
itself beyond the people and refuses them to avoid control”. The base
for fight against corruption Hovhannisyan sees in changing the
mentality of the people so that everyone considers himself a part of
a whole. He is also confident that a civil society cannot be formed
without mass media. He said that if any information is not considered
secret by the law, it should be available for everyone. The fight
against corruption should include “simultaneous system changes and
blows on the targets”. L.V. -0–

*********************************************************************

The sounds of a musical legend
By Sarah Ryan

The Jordan Times
Monday, September 27, 2004

AMMAN – The clock ticks. Eight-thirty passes. The restless crowd of
3,500 people in seats at the Arena begin clapping, sporadic at first,
then insistent that Fairouz take the stage. Nine-fifteen passes. The
clapping takes on a thunderous note as the international singing
legend takes centre stage.

“She’s an angel, I think,” said Laila Sabbagh, a 16- year-old who
has seen Fairouz four times. “Her music is the food of my soul,”
added Sabbagh

Fairouz’s set-list at the Sept. 25 concert reflected her musical past
as well as her recent influences.

She played many of her standards composed by Assi and Mansour
Rahbani as well as more recent music influenced by her son, Ziad
Rahbani. Some of the big hits she sang included, `My home,’ and
`Last days of summer.’

“It’s a concert for a new generation,” said 25-year-old Samer Nahhas,
who has been listening to Fairouz for the past 10 years.

“It was amazing, literally amazing,” he said.

During the song, `I loved you in summer, I loved you in winter,’
Fairouz added a reference to the Jordan River to the cheers of the
crowd. Lighter flames dotted the Arena during the quieter moments of
the concert.

Wafa Jabour travelled all the way from Nazareth to see Fairouz sing
for the second time.

“You feel everything she says. If she speaks about love, you live
it. If she speaks about war, you feel it,” said Jabour.

During the entire concert Fairouz stood straight and proud, almost
immobile, in contrast to the orchestra conductor who had the musical
rhythms running through his veins.

Fairouz had no words for the audience, only songs.

Fairouz, who is approaching 70 years of age, sang an average of three
songs in a row, followed by two instrumental and choir songs while
she was backstage.

A 20-minute interval divided the concert into two parts. When
Fairouz walked on-stage after the intermission, she had traded in
her long black sparkling gown for a white dress, which glittered in
the spotlights.

The Lebanese icon came out for two encores to the delight of the entire
arena, displaying their appreciation with deafening roars and whistles.

The first encore had the crowd on their feet with a rendition of the
Lebanese national anthem.

Fairouz has been in Amman for the past five days rehearsing with her
orchestra from Syria, Lebanon and Armenia.

This was Fairouz’s fourth concert in Jordan. She sang in the musical
play `Petra’ in 1973, the Jerash Festival in 1983 and at the Arena
in 1999.

Fastlink sponsored the event and all proceeds from the concert will
go to the charity “Promise,” which gives scholarships to Jordanian
students in financial difficulty.

Monday, September 27, 2004

ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Monday, September 27, 2004

NEW TURKISH LAW TO CRIMINALIZE GENOCIDE AFFIRMATION
The Turkish parliament last Sunday passed a new Criminal Code, including
articles that would severely restrict freedom of speech on matters seen as
“insulting national dignity,” Turkish media reported. The new Code has come
on the insistence of the European Union (EU), which Turkey seeks to join,
and EU officials have yet to comment on new restrictions that are due to
come into force next April.

Article 306 of the new Code would punish individual Turkish citizens or
groups that confirm the fact of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey or
call for the end of the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus with up to
fifteen years in prison. Bekir Bozdag, a member of the Turkish Parliamentary
Committee on Legal Affairs from the ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP), said the article was added on the insistence of the opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Turkey continues to deny the Genocide of some one and a half million
Armenians during World War I and pressures other countries to avoid the
issue. In addition, the Turkish government refuses to establish diplomatic
relations with Armenia or open its border for trade, unless Armenia
pressures its Diaspora, largely descended from Genocide survivors, not to
seek affirmation or reparations.

Turkey has largely ignored calls from the United States and EU officials to
lift its blockade of Armenia. Most recently, the EU Commission President
Romano Prodi suggested last week that the issue might become one of the
conditions for Turkey’s accession to EU. Armenian and Turkish officials have
held repeated talks on ways to move ahead in bilateral relations, with
Armenia ready to establish ties without preconditions. Turkey, after hinting
at a change of policy last year, has reverted to the old line. The two
countries’ foreign ministers are due to meet this week, although no imminent
progress is anticipated.

Citing “national security” concerns, Turkish courts have already prosecuted
citizens who have spoken in favor of recognizing Armenian Genocide or
against Ankara’s policies of denial. An ethnic Assyrian priest was charged
in October 2000 and seven high school teachers were prosecuted last year for
questioning the Turkish government’s demand that schoolchildren be
instructed on denial of Genocide. However, the new law would specifically
target what is known in Turkey as the “Armenian issue” while providing for
more severe punishments.

Despite continued Turkish hostility, Defense Minister Serge Sargsian last
week confirmed Armenia’s support for Turkey’s accession to the EU. Most
Armenian observers hope the accession process would help Turkey change its
intransigent attitude. There appears to be growing recognition in Turkey
that its policy towards Armenia has been unsuccessful. The blockade has
hampered Turkey’s own economic interests, while Armenia is developing
despite closed borders. (Sources: AP 12-21-00; AFP 7-1-03; Armenia This Week
1-16, 30, 5-21; Mediamax 9-20; Radikal 9-20; Arminfo 9-24; Anadolu 9-28;
9-27)

ARMENIA ISSUES FIRST LONG-TERM GOVERNMENT BONDS
The Armenian Finance Ministry issued the country’s first long-term bonds
last week. The first $3 million batch of bonds repayable in seven years was
met with great demand by local banks and financial organizations and sold in
less than a day. The move is seen as reflecting growing confidence in the
government’s fiscal policy and another milestone in Armenia’s economic
development.

Armenia first began issuing bonds with one-year maturity in 1995 as a way to
generate funds for the country’s cash-strapped treasury. Since 2000, the
government switched to treasury bills with one to five years maturity. These
short- to medium-term bonds had yields averaging as high as 60 percent in
the late 1990s, but decreased to under six percent in recent years.

At a press conference last week, Chairman of the Central Bank Tigran
Sargsian argued that Armenia was entering a “new cycle of economic
development.” Sargsian claimed that recent strengthening of the national
currency, the Dram, was a reflection of growing financial infusions through
direct investments and cash transfers, as well as ongoing economic growth.
The Dram traded at about 510 to $1, down from 570 at the beginning of 2004.
Sargsian said that the Bank so far plans no intervention into the national
currency’s rise, urging Armenia’s exporters to focus on improving the
quality of their products rather than expect government “subsidies” through
a weaker Dram.

The National Statistics Service reported last week that Armenia’s Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) was up 9.6 percent in the first eight months of the
year, with the country on track for the fourth consecutive year of
double-digit growth. Increases in construction, agriculture and electricity
output ranged between 12 and 18 percent so far this year. Industrial
production and exports were up three percentage points each. Western
Europe, Russia, the United States and Israel remain Armenia’s main trading
partners.

Over the same period, the population’s incomes and expenses have on average
increased by 17 percent, with an average monthly salary up more than 30
percent to about $80, without purchasing power factored in. (Sources:
Armenia This Week 8-3; Arminfo 9-20, 22, 23; Noyan Tapan 9-20, 23, 24;
RFE/RL Armenia Report 9-22, 23)

Note to readers: Visit to read
Armenia This Week issues since 1997.

A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX
(202) 638-4904
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Les Echos
27 septembre 2004

Sarkozy demande un référendum sur l’entrée de la Turquie en Europe…

par CÉCILE CORNUDET

La question de l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne est en
train de brouiller, si besoin en était, le débat sur la Constitution
européenne. Jeudi, la Commission européenne a semblé être prête à
donner le feu vert à l’ouverture de négociations avec Ankara,
suscitant l’inquiétude non dissimulée des partisans du « oui » à la
Constitution européenne, notamment à droite, qui craignent que les
deux questions ne se percutent.

Pour sortir de cette difficulté, Nicolas Sarkozy a proposé hier une
solution de compromis en souhaitant que le président de la République
organise un référendum sur l’entrée de la Turquie, « afin de
connaître l’opinion des Français ». Il est vrai que si Jacques Chirac
reste favorable à l’ouverture de négociations avec Ankara, ne
serait-ce que parce que l’entrée de la Turquie n’interviendrait pas
avant dix ou quinze ans, la droite dans son ensemble, UMP comme UDF,
y est très réticente. Le Premier ministre lui-même a émis la semaine
dernière de sérieuses réserves. « Ce n’est pas parce que c’est un
pays musulman, mais parce que cela représente l’équivalent de
l’adhésion de dix nouveaux pays d’Europe de l’Est », a estimé hier
Nicolas Sarkozy lors du Grand Jury RTL-« Le Monde »-LCI. Au Parti
socialiste, officiellement favorable à l’entrée de la Turquie sous
certaines conditions – droits de l’homme, reconnaissance du génocide
arménien -, la question est également très sensible. Laurent Fabius,
partisan du « non » à la Constitution européenne, a affirmé la
semaine dernière qu’un élargissement à la Turquie ne serait « pas
raisonnable ». « Il serait démocratique que l’Assemblée nationale se
prononce prochainement, avant que le chef de l’Etat ne le fasse au
nom de la France », a-t-il déclaré vendredi dans un entretien à «
Ouest-France ».

L’Humanité
27 septembre 2004

« Nous faisons entendre, dans cette assemblée très réactionnaire, la voix des salariés, de la population »

Réélue à Paris, Nicole Borvo, présidente du groupe communiste du
Sénat, était candidate sortante.

Quelle est votre appréciation sur ces résultats ?

Nicole Borvo. Les communistes retrouvent leurs sièges partout où ils
étaient renouvelables et gagnent deux sièges dans deux nouveaux
départements : l’Essonne et la Seine-et-Marne avec l’élection de
Bernard Vera et de Michel Billout. Je suis donc très satisfaite et
très contente de voir que les candidats communistes qui étaient des
candidats de terrain ont été reconnus et appréciés par les élus
locaux. Ils ont ainsi permis de gagner.

Le Sénat restera après cette élection une chambre âgée, masculine,
dont la majorité politique à droite apparaît immuable. N’est-il pas
en décalage avec la réalité du pays ?

Nicole Borvo. Ce décalage tient à son mode d’élection. Les communes
rurales peu peuplées sont surreprésentées par rapport aux communes
urbaines et le renouvellement par tiers bloque la répercussion des
changements politiques dans le pays. Il est anormal qu’en France une
assemblée soit élue selon un mode de scrutin aussi peu démocratique.

Le groupe communiste du Sénat n’est-il pas un peu atypique, en
particulier par le nombre des femmes qui le composent ?

Nicole Borvo. À l’époque où il y avait 18 femmes sénatrices, 6
étaient communistes. Et dernièrement pour 321 sièges, on comptait 33
sénatrices dont 11 communistes. De plus, deux femmes se sont succédé
à la présidence du groupe. Nous avons essayé de faire entrer la
parité dans cette assemblée où les hommes, il faut bien le dire, font
tout pour la contourner. Et cela va encore être le cas cette fois
(1).

Quelles sont les attributions les plus importantes du Sénat ?

Nicole Borvo. Il contribue à l’élaboration de la loi comme
l’Assemblée nationale. Avec pour seule différence que l’Assemblée
nationale tranche en dernier ressort. Le droit d’amendement, de
proposition est le même pour les sénateurs et les députés. Le Sénat
joue donc un rôle législatif important. Le fait qu’il soit toujours à
droite pèse sur la loi dans un sens conservateur.

Vous êtes très critique. Êtes-vous pour la suppression du Sénat, pour
sa transformation ?

Nicole Borvo. Depuis longtemps nous proposons une réforme très
importante du Sénat. D’une part en modifiant son mode de scrutin pour
qu’il soit représentatif de la majorité des citoyens, d’autre part en
lui donnant des attributions différentes de l’Assemblée nationale. La
France n’est pas un pays fédéral et n’a pas besoin d’une
représentation d’États ou, comme en Allemagne, de Landers. Et nous
sommes d’ailleurs opposés à une régionalisation dans ce sens. Nous
proposons donc que le Sénat ait un rôle d’initiative, qu’il permette
aux collectivités territoriales (conseils municipaux, conseils
régionaux, conseils généraux) et aux citoyens de faire des
propositions, de demander des débats parlementaires qui pourraient
donner lieu à des propositions législatives. Ce que la droite a fait
l’an dernier n’est qu’une réformette pour avoir l’air moins archaïque
: il n’était plus supportable que le mandat de sénateur reste de neuf
ans et que le corps électoral soit celui qui résultait du recensement
de 1965. Mais elle a refusé d’enlever au Sénat ce rôle conservateur
qu’il a depuis le début.

Quelle peut être, dans ce cadre, l’action de votre groupe ?

Nicole Borvo. Dans cette Assemblée vraiment très réactionnaire, le
groupe communiste fait entendre la voix des salariés, de la
population, et bien évidemment il continuera à le faire. Il a pris
des initiatives importantes. Par exemple, les premiers débats sur la
décentralisation ayant eu lieu au Sénat, nous avons alerté sur des
risques majeurs à un moment où cela paraissait peu clair pour la
population. Avec cette bataille est montée la prise de conscience que
la pseudo-décentralisation Raffarin était en réalité une
déstructuration de l’unité nationale. Le gouvernement a fait voter
cette loi au forcing avec le 49-3 mais beaucoup de résistance
s’exprime aujourd’hui dans le pays et nous y avons contribué. Nous
avons aussi proposé la journée des droits de l’enfant en menant une
grande bataille pour qu’elle finisse par être votée. Depuis longtemps
notre groupe a une activité importante pour la défense des droits des
personnes et quelquefois il est possible, sur ces questions, de
trouver des majorités. Cela a ainsi été le cas lorsque nous avons
fait voter la reconnaissance du génocide arménien.

Entretien réalisé par Jacqueline Sellem
(1) Pour contourner la loi
sur la parité et l’obligation d’alternance sur les listes,
on a vu se multiplier les listes de droite conduites
par un homme assurant
ainsi son élection.

Xinhua News Agency – French
27 septembre 2004 lundi 11:01 AM EST

L’Arménie reconnaît le statut d’économie de marché de la Chine

BEIJING

L’Arménie reconnaît le statut d’économie de marché de la Chine, selon
une déclaration conjointe publiée lundi à Beijing par la Chine et
l’Arménie.

Cette déclaration, signée par le Président chinois Hu Jintao et son
homologue arménien Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, indique qu’une telle
reconnaissance est favorable au renforcement des relations
économiques et commerciales entre la Chine et l’Arménie.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Chine et l’Arménie promouvront leurs relations bilatérales

Xinhua News Agency – French
27 septembre 2004 lundi 11:01 AM EST

BEIJING – La Chine et l’Arménie souhaitent intensifier leurs échanges
dans divers secteurs afin de promouvoir le développement de leur
coopération amicale, selon une déclaration conjointe sino-arménienne
publiée lundi à Beijing.

La déclaration, signée par le Président chinois Hu Jintao et
son homologue arménien Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, indique que
les deux parties apprécient la coopération fructueuse entre les
deux pays dans les domaines politique, économique, commercial,
scientifique, technologique, culturel et dans d’autres secteurs
depuis l’établissement des relations diplomatiques entre les deux
pays en 1992.

Les deux parties sont satisfaites du développement régulier des
relations bilatérales et continueront à promouvoir les échanges de
haut niveau, affirme la déclaration.

Les deux parties encouragent et soutiennent la coopération entre les
entreprises des deux pays dans le but de renforcer le niveau de la
coopération économique et commerciale entre la Chine et l’Arménie.

L’Arménie a réitéré que la République populaire de Chine était
le seul gouvernement légitime représentant l’ensemble de la Chine
et que Taiwan était une partie inséparable de la Chine. L’Arménie
n’établira aucun contact officiel avec Taiwan et s’oppose à la soi-
disant “indépendance de Taiwan”, dit la déclaration.

La Chine soutient les efforts déployés par la communauté internationale
pour trouver une solution pacifique au problème Nogorno-Karabakh,
souhaitant que le conflit puisse être résolu de manière juste et
raisonnable conformément aux normes et aux principes internationaux
interessés, selon la déclaration.