Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 18 2004
Armenia’s military expenses to make up over $93m in 2005

Armenian Minister for Finance and Economics Vardan Khachatrian said
during parliamentary discussions of Armenia’s 2005 state budget that
the country’s state budget will make up $611 million. Of the sum,
$103.356 will be spent on education and $93.212 on defense.
Khachatrian noted that the state budget’s educational expenses have
exceeded for the first time the military ones over the last 10 years.
Sergey Ohanian, `defense minister’ of the self-proclaimed Upper
Garabagh Republic, in his interview with the Armenian public
television, conveyed his concerns to the country’s authorities. `If
you want peace, be ready for a war,’ Ohanian stressed.
During parliamentary discussions of Azerbaijan’s draft 2005 state
budget, which envisioned 12% of military expenses, some MPs expressed
their concerns over the fact that the military expenses were below
the ones envisaged in Armenia’s state budget.
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov, in his turn, underlined that Azerbaijan’s
military expenses for 2005 are twice as much as those of Armenia.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 18 2004
FM receives new Turkish Ambassador

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received a copy of the credentials
of newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Turan Moral on
Tuesday.
During the meeting the parties exchanged views on multi-faceted
bilateral cooperation and energy projects.
Ambassador Moral underlined that his country is eager to expand
relations with South Caucasus countries. Turkey adheres to settlement
of the Upper Garabagh conflict within international legal norms and
Azerbaijan’s integration into European structures, he stressed.
Mammadyarov, in turn, highly appreciated Turkey’s support to
Azerbaijan in solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper
Garabagh and during the discussions of putting the `Situation in
occupied lands of Azerbaijan’ item into the agenda of the UN General
Assembly’s session.*

ArmenPress
Nov 18 2004
ARMENIAN-ITALIAN RELATIONS EXCELLENT, ITALY’S AMBASSADOR SAYS
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: In an interview with Armenpress
Italy’s ambassador to Armenia, Marco Clemente described bilateral
political relations between the two nations in the last few years as
“excellent.” “I have had many opportunities to witness the existence
of these warm relations during all my meetings with Armenian
authorities since my arrival here,” Mr. Clemente said.
He said these relations received a strong impulse in 2000 with the
opening of the Embassy of Italy in Yerevan. The Armenian Embassy in
Rome had already been active for some years before then.
He said development and emergency aid to Armenia played special
role in the bilateral relations. Italy was the first foreign country
to arrive in Armenia after the tragic earthquake in 1988. Ever since,
the Italian government has provided substantial development aid
either directly or through international organizations. In 2002 the
assistance aid committed by Italy amounted to more of 1.7 million
Euro.
He said a program has been implemented in the field of military
co-operation, which envisages participation of some young Armenian
trainees to courses at a prestigious military academy in Italy. These
courses are preceded by Italian language lessons organized by the
Italian Embassy in Yerevan.
According to the ambassador, the main factors that determine the
present positive situation in bilateral relations are the interest of
Italy in the South Caucasus region both politically and economically;
the common cultural ties and the presence of a successful and well
integrated Armenian-Italian community in Italy.
According to the ambassador, relations between Italy and Armenia
in the international organizations’ framework are also excellent:
both countries very much rely on the role of the multilateral
diplomacy in solving international conflicts and crisis.

ArmenPress
Nov 18 2004
UNICEF SAYS HEALTH CONDITION OF CHILDREN AT SPECIAL SCHOOLS IS
ALARMING
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Children with special needs
placed at special/boarding schools in Yerevan face myriad health and
development problems, according to the Assessment of Health Condition
of Children with Special Education Needs conducted upon the request
from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia
by the Children’s Health Care Association with UNICEF’s support.
The study which provides an in-depth analysis of health and
development problems of children was carried out at Nubarashen No. 1
and 11 schools for children with mental retardation, school No. 9 for
children with hearing impairments and Nubarashen No. 18 special
school for children with behavioral problems. The objective of the
study was to assess health condition of children, identify whether
children are placed in a proper special school and meet new admission
criteria recently adopted by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Out of 514 children registered in the surveyed schools, only 391
(76%) were available for screening. Over 60% of children were from
Yerevan, while the rest were from neighboring regions. The screening
revealed that along with children with special educational needs,
schools also accepted their siblings without such needs solely on the
basis that they belonged to the same socially vulnerable families. On
the average for 16% (62 children) of the surveyed children the
schools that they were placed in were not appropriate. However, the
reintegration of those children into mainstream education is already
impossible.
According to the study findings, poverty (50% of children) and
family problems (62 % in Nubarashen No. 18 special school) are major
causes for placement of children in a special school.
Many of the children suffer from chronic diseases, including cases
which require immediate medical intervention. In particular, up to
17% of the surveyed children have hearing problems caused by chronic
tonsillitis and otitis. In many cases, however, school
administrations were not able to provide relevant medical assistance
to the children due to the lack of qualified medical personnel and
absence of legal power to authorize specialized medical intervention.
In addition, the study indicates that out of 391 children 28 (7%)
were subjected to physical violence within their families, whereas 9
children (2%) were subjected to violence at the schools.
The assessment once again brings up the importance of regular
medical checkups of all children in special schools as well as the
need to revise curriculum in those institutions. Moreover, the
development of the state policy on early identification of childhood
disability and early intervention will lead to timely integration of
children with disabilities into the society, thus preventing many
children from being placed in special schools.

ArmenPress
Nov 18 2004
ARMENIAN GENETIC REGISTRY TO BE CREATED IN 2007
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Tamara Sarkisian, the director
of a National Academy of Sciences affiliated medical genetics
registry center, told Armenpress that the national genetic registry
will be set up in Armenia in 2007 that will allow to have the overall
genetic picture of Armenians. She said the center was officially
opened in 1999, though researches had been made since 1997.
She said genetic studies allow more precise diagnoses of
illnesses, their origin and to carry out preventive measures. The
center, the sole one in the region, was created with the assistance
of the government and international donor organizations. Tamara
Sarkisian said the center cooperates with counterpart organizations
in Europe, USA and Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Cambridge Chronicle, MA
Nov 18 2004
Green building comes to life for Tobin students
“Everybody walk up the stairs to the fourth floor,” called out Bill
Deignan, a city planner at the recently renovated City Hall Annex. As
they neared the top, a girl asked her friend, “Why can’t we take the
elevator? I’ve got asthma!”

After the eighth-graders from Tobin School had relaxed into the
conference room swivel chairs, they gazed up at the skylight and
learned about the solar panels hidden on the roof of this historic
building. “What if you have a meeting at night, do the lights still
go on?” one student asked.

They were clearly engaged and listened intently as Deignan
described how a “green building” meant there was less indoor air
pollution and was healthier for someone with asthma. Maybe the stairs
weren’t so bad after all.

For most of them, the Nov. 9 field trip was the first time they
had entered a “green building” and the first time they had been in
the office of someone working for their own government. These
students were learning about what makes their government tick as well
as the reality of energy efficiency and new technologies.

This field trip focused on energy use is part of a Sister City
program pairing Tobin School students with eighth-graders in Yerevan,
Armenia. The program received a Sustainable Development Seed Grant
from the State Department this year. Science teachers Tad Sudnick and
David Petty have been leading the study. Three groups of students
toured the building, applying what they had learned in science class.

They touched the sustainably harvested wood paneling on the
walls. “Cherry?” mused a boy. “Isn’t it supposed to be red? Maybe it
needs a little more oxygen.”

PanArmenian News
Nov 18 2004
AZERBAIJAN`S STATEMENTS ON INTENTION TO GET BACK TERRITORIES
BORDERING WITH KARABAKH NOT SERIOUS
BAKU, 18.11.04. A $30 million project called `The restoration of
freed territories` financed by the World Bank is being realized in
Azerbaijan. The project aims at the re-settlement of refugees and
forced migrants of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict period and is
carried out by the Agency for restoration and reconstruction of the
territories of Azerbaijan. Thus, against such a background,
Azerbaijani leadership`s statements on intention `to return` by force
the territories, which make a safety belt around NKR, sound rather
doubtfully.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 18 2004
NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF TURKEY PRESENTED COPY OF HIS
CREDENTIALS
[November 18, 2004, 15:44:51]
On November 16, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov has met the newly appointed ambassador of Turkey to the
country Mr. Turan Moral.
As is informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, having congratulated Turan Moral with appointment as
the ambassador to Azerbaijan, Minister E. Mammadyarov has expressed
hope that the diplomat would actively participate in the further
expansion of relations between two countries and achievement of high
level of these links. Speaking about successful development in all
areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Minister has
expressed gratitude for the support rendered by the brotherly country
to our republic in many spheres. Having dwelt on the power projects,
which are successfully carried out due to close cooperation of our
countries, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has emphasized confidence
that he relations established in other fields also would be
successful.
Having conveyed to Elmar Mammadyarov greetings of Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Turkey Abdullah Gul, Ambassador Turan Moral has state that
would use the best efforts for continuation and henceforth existing
between Azerbaijan and Turkey all-round and close cooperation. Having
emphasized boundless interest of the country to Azerbaijan, he has
noted, that Turkey supports integration of Azerbaijan into the
European structures.
Having expressed gratitude of brotherly Turkey for the support
rendered to our country in work, done on settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, and during the
discussions which have been carried out for inclusion in the agenda
of session of General Assembly of the United Nations Organization of
item `Situation on occupied territories of Azerbaijan’, Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov has expressed hope for efficiency of this help.
The ambassador has emphasized, that Turkey supports settlement of the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict within the framework of preservation of
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and according to norms of
international law.
In conclusion, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has accepted a copy of the
credentials of the ambassador, has wished him successes in the
further activity in our country.

AZG Armenian Daily
Nov 18 2004
ARMENIA WILL QUIT NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS
YEREVAN, 18.11.04. On November 16, RA Foreign Minister stated at the
parliament that the situation will totally change if Baku continues
its attempts to get adopted the formula on Nagorno Karabakh
settlement submitted to the UN and if the formula is adopted. In
fact, Azerbaijan will have to negotiate with Nagorno Karabakh, Vartan
Oskanian said.
According to `Regnum` agency, Oskanian said that either Armenia will
continue negotiations with Azerbaijan within the framework of the
OSCE Minsk group and in the context of the achieved agreements, or
Azerbaijan should conduct negotiations with Karabakh or with Armenia
with the participation of Karabakh`s side. Answering the question
whether a dead-end situation can occur in the negotiation process as
a result of the issue`s discussion at the UN, Oskanian said that
there can be unpredictable results.
Two days ago, RA President said no progress is observed because
Nagorno Karabakh representatives don`t participate in the negotiation
process and Baku wants to conduct negotiations with Armenia only.
That`s why he has to represent also the position of Karabakh in the
negotiation process. Kocharian emphasized that that is a wrong
negotiation format and doesn`t express the essence of the conflict.
Last time Nagorno Karabakh participated in the negotiation process
was in April of 1997 in Moscow (of course, if we don`t take into
consideration the periodical visits of the co-chairs to Stepanakert).
After that, the negotiation format changed and Stepanakert didn`t
participate in any negotiation. Recently, Yuri Merzliakov, Russian
co-chair of the OSCE Minks group, found it necessary that Nagorno
Karabakh should participate in the negotiations together with Turkey.
Bruce Jackson, Chairman of US Committee to Expand NATO, said: `I
don`t understand why Nagorno Karabakh doesn`t participate in the
conflict settlement talks.`
Armenia also finds it necessary for Karabakh to participate in the
negotiation, our country is even ready to quit the negotiation
process, but only in the case Baku tries to transfer the settlement
to other instances. If the negotiation process remains within the
framework of OSCE Minsk group, i.e. the so-called Prague process
begun as a result of Key West arrangements is continuing, the
participation of Karabakh is no primary.
Vladimir Kazimirov, Russia`s former representative in the settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh issue, in his last article dedicated to the UN
Formula N4 on Karabakh issue, adopted in 1993, strictly criticized
Azerbaijan that tries to pick up separate points from the settlement
package and seeks for their settlement at the UN, leaving aside the
essence of the conflict — Karabakh`s status. Kazimirov also
criticizes Armenia that replaces Nagorno Karabakh in the settlement
process and violates the true configuration of the conflict by that.
David Babayan, expert on Nagorno Karabakh settlement, noticed in the
interview that when the negotiation process is conducted by Armenia
only, it turns Nagorno Karabakh conflict into a territorial one and
`in this context we have very few opportunities to prove the
international community that we are right.` According to Babayan,
President Kocharian undertook the obligation to represent Karabakh
side, as the negotiations should be continued, but one can continue
them for the preservation of the process for some period, for a short
period and never forever.
`I believe that the only effective format that can give a push to the
settlement process, is when Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh conduct
negotiations. If the two sides don`t negotiate directly, then no
advance can be expected, as, finally, Karabakh should carry out the
arrangements,` the expert said.
Vahram Atanesian, chairman of NKR National Assembly`s Committee of
External Relations, as well as Babayan, is sure that the format that
existed before 1997 was not acceptable for Stepanakert and no
progress will be fixed, if they again apply it. It`s worth reminding
that before the April negotiations of 1997 Karabakh was included in
the negotiations as an interested side, according to the OSCE mandate
elaborated in Budapest. According to Azerbaijan, the representative
of the so-called Karabakh`s Azeri community also participated in the
negotiations as an interested side then.
`If we observe the issue in that aspect Armenia, Azerbaijan and NKR
should negotiate in a trilateral format when each of the sides will
have equal plenipotentiaries and obligations, this will be the most
desired version. As far as I know Baku doesn`t reject Karabakh`s
participation with the precondition that the so-called representative
of Karabakh`s Azeri community is included in the negotiation as well.
This format can create no full negotiation atmosphere, i.e. NKR`s
participation in the negotiations can`t be observed as an end in
itself. If the negotiation format is on the level of the presidents
of the sides in conflict, NKR president should participate in that
too,` Atanesian said.

Diario Armenia
November 4, 2004
Turquía celebra su independencia construida con el genocidio y la
usurpación de nuestros territorios
Miembros de Unión Juventud Armenia repudiaron la impunidad del
Estado turco en la celebración del aniversario de la creación de
esa republica.
`Ante una fuerte tormenta, el pesimista se queja del viento, el
optimista espera que cambie, el realista ajusta las velas’. En
Unión Juventud Armenia, hace tiempo que elegimos nuestro camino, el
camino de la protesta pacífica y efectiva, como vienen siendo los
pasados 24 de abril, y como lo serán también los próximos.
Esto se vio reflejado una vez mas el pasado viernes 29 de octubre,
fecha en que el estado turco, celebra el aniversario de la
fundación de la república de Turquía, supuestamente
occidental, moderna, y democrática.
A las 12:30 del mediod?ía, del día en cuestión, unos 30
jóvenes nos dirigimos a la residencia del embajador turco, donde
sorpresivamente desarrollamos una inteligente y efectiva actividad de
difusión de nuestra causa, y donde también manifestamos nuestro
rechazo ante la celebración de este acontecimiento de la negra
historia de Turquía.
Nuestras voces y los volantes que entregábamos, mostraban las
fuerza de nuestro reclamo en el siguiente slogan: `estado
turco… ¿y los derechos humanos? Un estado fundado sobre sangre
armenia.’
Muchos diplomáticos y representantes de distintas naciones del
mundo quedaron impactados con nuestra presencia en el lugar y todos
ahí miraban asombrados ante el incansable sonar de nuestro móvil
parlante, que repetía una y otra vez lo que nosotros queríamos
transmitir: `Nosotros jóvenes argentinos descendientes de armenios,
repudiamos hoy….’.
Algunas cosas de las ocurridas el pasado viernes, nos demuestran el
éxito de esta actividad. En primer lugar, la cobertura
periodística de la manifestación por parte de medios del
ámbito grafico, radial y televisivo, este ultimo repitiendo las
imágenes de nuestra manifestación durante el fin de semana
haciendo de público conocimiento las imágenes obtenidas por las
cámaras. En segundo lugar, la enorme cantidad de gente que
recibió nuestros folletos, tanto diplomáticos que ingresaban al
agasajo, como gente en la calle, o en sus automóviles, y que
también visualizaron nuestros carteles, o los llamativos
trípodes.
Por último en tercer lugar, el embajador de Turquía, nos
envío un comunicado, desde el interior de la residencia, por medio
del encargado de relaciones publicas de la embajada, en el cual nos
pedía que cesáramos con nuestra pacifica manifestación, ya
que entorpecíamos la normal ejecución del acto que puertas
adentro intentaban realizar. Por supuesto nuestra respuesta ante ese
pedido fue negativa.
Se demuestra una vez mas que ya no son válidos esos argumentos que
algunos en forma ridícula aun utilizan contra nosotros, alegando
que las manifestaciones de la juventud siempre terminan en violencia,
y que estas carecen de contenido.
Ponemos fin a esta carta esperando que cada vez mas gente apoye esta
causa justa, y deseando que nunca mas en estas tierras, ni en ninguna
otra, un armenio festeje al lado de un turco la fundación de la
republica genocida, hasta que Turquía no reconozca su crimen.
Unión Juventud Armenia de la Federación Revolucionaria Armenia
E-mail: [email protected]
(Diario Armenia 11/04/04)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress