PARTY LEADER READY TO UNITE WITH ARMENIAN
NATIONAL PARTY
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22. ARMINFO. party’s
leader Paruyr Hayrikyan didn’t exclude the possibility of the
unification with Armenian National Party. Paruyr Hayrikyan himself
stated at the press-conference, Friday.
According to Hayrikyan, he is ready to unite with any party with whom
< Self-determination unity> party will find common
interests. Concerning the issue on the registration of religious organization, he noted that the organization is
not mentioned in law violations in Armenia. At the same time, the
Government must exercise severe control over its activity. Referring
to his favorite theme of the negative influence of Russia on Armenia,
P. Hayrikyan reminded that he is the opponent of Russian imperialism,
which reemerged with occupying the President’s
office. He mentioned that Russia’s ex-President Boris Yeltsin’s policy
included some democratic elements. What democratic elements the matter
concerned, when the whole world was witnessing Russia’s collapse,
P. Hayrikyan preferred not to go into details.
During the press-conference Hayrikyan informed that he will take part
in the international conference , which will take place 30-31, October, 2004 in
Tbilisi. He will make a 15-minute report. According to P. Hayrikyan
there will be representatives from Georgia, Germany, Great Britain and
other European countries at the conference.-A-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, FRENCH DIPLOMAT DISCUSS KARABAKH
Arminfo, Yerevan
22 Oct 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul Markaryan yesterday received
Jean Francois Terral, director of the French Foreign Affairs
Ministry’s European Department.
The press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told our news
agency that the sides at the meeting discussed development of
relations between Armenia and France, including prospects for settling
regional conflicts. Markaryan informed the diplomat of the existing
situation in the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement and thanked him for the
balanced position of France.
The deputy minister rated highly the contribution made by France as a
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group to the establishment of stability in
the region.

GibrahayerGIBRAHAYER
e-newsletter
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TURKS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST EURO-ARMENIAN CONVENTION IN BRUSSELS
– More than 200 delegates from 20 countries participate
– Cyprus delegation raises Melkonian and MagaraVank issues
Gibrahayer – 20 October, 2004 – Brussels, Nicosia: More than 200
Euro-Armenian delegates gathered in the European Parliament in Brussels, to
send a message of unity, regarding the Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
and Turkey’s EU accession possibilities.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks by European
Armenian Federation chairwoman Hilda Tchoboian and Armenia’s Deputy Foreign
Minister Ruben Shugarian, and messages by Cathoicoi Karekin II and Aram I,
as well as Patriarch Nerses-Bedros XIX.
Issues on the agenda were Armenian Culture and Identity in Europe,
EU-Armenia Relations and the Challenges of the Enlargement Process. Keynote
speakers included representatives of European institutions and Euro-Armenian
politicians and intellectuals. Discussions often drew the active
participation of MEP’s.
Participants underlined the necessity forGenocide recognition,
respect toward the country’s non-Muslim minorities and withdrawal of Turkish
troops from Cyprus to be addressed before the member-states of the EU could
grant Turkey “the” date.
Cyprus Delegation
The Cyprus delegation was one of the first to address the Convention, with
Dr. Antranik Ashdjian of ANC Cyprus highlighting the need for action against
the destruction of Armenian heritage in Turkish-occupied Cyprus and Massis
Der Partogh of the Melkonian Alumni stressing the need to stop the closure
and subsequent sale of the Melkonian Institute.
A Cypriot delegation visited the Cyprus Permanent Mission, and
briefed about the conclusions of the Convention. The entire delegation was
also received by Cypriot MEP Ioannis Kassoulides, at his office on the 8th
floor of the Europarliament.
Turks and Azeris angered by Armenian presence
In response to the Convention, Turks and Azeris staged a protest meeting
outside the European Parliament building, a few hours after the convention
called upon EU bodies not to give in to vivid Turkish propaganda aiming to
convince for a positive decision at the December 17 EU Heads of State
summit.
The Cyprus delegation returned to the island on Wednesday.
CHRISTOFIAS ON OFFICIAL VISIT IN ARMENIA
Gibrahayer – 21 October, 2004 – Nicosia: – The Cyprus delegation – visiting
Armenia under House President Demetris Christofias – met with the President
of Armenia Robert Kocharian as well as Prime Minister Antranik Margarian and
President of the National Assembly Arthur Baghdassarian in Yerevan. Demetris
Christofias is being accompanied by a representatives of members of
Parliament, great friends and warriors of the Armenian people Dr.Eleni
Theocharous and Honourary President of EDEK Socialist Party of Cyprus
Dr.Vassos Lyssarides. Joining the delegation are Democratic Party
Vice-President Nicos Kleanthous and AKEL Press Secretary Andros Kyprianou.
In Yerevan, Demetris Christofias characterised the tiesbetween Cyprus
and Armenia “not friendly but more than brotherly” and highlighted the
similarity of the history of the people of Cyprus and the people of Armenia,
noting that ”we are two victimized people that through our struggle to
survive we have developed a high sense of solidarity and love for the
individual and of justice”.
The delegation visited the Genocide Memorial at Dzidzernagapert on
Tuesday where Christofias declared that if Turkey wants to join the EU they
must recognise the Armenian Genocide.
Armenian government officials expressed the desire to follow the path
of Cyprus toward European integration to which Christofias affirmed Cyprus’s
commitment to help Armenia to that end.
CYPRUS THREATENS TO USE VETO AGAINST TURKEY
EU Observer:-Cyprus has raised the spectre of voting against Turkey when EU
leaders gather in December to decide whether to open membership negotiations
with Ankara.
President Tassos Papadopoulos told Cyprus television onMonday (11
October) that Cyprus reserved the right to use its veto. “We will decide on
the matter in December” said Mr Papadopoulos. He added that he knew that a
small country like Cyprus resorting to the veto would be “no easy thing”.
German newspaper Die Welt quotes Cypriot diplomats as saying that it
would be impossible for Nicosia to accept the opening of EU talks with
Ankara so long as it does not recognise one of the 25 member states.
At the moment, Turkey recognises only Turkish Northern Cyprus as a
state – and at the same time it refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus
as a state.
Turkish papers quote Greek president Costis Stefanopoulos as saying
that Athens would support Turkey’s EU membership but that there were
obligations it had to fulfill under international law. “Under international
law, first Turkey needs to recognize Greek Cyprus”, said Mr Stefanopoulos.
Turkey wants changes to Commission report Turkey also has issues on
another front. A spokesperson for the Turkish government on Monday demanded
that changes be made to the recently published report by the European
Commission on opening EU negotiations with Ankara. Turkey is objecting both
to the phrasing that the negotiations have an open end and to the fact that
permanent curbs to the freedom of movement of workers have been suggested.
Debate but no vote in France Meanwhile, in France, the discussion about
Turkey continues to rage. On Monday, it was decided that French MPs will
hold a parliamentary debate on Turkey, but will not vote on the issue. The
debate will take place on Thursday (14 October) and threatens to split many
parties, including the ruling UMP party. Mr Chirac has tried to reassure
French voters – hostile to Turkey – by saying that France could apply its
veto on Turkey whenever it wanted.
ARMENIAN ARCHBISHOP ASSAULTED BY SPITTING JEW JERUSALEM
(Combined Sources)An altercation that started when a yeshiva student spat at
the cross being carried by Armenian Archbishop in Israel Nourhan Manougian
during a procession near the Holy Sepulcher on Sunday, has exposed growing
tensions between traditional Christian denominations and religious Jews in
Jerusalem’s Old City.
The student, Zvi Rosenthal, not only spat at the cross but also at
Manougian himself; Manougian reacted by slapping the yeshiva student.
The incident developed into a brawl during which Manougian’s ceremonial
medallion, which has been used by Armenian archbishops since the 17th
century, broke.
Both Archbishop Manougian and the yeshiva student were detained for
questioning. Police are now considering whether to initiate criminal
proceedings against the Armenian archbishop and to charge him with assault.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked much anger among the clergy of the small
Armenian community in Jerusalem.
Religious Jews, among them yeshiva students, customarily spit on the
ground as a sign of disgust on seeing the cross. The Armenians, who live
adjacent to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, suffer from this phenomenon
more than any of the other Christian sects in the Old City.
Manougian says he and his colleagues have already learned to live with
it. “I no longer get worked up by people who turn around and spit when I
pass them by in the street; but to approach in the middle of a religious
procession and to spit on the cross in front of all the priests of the sect
is humiliation that we are not prepared to accept,” he notes.
A policeman is customarily posted to guard the Armenians’ religious
processions, but doesn’t generally do anything to prevent the spitting. The
Armenians took the matter up with Interior Minister Avraham Poraz some seven
months ago, but nothing has been done about until now.
“The Israeli government is anti-Christian,” Manougian charges. “It
cries out in the face of any harm done to Jews all over the world, but is
simply not interested at all when we are humiliated on an almost daily
basis.”
“Incidents like these aim at ridding Jerusalem of its Christian and
Muslim populations in order to emphasize the city’s Jewish character,”
emphasized Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia Aram I.
Lawmaker Rabbi Michael Melchior (Labor Party) says the phenomenon
should be tackled through educational means. “I would expect prominent
figures among the religious and ultra-Orthodox sectors, such as the chief
rabbis, to denounce this phenomenon,” he says.
Yassir Arafat, leader of the Palestinian National Authority, condemned
the Israeli attack on Archbishop Manougian. Arafat held a telephone
conversation with the Archbishop inquiring about his health following the
unwarranted assault.
TATIANA’S CORNER
This space is reserved for local artist Tatiana Ferahian’s comic strips
which are amalgamations of Armenian-Cypriot social commentaries, painted
with her usual wry and ironic humour, to stimulate and encourage awareness
and interest toward our community’s everyday happenings.
NEWS IN BRIEF
* Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has denied in a newspaper
interview any plans to return three or four regions to Azerbaijan in return
for concessions on Karabakh.
* Armenian Catholicos Garegin II said he was to make a visit to Moscow to
join the Armenian community of Moscow in celebrating the 75th birthday of
Russian Patriarch Alexy II.
* The Youth Movement of Dashnaktsoutiun together with over 300 organizations
participated in the third European Socialist Forum (ESF) in London, October
15-17. a delegation of the Socialist Youth Movement of EDEN also
participated from Cyprus.
* The Armenian and Cyprus Football National Football teams lost at home to
the Czech Republic and France 0-2 and 1-3 respectively for the
qualifications of the World Cup 2006.
* Armenia registered the Jehovah’s Witnesses on Wednesday, allowing the
religious group to operate after years of debate and denial.
* 783 Azerbaijanis are currently held in captivity and as hostages in
Armenia according to Eldar Samadov, acting chairman of the working group of
the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.
* Karabakh PM Anushavan Daniyelyan is in the USA on a working visit. The
main purpose of his visit is to help organize the coming telethon aiming at
fund raising to assist the NKR, and especially to complete North-South
highway in Nagornyy Karabakh. On Monday Daniyelyan met with representatives
of Dashnaktsoutiune’s Western Central Committee members in a meeting that
span over two hours.
* The Armenian Cause Committee of France has filed a lawsuit against the
Turkish consul of Paris for statements posted on the consulate’s website.
Turkey must resolve differences with its neighbor Greece especially over the
divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus before it can join the European
Union, Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos said Sunday.
* Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Armenian FM Vardan Oskanian said
Turkey does not deserve that the European Union begin accession talks with
that country.
SUPPORT HAY TAD ACTIVITIES IN CYPRUS
To support its political activities, The Armenian National Committee of
Cyprus has organised a raffle, participants of which will have the
opportunity to win Armenian Commemorative Coins depicting themes from
ancient Armenian history. A block costs £50.00 ($100 for our international
readers).
Your support will enable the local chapter of our enthusiastic political
action group to materialise its multidimensional political agenda, in
promoting Hay Tad activities both in Cyprus and in Europe.
You can make your contribution to the following account:
Armenian National Committee of Cyprus
P.O.Box 21171 – Nicosia 1503 – Cyprus
Hellenic Bank: account Number 122-01-039699-01
IBAN: CY88 0050 0122 0001 2201 0396 9901
g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r
* Armenian Relief Society “Sosse” Chapter Fund Raising Tea for the ARS
Armenia Projects on Sunday 28 November, 2004 at The Holiday Inn Hotel at
4:00 p.m. Handicraft, Lebanese cookies and home made delicacies on sale.
Proceeds to the “Sosse” Kindergarten of Stepanakert – Republic of Karabagh.
* Melkonian Cyprus Alumni Banquet.Sunday, November 7, 2004 – 1pm
“Christiana” Reception Hall, Alambra. Guest of Honour: Jack R. Melkonian,
grand-nephew of Garabed Melkonian. CYP 15.00 adults / CYP 5.00 students and
children. Prizes included on entrance ticket and raffle tickets. Contact
names for reservations to be announced. Directions to “Christiana” and
convoys will be arranged. All are welcome.
* California Alumni Dinner banquet Oct. 30, 2004. Details to be announced.
* AYF Badanegan Miaoutian get-togethers begin on Saturday October 16,2004
and will continue every Saturday starting from 4:00 p.m. Contact Vartoog
Karageulian on 24-659245.
* AYMA Chicco Football practices have begun and are taking place every
Friday from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. for children starting from the age of 7.
Contact Krikor Mahdessian on 99650897.
* AYMA Table Tennis practices have also begun two weeks ago. They will
continue this Saturday 16 October 6:00 – 8:00 p.m and every Saturday
throughout the season, under the expert guidance of ex-Cyprus Champion
Sirvart Costanian. Classes and practice session for all ages.
* AYMA Football team practices are taking place every Tuesday and Thursday
from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. A.Y.M.A. will be participating in the Second Division
Amateur Football League and will be bidding for the Championship Title and
subsequent promotion to Division One. The Championship begins on Saturday
November 20, 2004.
* A.G.B.U Women’s Auxiliary Body. Armenian Food Bazaar. Sunday 14 November,
2004 starting from 12:00 lunch time at AGBU club premises.
* Bible Study Group Organised by The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus. The
Group got together on Wednesday 13 October 2004, at the Sourp Asdvadzadzin
Church on Armenia street, Nicosia. To receive further details please call
Elise at the Prelature office on 22 493560 or email [email protected]
* This October the Pharos Trust, in cooperation with the Brazilian
Consulate, is proud to present a month of Brazilian Culture in Nicosia.
Through film, photography, literature, music and performance art, the Trust
offers audiences in Cyprus rare opportunities to experience the spirit,
history, culture and diversity of this vast and unique country. You can
subscribe to receive the e-newsletter of The Pharos Trust at
* StHilarion – Lapithos – Kyrenia BIKE RIDE Sunday October 24,organised by
Micromania. Meeting point: Ledra Palace, Turkish checkpoint. Meeting time:
9:00 am. Bus leaves: 9:30 am. Bus arrives St Hilarion: 10:00 am. Riding
time: approx 2 ½ hours from St.Hilarion to Lapithos & then to the beach.
Riding distance: approx 20 km. Bring with you: passport, water, helmet ,
swim wear. Cost of bus and food + one drink: Between £10- £12 per person
depending on how many turn up. Bus leaves the beach: 3 pm Bus arrives back:
3:30 pm. Age limit: 12+. First come first serve, so book your seats early
!! Please contact Ricky or Baret (Duke) Bedelian on: 22-661517 ,
99-433972.
* If you happen to be in London on Friday, 12th November don’t miss this
Back to Hye Skool Party. Time: 8pm-1am. Venue: The ultra-hip & funky
Babushka 41 Tavistock Crescent, Notting Hill, W11 1AD. Tix: £5 before
10:30pm, £7 after, Age: Strictly 18+ (No ID? No HYE party) Tube:Westbourne
Park (Hammersmith & City) – 1 min walk Notting Hill Gate (Central, District
& Circle) – 5 min ride (#27, 28 & 328 buses on Pembridge Road opposite
WHSmith outside station). Music:DJ Josey Kray & FBI Squad playing old skool
tunes, as well as the freshest tracks, Armenian and more. Xtra: Quality
prizes for the best dressed skool boy and skool girl. New surprises in store
for all. Contact: Raffi 07958 137 702, John 07961 166 969 [email protected]
* Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation can be heard
via real audio on . Broadcast times 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus
time (14:00-15:00 GMT) News bulletins at 17:15 local time on Sundays,
Tuesdays, Fridays. Armenian Cypriots can also tune in on the following radio
frequencies 91.1 FM (Mount Olympus – for Nicosia listeners) 94.2 FM
(Paralimni/Protaras/Agia Napa) 92.4 FM (Larnaca) 96.5 FM (Paphos).
The Armenian Prelature announces that the next permit for the Armenian
Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is scheduled for
Sunday 25 October,2004
* Every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. (Cyprus time +2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito,
Puzant Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blues” together with Robert
Camassa. You can also hear it on Real Audio from the Internet edition of
CyBC on . A repeat program can also be heard seven hours
later at 2:00 a.m. local time.
* The Hairenik Association, Inc. launched its online Armenian Radio
Station.You can now listen to a variety of Armenian music online, 24 hours a
day, combined with news and other interesting information about the Armenian
community in the US, Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk and the Armenian Diaspora.
To listen to the Hairenik Online Radio go to the RADIO button then click on
your player of choice.
Launch Hairenik Radio in your preferred Player 24 hours of non-stop Armenian
music and programs on the internet
. . . . . News . . . . . ANC hour . . . . . Song dedications . . . . . Youth
discussions . . . . . Game Shows . . . . . Interviews . . . . . Religious
programs . . . . . Cultural programs . . . . . History . . . . .
Gibrahayer, is an independent electronic environment, now in its fifth year,
disseminating news & posting upcoming events about the Armenian community of
Cyprus, Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. The list also promotes the
discussion of issues brought forward by its members. The subscription to
this service is free. To subscribe to Gibrahayer e-newsletter, follow the
instructions at To contact the
listmaster send an email to [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERVIEW-Russia brewer lures exotica-loving foreigners
By Julie Tolkacheva
MOSCOW, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Russian brewer Baltika, the top beer
producer in a land better known for vodka, plans to add Iraq and Cuba
to its export map next year as it continues to attract new overseas
fans, Baltika’s exports head told Reuters.
“There are quite a lot of people who like to taste new brands,”
Baltika Director for Exports Dmitry Kistev said in a telephone
interview late on Thursday.
“They are attracted by the unusual link of ‘beer and Russia’,” Kistev
said of Baltika’s typical customer.
The St Petersburg-based company, jointly owned by Carslberg
and Scottish & Newcastle, plans to raise its export volumes to 180
million litres next year from just 41 million litres in 2001 when it
began shipping abroad.
“Initially, exports were just the acknowledgment of the quality of our
beer,” Kistev said. “But when Russian market growth started to slow in
2001, we had to look for new markets.”
In 2001, export volumes accounted for 1 percent of Baltika’s overall
sales, but the company hopes to raise that to 6.5 percent this year
and 9 percent in 2005.
The ultimate goal is to export 15-18 percent of production, Kistev
said.
EXOTIC COUNTRIES
Russia’s biggest beer exporter, which has recently started deliveries
to New Zealand, sells the amber liquid in 35 countries. It plans to
enter markets in Brazil, Cuba, India and Iraq next year.
“We think that military operations will continue next year,” he said
of Iraq, adding that Baltika hoped mainly to supply coalition forces
with its beer.
“It will be Baltika No. 9, our strongest beer with 8 percent alcohol
content. We already have orders, maybe deliveries will start even this
year.”
Baltika will also sell Baltika No.0, its alcohol-free beer, for the
local Iraqi population.
The United States — Baltika’s biggest market — should consume 1.5
million litres this year and double that next year.
“China should show a similar result next year,” Kistev said.
Brazil will drink 360,000 litres of Baltika beer in 2005.
The only market where Baltika faces major problems is ex-Soviet
Georgia, whose authorities jailed the head of Baltika’s local
distributor for 3 months on accusations that the company had not paid
excise charges. Baltika denies this.
“We have been forced to stop sales to Georgia,” Kistev said. Baltika
used to deliver beer to Armenia via Georgia, but will now have to
consider transportation through Iran, where Baltika also sells
alcohol-free beer.
Baltika also plans to launch production outside Russia, primarily in
the CIS countries.
“There are such plans and we are holding talks,” he said without
elaborating.
10/22/04 03:02 ET

Erdogan raises EU issue on visit to France
Irish Times
Oct 22, 2004

PARIS: The issues that have dogged Turkey’s application for EU
membership resurfaced during a two-day visit to Paris by the Turkish
Prime Minister, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan writes Lara Marlowe in Paris.
Though rarely said, the main issue is that Turkey’s 70 million people
are almost all Muslim.
In the week that French schools began expelling Muslim girls who
insisted on wearing Islamic headscarves, Mr Erdogan, the leader of the
moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party, won no friends in
France by telling LCI television station that his daughters study in
the US to escape the ban on headscarves in Turkish universities.
At a press conference yesterday, Mr Erdogan tried to evade a question
from The Irish Times about article 305 of the new Turkish penal code
by saying that offences which constitute “anti-national activities”
are not specifically defined in the law. The EU demanded that Ankara
withdraw another article that would have made adultery a criminal
offence, but article 305 apparently went unnoticed.
An explanatory memorandum drawn up by the Turkish Justice Commission
provided only two examples of “anti-national activity”: demands for
the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and support for the
withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus. The commission’s findings
would serve as the basis for implementing the law. “Anti-national
activity” is punishable by 10 years in prison, 15 years for publishers
and journalists.
In 1987 the European Parliament made recognition of the killing of 1.5
million Armenians in 1915, the resolution of the Cyprus and Kurdish
conflicts, and an end to human rights abuses, conditions for Turkish
accession to Europe. In 2001 the French National Assembly voted for a
law recognising the Armenian genocide.
But Mr Erdogan showed no sign of budging on the Armenian issue. “It
has never been studied on the basis of Ottoman archives,” he said. “We
say, ‘leave it up to the historians’. The archives are open. Let them
come and examine the archives in an objective fashion.” Ankara has
welcomed the work of a British historian who claims that “only”
600,000 Armenians were slaughtered by Turks, and that Turkish Muslims
were also victims.
Though Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974, Mr Erdogan said, “Turkey should
not withdraw its troops from Cyprus” because a 65 per cent majority of
Turkish Cypriots voted to accept a reunification plan drawn up by UN
Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan.
Mr Erdogan said he was “saddened” by French opposition to Turkey’s
application and objected to the holding of a referendum. He appealed
to President Jacques Chirac to stop the issue being exploited in
domestic politics.

Armenian president arrives in Georgia for three-day visit
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
22 Oct 04

Tengiz [correspondent], thank you very much. I am being told that
another honorary guest of Tbilisoba [annual Tbilisi festival], Robert
Kocharyan, the president of Armenia, has already arrived at Sadakhlo
[border checkpoint] and is about to meet [Georgian President] Mikheil
Saakashvili. We are going live to Sadakhlo. [Over video]
The presidents are standing on the red carpet. Anthems are being
played.
Robert Kocharyan is already in Georgia. The anthems of the two
countries have been played and the presidents are leaving Sadakhlo.
The president is introducing Georgian ministers to Robert
Kocharyan. As I have already told you, this is a three-day visit [as
heard]. After the meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili, Robert Kocharyan
plans to meet the country’s Number 2 and Number 3. He will also take
part in Tbilisoba and tomorrow will travel to Likani. Robert Kocharyan
will leave Georgia on Sunday [24 October] at noon.
Robert Kocharyan and Mikheil Saakashvili will hold a meeting at the
State Chancellery at three o’clock [1100 gmt], after which a briefing
for the media will be held on the 11th floor.
This is a live link-up with Sadakhlo where President of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan arrived a few minutes ago.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
October 21, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA PRAISES REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS FOR POWERFUL
SUPPORT ON KEY ARMENIAN AMERICAN INITIATIVES
— Cites Role of Rep. Knollenberg, Radanovich and
others in Advancing Armenian Issues on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
cited key House Republicans for their leadership on wide range of
issues of concern to the Armenian American community, including
support for Armenian Genocide reaffirmation, strengthening U.S.-
Armenia economic relations, and ensuring parity in U.S. military
assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“We appreciate the leadership and value the support of the many
Congressional Republicans who have consistently taken a principled
stand on fundamental issues of concern to the Armenian American
community,” stated ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “In the coming
109th Congress, we look forward to working with these friends and
with all Members committed to expanding U.S.-Armenia relations,
continuing U.S. assistance, ensuring proper U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, and securing a lasting and equitable resolution
to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict.”
Republican House Members including Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Genocide Resolution lead
sponsor George Radanovich (R-CA), Michigan Freshman Congressman
Thaddeus McCotter, Indiana Republican Mark Souder (R-IN) and
California Freshman Devin Nunes have been awarded an “A+” rating by
the ANCA, based on a series of over 25 grading criteria, ranging
from support on key legislation to the cosigning of over a dozen
Congressional letters. A complete listing of Congressional grades
will be posted on the ANCA website – – in the upcoming
days. The specific achievements of each of the “A+” Republican
House Members are cited below.
* Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI): Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-
Chair since 2001, Rep. Knollenberg has consistently received an
“A+” grade from the ANCA. A senior member of the House Foreign
Operations Subcommittee, the Michigan legislator has continuously
supported high levels of U.S. assistance to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh, and fought to maintain military aid parity between
Armenia and Azerbaijan. In remarks delivered at the 10th annual
ANCA Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill in April of 2004,
Rep. Knollenberg spoke about Administration efforts to reduce
assistance to Armenia. “There is no reason in the world why
Armenia has to get stiff-armed, has to get stuck at a lower number.
We will continue to scrap and claw and fight our way [in Congress]
to make sure Armenia does get what it deserves,” explained
Knollenberg.
During this Congressional term, Rep. Knollenberg was the lead
sponsor of legislation to permanently normalize U.S.-Armenia trade
relations (H.R.528). The legislation, which currently has 113
cosponsors was adopted as part of a larger trade measure in the
House and awaits final Senate approval. Rep. Knollenberg is also
an original cosponsor of the Genocide resolution, H.Res.193.
* George Radanovich (R-CA): Throughout his years in the House,
Rep. Radanovich has played a leadership role in Genocide
reaffirmation efforts, first leading a successful effort in 1996 to
cut $3 million in U.S. assistance to Turkey, a symbolic amount
representing the amount allocated by the Government of Turkey for
Genocide denial lobbying activities in the U.S. During the current
108th Congress, Rep. Radanovich was joined by Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg,
and California Democrat Adam Schiff (D-CA) in advancing the
Genocide resolution (H.Res.193). The legislation, which marks the
15th anniversary of the U.S. implementation of the Genocide
Convention, was unanimously adopted by the House Judiciary
Committee in May, 2003, and currently has 111 cosponsors.
* Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI): A freshman Congressman from Michigan,
Rep. McCotter has consistently supported Congressional letters and
legislation dealing with Armenian Genocide reaffirmation. In
October 2003, he questioned a pro-Turkish panel of witnesses
testifying before the House International Relations Subcommittee on
Europe about Turkey’s ongoing obstruction of Armenia-Turkey
relations. Rep. McCotter, who was among the first to join the
Congressional Armenian Caucus upon taking office in January of
2003, has also been outspoken in his support for U.S. aid to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh.
* Mark Souder (R-IN): With an “A+” grade in the last two
Congressional terms, Rep. Souder has been among the most consistent
supporters of Armenian American concerns, cosigning almost every
Congressional letter in support of U.S. assistance to Armenia and
Armenian Genocide reaffirmation. In February of 2003, Rep. Souder
participated in the “Pro-Armenia” Conference held in Paris, France,
which brought together executive and legislative branch officials
from countries around the world to discuss efforts to strengthen
the political and economic future of Armenia. In an interview with
the “Armenian Weekly” following the Conference, Rep. Souder
commented that a highlight of the Conference for him was “the
opportunity to meet Armenians from around the world, understanding
the diversity of opinions of those of the Diaspora and yet their
unity on the central importance of Armenian Genocide, and the
economic potential of an Armenia based upon free market
principles.”
* Devin Nunes (R-CA): Rep. Nunes received an “A+” rating during
his first term in Congress for cosponsoring the Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.193) and legislation normalizing U.S.-Armenia trade relation
(H.R.528), and co-signeding a series of letters in support of U.S.
assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. Representing
constituents in California’s Central Valley, Rep. Nunes has worked
closely with the ANC chapter in the Fresno area.
Other House Republicans in the highest tier of support for Armenian
American concerns include Representatives Michael Bilirakis (R-FL),
Michael Ferguson (R-NJ), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL),
Edward Royce (R-CA), and John Sweeney (R-NY), all of whom received
an “A” from the ANCA. Representatives Christopher Smith (R-NJ),
Duke Cunningham (R-CA), James Saxton (R-NJ), and Judiciary
Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) received an “A-”
rating for their leadership on Genocide affirmation efforts.
To review the specific records of all House and Senate members on
each of the ANCA rating criteria, visit the ANCA Election 2004
section:

The Moscow Times
Thursday, October 21, 2004. Page 4.
School Troubles End in 2 Murders, Suicide
By Carl Schreck
Staff Writer Academic troubles have ended tragically for two schoolchildren:
A 13-year-old boy killed his parents after being punished for poor grades,
while a 14-year-old boy jumped to his death from a 12th-floor apartment
after being expelled.
The 13-year-old boy in the Altai region village of Talmenka walked into his
parents’ room last Thursday night while they were sleeping and shot them in
the head with his father’s 12-gauge shotgun, which he had taken from an
unlocked safe in the house, Russian media reported, citing police.
Altai regional police could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but a
police spokesman told Interfax that earlier that evening the boy’s parents
had punished him after a parent-teacher conference in which they were told
their son was falling behind in his studies. The boy told investigators his
father had beaten him, Gazeta reported.
The spokesman did not release the name of the boy, who is in the eighth
grade, or his parents, but Utro.ru identified them Wednesday as Alexander
Bykov, 50, and Galina Bykova, 47. Other news reports identified the boy as
Sasha or Shurik, diminutives for Alexander.
After killing his parents, the boy skipped school on Friday to clean up the
blood and hide the bodies in a closet, Rossiiskaya Gazeta reported. He went
to school on Saturday.
“I saw him in the hallway and asked why he hadn’t been in school on Friday,”
Lyubov Shapovalova, the boy’s class director, told the paper. “As he walked
by, he said something like, ‘I punished my dad, man!’ and went to class.”
The boy’s older sister, who does not live at home, stopped by her parents’
house Saturday and, seeing blood on the floor, called the police, Gazeta
reported.
The boy is now undergoing a psychological assessment, the police spokesman
told Interfax. Murder charges have been filed, but it is unlikely the boy
will face any jail time, as he has not yet turned 14 and is legally still a
juvenile.
Meanwhile, Gevorg Petrosyan committed suicide on Oct. 8 by jumping out of
his 12th-story bedroom window in the Moscow region town of Kuntsev, town
prosecutor Alexei Grigoryev said Wednesday.
Grigoryev would not comment on the details of the case, citing an
investigation, but Moskovsky Komsomolets and Komsomolskaya Pravda reported
that Petrosyan had been expelled from School No. 389 in Sergiyev Posad by
school director Lidia Kanchikova.
The newspapers said Petrosyan was kicked out after being wrongly accused of
bringing alcohol on a field trip.
Kanchikova denied that she had expelled Petrosyan, Moskovsky Komsomolets
reported. “I just turned him over to his mother and told him to come back on
Monday,” Kanchikova said.
Grigoryev said prosecutors are considering open a criminal case on charges
of driving a person to suicide.
Kanchikova cannot be tried if charges are filed. She died of a heart attack
last week, Grigoryev said.
Her age was unclear.

NKR LEADER, BRITISH MPS DISCUSS SITUATION IN KARABAKH
Artsakh State TV, Stepanakert
21 Oct 04
October
NKR (Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) President Arkadiy Gukasyan received
members of the British interparliamentary union lead by a member of
the House of Commons, Gordon Marsden, on 20 October.
During the meeting, the NKR president underlined that the visit of
British parliament members was a good opportunity for the people and
leadership of the NKR to inform the international community about
processes going on there.
President Gukasyan filled the British parliamentarians in on the NKR’s
achievements in building democracy based on the rule of law. Arkadiy
Gukasyan noted the importance of creating appropriate conditions for
developing the NGO sector in the republic as a key component of civic
society.
Touching upon the principles of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement, the NKR president underlined that the most important goal
for the NKR authorities was to prevent the resumption of military
operations and provide the security of the Nagornyy Karabakh
population.
The NKR president also reassured the visitors of his adherence to the
further development of the NKR economy and creation of decent living
conditions. Gukasyan said this would have a positive impact on the
process of democratization in the NKR.
For his part, Gordon Marsden said that the visit to Nagornyy Karabakh
helped them get more detailed information about the life in the
republic. He also noted that the goal of the visit was to find about
the possibilities for international organizations to implement
humanitarian projects and strengthen civic society in Nagornyy
Karabakh, which became possible after meetings with representatives of
NGOs of the republic.
(Video showed the meeting)

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 21 2004
Companies to provide cellular services in Upper Garabagh must contact
Ministry

If `Garabagh Telecom’ wants to provide mobile communication services
in the occupied Upper Garabagh region, it must appeal to the Ministry
of Communications and Information Technologies first, Minister Ali
Abbasov told AssA-Irada.
He said that the Ministry has appealed to the International GSM
Association over the illegal activity of Garabagh Telecom and that
the latter will lost its membership in the entity this July.
Abbasov said that this company has already filed an appeal in this
connection, and if it is approved, the company’s membership may be
restored.
`They allege that the Ministry is not capable of providing mobile
communication services in Upper Garabagh’, he said.
Abbasov added that the Ministry has approached the GSM Association
again saying that if Garabagh Telecom sends a proposal to the
Ministry on providing cellular communication services, it will be
considered.*