Anadolu Agency
Oct 22 2004
Yakis: We Request Support Of Belgian MPs To Turkey’s EU Bid
Anadolu Agency: 10/22/2004
BRUSSELS – “We have asked Belgian parliamentarians to convince
deputies of other EU member states regarding Turkey`s EU membership
bid,“ said Yasar Yakis, chairman of the Turkish Parliamentary
Commission for Adjustment to the EU.
Yakis and accompanying delegation are currently in Belgium for a
working visit. Yakis told reporters, “we have met senators, deputies
and members of the European Parliament. We have expressed our
concerns about progress report which was published about Turkey by
European Commission on October 6th.“
Meanwhile, Sukru Elekdag, a member of the commission and a Republican
People`s Party (CHP) deputy, told reporters that leaving entry talks
open-ended would cause indefiniteness. He added, “we will have
difficulty in explaining the policies of the government to people.
This condition will affect Turkey`s foreign policy as well.“
Noting, “we are very uneasy about the possibility of permanent ban
on free movement of Turkish labor force,“ Elekdag said, “it is
against the philosophy of the Union.“
Upon a question, Elekdag and Yakis said that they wanted historians
to come together to research so-called Armenian genocide but
Armenians did not want to open their archives to researchers and
discuss them.

Armenianow.com
Oct 22, 2004
Interference: Radio Free Europe chief tells Kocharyan TV station was yanked
by “pressure”
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty President Thomas A. Dine today sent a letter
to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan this week, denouncing the
“Soviet-style” cancellation of the new RFE/RL Armenian Service news and
analysis program, “Azatutiun” by the private Armenian television station
Kentron. Dine urges President Kocharyan “to denounce this contemptible
Soviet-style act, and to help return “Azatutiun” to the air.”
In his letter, Dine asserts that he is “determined to get “Azatutiun” back
on the air and will make every effort to make that happen — including
raising this issue with the Bush Administration, the U.S. Congress, the
Council of Europe, and non-governmental organizations worldwide.”
“Azatutiun,” a new television program created by and featuring news and
analysis from RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, was abruptly pulled from the
schedule of the local Armenian television station “Kentron” on October 13,
three days after it debuted to rave reviews on Kentron. (See related story.)
Although the television station’s management has made no comment on the
decision, it is widely suspected that Kentron was pressured to suspend
further broadcasts of the program, either by official interests or local
media competitors.
The suspension of the “Azatutiun” program has been widely covered in the
Armenian press. On October 14, “Aravot” daily alleged that the head of
Armenian state television and radio, Aleksan Harutiunyan, was instrumental
in the ban because he wanted RFE/RL to lease airtime from his channel and
pay for it. Harutiunyan, in an interview published by “Aravot” on October
15, denied any involvement in the suspension of “Azatutiun”. In his letter
to President Kocharyan, however, Dine states that he has been “personally
informed that this cancellation was the result of pressure from a high-level
Armenian government official.”
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service broadcasts four hours of programming a day to
Armenia, produced in Prague and the service’s Yerevan Bureau and transmitted
to listeners via shortwave, satellite and FM, AM, Cable Radio, UKV and
long-wave signals provided by local affiliate stations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenianow.com
Oct 22, 2004
Faith Fight: Church goes on defensive against Jehovah’s Witnesses
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
The Armenian Apostolic Church appears to be mobilizing to stop the spread of
Jehovah’s Witnesses and other “sects” in Armenia.
On Tuesday (October 19), the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese hosted a roundtable
discussion to address concerns raised since Jehovah’s Witnesses became an
officially registered religious body in Armenia, October 8. (See related
story).
“The problem is not only the sect’s registration that has extremely
embarrassed the youth and us,” said Father Zohrab Kostanyan. “It is rather
the danger of sectarianism for our country.”
(According to information from the Armenian Apostolic Church, there are some
6 million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. Many beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses
are similar to traditional Christian religions. But they part from the
traditional faith on matters such as the Trinity. For related information:
; )
Officially, there are some 20,000 registered Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia.
Unofficially, the number is put at about 80,000 by the Apostolic Church.
Members of Armenia’s main Church are concerned about the “sect”.
“The Armenian Apostolic Church has 160 clergymen in Armenia,” Father
Kostanyan says. “And notwithstanding such a small number of clergymen and
very little funds, our Church, it could be said, works miracles. However in
this context we should be alert and attentive.”
The participants are sure that the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia
was growing underground while the sect was still illegal in Armenia. But
now, as Council of Europe requirements have forced the government to accept
a variety of faiths, traditional religious groups worry that sects will
spread more quickly and thoroughly.
Elza Manukyan, head of the press office of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese,
says that after the sect was given an official status, different layers of
the society have expressed their discontent.
“We were periodically receiving alarm calls about this problem from young
men, so we decided to make an arrangement and assemble everyone to find a
solution,” she says.
The roundtable was attended by representatives of more than a dozen
university student councils, various youth organizations and clergymen.
Jehovah’s Witnesses “do not accept the Church, think that man has no soul
and that the soul dies with the body and they put forward a number of such
arguments that totally refute the Armenian Apostolic Church and our creed,”
Manukyan says.
But the danger, according to Manukyan, from the activities of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses is their proselytizing. She says they go from one apartment to
another knocking at doors and alluring passers-by on streets and entice
these persons into their sect by ruining their families and life.
Theater Institute representative Emin Torosyan accused the Jehovah’s
Witnesses of espousing a belief that encourages suicide. “We should do our
best to protect especially the youth,” he said.
Hayk Akarmazian, representative of the Engineering University, says that
their student council has implemented certain programs aiming at directing
young people to be faithful to the traditional Armenian variant of
Christianity.
Karen Avagyan, representing the Medical University, says his council will
picket the Ministry of Justice to protest the registration of Jehovah’s
Witnesses.
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to pay special attention to the
provinces, where it believes residents are more vulnerable to proselytizing.
“Several phone lines will be on for giving comprehensive answers and
protecting the rights of people,” Manukyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger
Friday, October 22, 2004, #201 (0725)
Electricity imports set for October
By Christina Tashkevich
Georgia will be able to receive imported electricity from Armenia already
this October.
The negotiations on the imports of energy from Armenia are currently
underway, and according to the Minister of Energy Nika Gilauri, these
imports are necessary in order to avoid an energy crisis in the country.
Talking to reporters on Thursday, he added that imports should have been
started in November but the process was sped up because of the latest
sabotage on the high-voltage line Kartli-2.
“We want to make this winter much better for the population as far as
electricity supplies go,” said the minister. He adds there should not be any
problem of supplying Tbilisi with 24-hour light if not for some force majeur
situation.
On October 9 the Kartli-2 transmission line was knocked out of operation
because of an explosion that officials blame on saboteurs. To transfer
electricity from western Georgia to the east, officials have been forced to
use 200-kilovolt low transmission lines instead of the 500-kilovolt
Kartli-2.
Meanwhile the repairs on the Kartli-2 are underway. According to Shota
Maisuradze, the General Director of SakRusEnergo who is in charge of the
repairs, the line will be operational again in one week. “One tower of the
line is almost repaired, the other is half repaired,” he told journalists on
Thursday.
Gilauri is sure that the energy system needs full rehabilitation. “There has
not been a serious rehabilitation of the system which was working in force
majeur state,” he said adding there has already been four cases of sabotage
on the high voltage line in the last two months.
Currently the energy sector plans to provide Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Rustavi and
Zugdidi with better energy supply. “We can offer only eight-hour supply for
other regions of Georgia,” says Gilauri.
Meanwhile the government reports the sabotage group which attacked the
Kartli-2 line was eliminated by Georgian special forces. “We will secure the
system so that there is no other sabotage acts in Georgia,” President
Mikheil Saakashvili declared at a Wednesday briefing after announcing that
the group was captured.
Without mentioning where, when or how, President Saakashvili explained to
journalists that “trespassers” were destroyed by Georgian law-enforcers.
“The members of this gang planned to make the same type of sabotage along
other sections of the power line but our law-enforcers foiled their plans,”
Saakashvili said.
According to him, a special forces unit was sent to the whereabouts of
saboteurs, but “the gang members refused to surrender and opened fire.” As a
result of the gunfight, the group was forced to surrender.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPOINTS NUCLEAR WATCHDOG
A1+ web site
22 Oct 04
The Armenian Ecology Ministry will be responsible for
non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The government has decided to
fulfil Armenia’s commitments undertaken in line with an agreement with
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The minister of ecology has been instructed to set up a data registry
by 10 October 2004 in line with the requirements of an additional
protocol signed on 27 September 1997.

ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN PRESIDENTS SET TO COOPERATE WITH EU
Mediamax news agency
22 Oct 04
YEREVAN
The presidents of Armenia and Georgia, Robert Kocharyan and Mikheil
Saakashvili, today discussed coordination of the two countries’
efforts with the European Union within the framework of the Wider
Europe – New Neighbourhood policy.
Our special correspondent reports from Tbilisi that Kocharyan said
that the presidents had agreed to continue discussions of this issue
during tomorrow’s trip to Borjomi. “We want our cooperation with the
EU under the new programme to be efficient and not to be of a
declarative nature,” the presidents of the two states said.
In this context, the Armenian and Georgian leaders mentioned
cooperation of the South Caucasus countries with the Baltic countries
in the 3+3 format.

GEORGIAN, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS PRAISE BILATERAL RELATIONS, NOTE REGIONAL
ISSUES
Georgian State Television Channel 1, Tbilisi
22 Oct 04
Meeting in Tbilisi, the Georgian and Armenian presidents, Mikheil
Saakashvili and Robert Kocharyan, have discussed bilateral and
regional relations. Speaking at a joint news briefing there on 22
October, which was broadcast live by Georgian State TV, Saakashvili
said that Georgia, in the wake of the closure of the Georgian-Russian
border at Verkhniy Lars, should also be able to export to countries
other than Russia. Kocharyan urged a “pragmatic” solution to the issue
of railway traffic through Abkhazia. The two presidents also noted
that they would welcome “concrete” proposals and “real content” in the
European Union’s new neighbourhood initiative. The following is an
excerpt from the report on the joint briefing; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
(Presenter) A joint news briefing by the Georgian and Armenian
presidents has just started at the State Chancellery. We are about to
join the briefing live.
Good Georgian-Armenian relations
(Saakashvili, briefing in progress; all questions and answers in
Russian unless otherwise indicated) For us it was easier to travel to
the border (with Armenia, where the two presidents met today) than to
the airport. Sometimes we forget about distances.
I think that we had a very good meeting. We have a common
understanding on nearly the entire range of issues. We always come to
each other’s aid and this is very important. For example, since the
recent acts of sabotage against our main electricity transmission
lines we have been importing most of electricity from Armenia. Armenia
responded to our request very promptly and started to export
electricity to Georgia. We would like to simplify customs and border
procedures. (Passage omitted)
(Kocharyan) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen: First and foremost, I
would like to thank you for the invitation to visit Georgia. While
this is not my first visit to Georgia, every visit is extremely
important given the wide-ranging agenda of our relations. It is
becoming wider with every passing year.
We discussed very specific issues to do with our relations, and
focused primarily on economic, transport and energy issues. We also
talked about the harmonization of our laws, relations between the
customs departments, police bodies and other matters. (Passage
omitted)
Turkey constructive player in region
(Question) Armenian news agency Mediamax. Mr Saakashvili, you said in
Yerevan last March that you would discuss the prospects for the
restoration of rail traffic between Kars (Turkey) and Gyumri (Armenia)
during your planned visit to Turkey. This, naturally, would benefit
Georgia as well. However, there has been a lot of discussion recently
about the prospects for building a railway to link Kars and
Akhalkalaki (Georgia). Should we assume that the Turkish leadership is
refusing, at least at this stage, to discuss the prospects for the
restoration of a Kars-Gyumri service?
(Saakashvili) Our approach, not only towards Armenia but also to all
other international talks, including the talks in Turkey, has been
absolutely clear. We are for the opening of more communications, more
roads, more border checkpoints, because traditionally Georgia has been
at the crossroads of transport corridors, various cultures, various
trade routes and, what is very important, various human
contacts. Naturally, we do not welcome any restrictions.
Unfortunately, not everything is up to Georgia. Of course, there are
complex regional problems. I am sure that the Turkish leadership is
very constructive. This was my impression after all my talks with
Prime Minister (of Turkey Recep) Erdogan. They are firmly on the road
towards integration with the EU. Our experience of relations with them
has been exclusively positive. I have never heard them making any
aggressive statements about any one of the issues concerning their
neighbours. I think that the process of regional cooperation and the
opening of new roads are inevitable and we will have even more
opportunities to solve the problems that exist.
Naturally, there are historical problems, there are problems which
have accumulated in the region over recent times, but I think that
there is a trend towards their resolution, not the emergence of new
problems or the preservation of status quo. In this respect, Georgia
is ready to play a positive role everywhere, at all levels, at all
forums, both multilateral and bilateral. This is what I can say.
Georgians should also export to countries other than Russia
(Question) Rustavi-2 TV. I have a question to both Mr Saakashvili and
Mr Kocharyan. The question concerns the Larsi section (Verkhniy Lars
checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border), which has been closed for
quite some time. This is creating problems for both Georgians and
Armenians.
Did you discuss the issue today? In your view, how can this problem be
resolved? And was it a mere coincidence that Russia reopened the
border today?
Robert Sedrakovich (Kocharyan), we know that you spoke to Russian
President Vladimir Putin yesterday. Did you touch on this issue? Thank
you.
(Kocharyan) Sometimes there are pleasant coincidences which may not
have happened by chance. I think that the opening of this road means
that the tension in North Ossetia, caused by the Beslan events, has
subsided. I think that this step (the closure of the border) was a
result of the tension in North Ossetia.
(Saakashvili) I think this did not happen by chance. I think that
today’s visit by the president of Armenia and our meeting coincided
with the opening of this road. (Sentence as heard)
At the same time, we must know that (changes tack) – of course we want
Russia to resolve all its problems concerning the North
Caucasus. However, the Georgian exporters, as well as all the others,
must diversify their markets. (Switches to Georgian)
Our side of the border will open in half an hour and traffic in the
direction of Russia will resume. However, everyone should remember the
lesson we have learnt in recent months. We must realize that should
problems of this sort arise, all Georgian exporters, all Georgian
businesses should be ready to search for alternative markets, with the
state’s help. Of course, we should also preserve the Russian market,
as we cannot be dependant on only one market forever.
Our independence, our freedom, our independent course and our
wellbeing require that we, together with our friends, learn to work on
all other markets, while maintaining good relations with
Russia. (Passage omitted: repeats the same in Russian; Kocharyan says
all parties have suffered because of the closure)
(Kocharyan) One may see something bad behind this fact (border
closure), but one may also try to find an explanation in the present
situation, the present concerns which I have mentioned. I am inclined
not to dramatise the situation and I would not like to see this sort
of thing happen again. I want roads to operate in a normal way. The
more roads there are, the better. If there was a Turkish road across
the Armenian border, everything in the region would have been
excellent.
Georgia to build new road to Javakheti region
(Question) Armen Akopyan, correspondent of the (Armenian) newspaper
Ayots Ashkhar. I have a question to Mr Saakashvili. Mr President, it
is well known that many Armenians live in Georgia, especially in
Javakhk (predominantly Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda
districts in Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti Region). It is also well
known there are difficult economic conditions in this region: shortage
of jobs, damaged highways. Does the Georgian leadership have a
programme for the economic and social development of Javakheti? By the
way, when are you going to visit this region?
(Saakashvili) First of all, I am indeed indebted to the population of
Javakheti who provided great support to me in the (January 2004)
presidential election. My wife has already been there seven or eight
times, but unfortunately I have not been able to go there. However, I
am going to pay a good visit. I do not want to go anywhere with empty
hands. We have been talking to donors, to the countries which have
been supporting us, and I think that we will be able to obtain money
for building a new road to Akhalkalaki. This is very important for us,
both economically and politically. We already have enough money from
the World Bank to build half of this road, and its construction is set
to begin next year. As regards the other half, we have got several
concrete promises. I think that this road should be built within the
next two years, so that the population gets access to all markets and
the region is integrated economically.
It is also very important for us that the region should maintain close
ties with border areas of Armenia and with Armenia in general, but, at
the same time, the region should be economically successful in
relation to the whole country (Georgia), and the road is the key to
this. This is one of the priorities of my presidential term. I think
that our citizens who live in Javakheti are very talented people, very
interesting people in their attitude towards business and
entrepreneurship. I would like to say that many of them work in Russia
on various construction sites where especially skilled workers are
required. We would like these people to work in Georgia. We would like
to see local businesses (of Javakheti) to expand throughout
Georgia. We would like these people to take part in various regional
projects. However, the journey from there to Tbilisi is three times
longer than it should be. This is absolutely inappropriate, of
course. Once again, I would like to note that despite its isolation
and unfavourable climate, local people there have still managed to
build good hotels, good shops, a good network of cafes, and they are
managing well. I do not think that this is an achievement of the
Georgian government, I think that this is an achievement of their
talent. If we open our doors for this talent to reach the whole
country and international projects, I think that not only this
population but also the whole of Georgia will have many good
prospects. (Passage omitted)
No disagreements in border demarcation work
(Question) Armenian newspaper Azg, this is a question to both
presidents. When will the process of demarcation of the
Georgian-Armenian border begin? Have you discussed this issue? Could
this issue lead to some disputes, so to speak, between Georgia and
Armenia? Thank you.
(Kocharyan) It is better to ask when this work will be finished, not
when it will begin. There was agreement in principle and we should
have finished the work this year. There have been changes on the
Georgian side of this commission. The Georgian representative was sent
to Poland as ambassador, if I am not mistaken, and a new person will
be appointed. I think we will work in a normal manner and we will be
able to finish this work next year. So far, there have been no painful
issues in the commission’s work which could lead to serious
disagreements. It is possible to resolve these issues in a normal,
calm and working atmosphere.
(Saakashvili) For the past two thousand years, Armenia and Georgia
have had no territorial claims against each other (smiles), and I
think this will remain as it has been.
Cooperation with Baltic states and Europe in general
(Question) Malkhaz Oniani, Channel One of Georgian Television. Mr
President Kocharyan, do you share the Georgian president’s initiative
about a three-plus-three format regarding cooperation between the
Baltic and South Caucasus countries? And my second question is this:
Have you discussed the issue of reopening railway traffic between
Armenia and Russia through Abkhazia? Thank you.
(Kocharyan) As regards the first part of your question, we began
discussion of our coordinated activities within the framework of the
European Union’s new initiative about new neighbourhood. We agreed to
continue this discussion tomorrow because it requires some
brainstorming. This policy has been declared, but it has not been
formulated what it means specifically. Right now, the process of
formulating this concept is under way. We should be able to play a
certain role in this too. I think that the concept of the new
neighbourhood should be fully fledged, it should not be just a
declaration about new neighbours, there should be some real content.
As regards the three-plus-three idea, if I’m not mistaken it was
declared in the same context – that the Baltic republics could act as
lobbyists in the formulation of this concept of new neighbours. We are
ready to cooperate with them. We will continue the discussion of this
issue with the president of Georgia today and tomorrow. However, I am
not sure that the three Baltic republics themselves have reached a
consensus in this respect. Two years ago, there was no full agreement
there, among them.
(Saakashvili) We talked about this issue. This issue is about regional
cooperation. We are not talking about some radical political platform
or a formal international organization, but I think the South Caucasus
countries will reach an agreement on this issue, and Robert
Sedrakovich (Kocharyan) has confirmed this. As regards agreement among
the Baltic countries, Lithuania has assured us that they have already
reached agreement. So, we have made steps forward. We are interested
in concrete issues. We are members of the European Union’s new
neighbourhood. What will we gain from this? What will each country
gain from this, with respect to tariffs and preferential treatment? I
want to know specifically when we will be exporting Georgian wine to
Poland. Will it be subject to three times more taxes than now? Or will
it be subject to a preferential tariff, which it should be? We will
certainly be able to agree on this if we create certain formats of
regional cooperation. Therefore, I think that the initiative was
timely. We see pragmatic aspects of this initiative for the
development of our economies. (Passage omitted)
Armenia calls for restoration of railway traffic through Abkhazia
(Kocharyan) Your second question was about railway traffic. In
general, we discussed questions related to railway traffic in the
South Caucasus. There are certain ideas in this respect, but I do not
want to talk about them now because they are only raw ideas. These are
ideas about possible cooperation of all railways, maybe cooperation in
some structural forms.
We did not discuss this (Abkhazia) section specifically, but I can
tell you what my point of view on this is, taking into account
Georgia’s concerns as well. In principle, the more lines are in
operation, the better it is for all of us. As regards the Abkhazia
section specifically, this section is working between Abkhazia and
Russia. So, if it is working there, the absence of any through traffic
is simply disadvantageous for both you and us, which makes no sense.
I think that, taking into account all difficulties and all concerns, a
pragmatic attitude would be useful, although I understand that this is
complicated. This is a question for Georgia to decide.
(Saakashvili) Thank you. I think there will be more possibilities (to
ask questions) during the next few days. Thank you once again, and
special thanks to our guests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ERDOGAN SPEAKS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WITHOUT PUTTING “SO-CALLED”
This Fact Sets Him Apart Among Turkish MPs
Azg/am
23 Oct 04
Turkish printed media informs in October 22 issues that Turkish Prime
Minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech at the press conference of the
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris turned
into a dispute because of French-Armenian and foreign journalists’
questions on Armenian Genocide.
Before passing on the questions we want to mention about a rally
organized by around 25 Armenians at the OECD office in
Paris. Armenians left only after the French police intervened.
The questions of Irish Dublin Times newspaper and Paris’ Armenian Ayb
Ben radio station are to be singled out. The Irish paper’s
correspondent asked PM Erdogan about Turkish penal code’s 305 article
according to which all those requiring acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide or withdrawal of Turkish forces from Cyprus will receive 5
year sentence.
Interrupting questioner Erdogan said that the penal code supposes no
such sentence. But the journalist insisted asking: “In your view, is
the demand for Armenian Genocide’s acknowledgment a punishable act?”
Erdogan replied: “Turkey does not bother about the Armenian
genocide. Genocide allegations are to be resolved by historians, not
parliaments”.
Irish journalist’s question was noted by Aksham, other newspapers,
Hyuriet, Sabah and Zaman touch on the questions put by Paris’ Armenian
radio. The latter ones prescribe the question to a French
journalist. In fact, they didnâ=80=99t know that he was Armenian
radio’s correspondent. Aksham writes that the Armenian journalist
didn’t mention his name while asking the question.
He asked: “You are the first Turkish MP who doesn’t say the
â=80=98so-called’ when referring to the Armenian Genocide. Can we
consider this a step towards Genocide recognition?” In the meantime,
the French-Armenian journalist tried to find out if erection of
monuments to Taleat pasha, one of masterminds of Armenian Genocide,
does not disagree with Erdogan’s supposed approach to it.
Donald Johnston, general secretary of the OECD interrupted saying: “It
is a propaganda”. MP Erdogan, nevertheless, answered the question,
according to Aksham.
He underscored that Turkey has negative attitude neither towards
Armenia nor the Armenians of Turkey. “There are many Turkish citizens
of Armenian descent in my party. Armenians have 58 churches and 57
national educational establishments in Turkey. All of them are
functioning. We do not complain of Armenians, and they have been
tremendously supportive in Turkey’s EU bid. You have no right of
dictating from outside. Let’s contribute to the development of
friendly ties instead of creating hostility. Turkey has opened an air
corridor to Armenia, and 4 planes land in Istanbul weekly. Try to have
positive look at everything”.
By Hakob Chakrian

NEW HOSPITAL IN STEPANAKERT
Azg/am
23 Oct 04
The pediatric isolation hospital reopened in Stepanakert yesterday. It
was built in 1996 and was to be changed into a republican hospital in
2002. But hospital was not operating normally because of lack of
necessary devices and the bad state of the building.
American-Armenians Caroline and George Najarian (Boston) and Albert
Ara Manukian (Los Angeles) financed hospital’s rebuilding
project. Samvel Hakobian, a businessman from Artsakh also supported
the project. This was perhaps the first case when a local joined
Diaspora Armenians in rebuilding Artsakh.
President of Artsakh Arkady Ghukasian noted at the hospital’s opening
ceremony that Samvel Hakobian set a good example for other
businessmen. Referring to the problems that health services of Artsakh
face, President Ghukasian said that the authorities make every effort
to solve all the problems in the sphere within short period. Arkady
Ghukasian mentioned the new hospital which us currently being built as
well as the gynecological clinic opened in Stepanakert.
By Kim Gabrielian from Stepanakert

NKR PRESIDENT MEETING
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
22 Oct 04
On October 20 NKR president Arkady Ghukassian met with the members of
the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union headed by the
British MP of the House of Commons Gordon Marsden. During the meeting
Arkady Ghukassian emphasized that the visit of the British members of
parliament is a good opportunity for the government and the people of
Nagorni Karabakh to convey to the international community their
position and true information on the developments taking place in the
republic. The president presented the British parliamentarians with
the achievements of NKR in the sphere of protection of human rights
and in building democratic state based on the rule of law. At the same
time Arkady Ghukassian emphasized the importance of providing
necessary conditions for the activity of the non-governmental sector
of the republic as one of the important links in a civil
society. Speaking about the standpoint of official Stepanakert on the
main principles of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, Arkady
Ghukassian said the NKR government is for inadmissibility of
resumption of military actions and security of the population. At the
same time the president confirmed the commitment of the authorities to
further economic developmentof the republic and achievement of a
decent life for the people of Nagorni Karabakh. According to him, this
will by all means have a positive effect on the promotion of
democratic processes in the republic. Gordon Marsden said the visit of
the British group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to Nagorni Karabakh
allowed getting more precise information on the life in the
republic. At the same time, according to Mr. Marsden, the aim of the
visit was to determine the possibilities of the international
organizations’ aid for settlement of humanitarian problems and
development of democracy and civil society in Nagorni Karabakh.
AA.
22-10-2004