One injured as Armenia violates cease-fire in western Azerbaijan
Assa-Irada, Baku
20 Oct 04

BAKU
On the night leading to 20 October, the Armenian armed forces based in
Samsaddin [Azeri name for Armenia’s Tavush District] opened fire on
the village of Alibayli in Azerbaijan’s Tovuz District. As a result, a
30-year-old resident of the village, Azar Nagiyev, was wounded to his
abdomen.
According to a report circulated by the Tovuz District executive
authorities, Nagiyev, a policeman with the Agstafa District police
department, has been placed in the hospital of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs in Baku.
Eight villages of Tovuz District are situated along the front-line and
Alibayli is the closest to the Armenian positions.

President looks at Armenia’s commitments to Council of Europe
Noyan Tapan news agency
20 Oct 04

YEREVAN
On 20 October Armenian President Robert Kocharyan chaired a meeting
which looked into how Armenia is fulfilling its commitments to the
Council of Europe.
Opening the meeting, the president said: “I deem it necessary to
elaborate once again on where we are now in terms of honouring our
commitments and endorse a new schedule for their rigorous
accomplishment.”
Kocharyan said that another big task that remains to be solved is a
package of constitutional reforms connected with a referendum.
The deputy speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, Tigran Torosyan,
spoke about the course and schedule for fulfilling the commitments in
terms of reforming various laws. Speaking about the amendments to the
Electoral Code in particular, the Venice Commission has already given
its opinion which will be taken into account when amending the
code. They also discussed a package of legislative issues, concerning
the reform of the court and legal systems, local municipalities and
territorial administration.
An appropriate schedule for implementing the issues was set up and the
president gave concrete instructions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA spends over 12m dollars on Azeri mine clearance in six years – agency
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
21 Oct 04

BAKU
The US State Department has published a report on its expenditure for
mine clearance in different countries. The document says that the USA
has spent 12.7m dollars on the mine clearance work in Azerbaijan over
the past six years, of which 2.4m dollars has been allocated over the
past year alone.
All in all, Washington has allotted 30.4m dollars to the former USSR
republics since 1998. As part of the programme, Armenia has received
9.3m dollars, Estonia 2.6m dollars and Georgia 5.8m dollars.
This year, the bulk of the funds allocated for the mine clearance work
was channelled into Iraq.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 15-21, 2004
HIGHLIGHTS:
SECOND “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
DIRECTOR OF “AR” DOES NOT CONFIRM RUMORS ABOUT THE CHANGE OF TV CHANNEL
OWNER
RADIO LIBERTY CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER
SECOND “PRESS CLUB” SHOW
On October 18 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
second show of “Press Club” cycle was broadcast. The cycle is organized by
Yerevan Press Club under “Strengthening Democracy by Free Expression in
South Caucasus” project, implemented jointly with “Article 19” international
organization with the assistance of Open Society Institute.
This time the focus of attention of the heads of the leading media and
journalistic associations of the country was on the recent abuse of the
rights of journalists and media, related to attacks on the representatives
of “the fourth estate” on professional duty. The subject of discussion
referred, in particular, to the incidents of violence against journalists
covering the opposition rallies in Yerevan on April 5 and the night of April
12-13, the attack the correspondents of “Photolure” news agency and “Aravot”
daily on August 24 in Tsaghkadzor as well as the assault on the Chief Editor
of “Syunyats Yerkir” regional newspaper on October 13 in Kapan. The second
subject raised was to the hotly debated event – the official registration of
“Jehovah’s Witnesses” religious organization in Armenia on October 8.
DIRECTOR OF “AR” DOES NOT CONFIRM RUMORS ABOUT THE CHANGE OF TV CHANNEL
OWNER
Since October 16 “AR” TV company stopped its broadcasts. As YPC was told by
the Director of “AR” Edgar Manukian, the pause is due to the need for
technical re-equipment of the channel, and the broadcasting will be resumed
in about a month. Edgar Manukian denied the persistent rumors that the
suspension of “AR” activities is related to the forthcoming sale of the
channel to the well-known businessman, the President of “Mika” company
Mikhail Baghdasarov. As it has been reported, in late 2002 the TV company
was acquired by another, equally well-known entrepreneur Hrant Vardanian,
the President of “Grand Holding” company and the owner of another TV
company, “Hayrenik TV”.
RADIO LIBERTY CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER
On October 15 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty issued a press release on the
withdrawal “Azatutiun” (“Liberty”) program produced by the RFE/RL Armenian
Service from the air schedule of “Kentron” TV company. According to the
Director of the Radio Liberty Armenian Service Hrair Tamrazian, the first
issue of this 30-minute analytical program was aired on October 10 and
repeated on October 11. On October 13 the Director of “Kentron” Petros
Ghazarian informed Mr. Tamrazian, that the airing of the subsequent issues
of the program would be “indefinitely suspended”. As it is noted in the
press release the management of the TV company did not explain the reasons
for such a decision.
The first issue of “Azatutiun” featured a report from Strasbourg on the
debates at October session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe on the honoring of commitments to the CE by Armenia and exclusive
interviews of the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and the newly
appointed US Ambassador in Armenia John Evans on relations between Armenia
and Turkey.
Mr. Tamrazian expressed his concern over the suspension of “a very
successful TV show” “for unknown reasons” and called on Armenian authorities
to investigate into the matter. “I hope that “Kentron” and RFE/RL will
continue in a joint project that was eagerly awaited by many viewers and
listeners in Armenia”, the head of the Radio Liberty Armenian Service
stressed.
On his behalf, the Director of “Kentron” Petros Ghazarian told YPC that he
“sees no conflict in what has happened, the TV company and the Radio Liberty
Armenian Service remain partners”, however, there are certain financial
problems that call for a solution.
On October 19 the President of RFE/RL Thomas Dine addressed a letter to the
President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, in which he urged the head of the
state “to denounce this contemptible Soviet-style act, and to help return
“Azatutiun” on air”. Thomas Dine asserted that he is “determined to get
“Azatutiun” back on air and will make every effort to make it happen –
including raising the issue with the Bush Administration, the US Congress,
the Council of Europe and non-governmental organizations worldwide”.
The Radio Liberty press release with this letter also states that despite
the lack of explanations on behalf of the “Kentron” administration, there
are all reasons to suppose that the TV company “was pressured to suspend
further broadcasts of the program, either by official interests or local
media competitors”.
It should be noted that this was not the first attempt of the Radio Liberty
Armenian Service to go on air in Armenian capital. On September 28, 2004 a
program prepared by the radio company was aired by “Shant” TV company.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :
PRESS RELEASE
October 21st, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
FIRST CONVENTION OF EUROPEAN ARMENIANS HUGE SUCCESS
–200+ European and Armenian Leaders Discuss Issues of Importance to
Armenians in the EU
Brussels, Belgium (October 21st, 2004) – The First Convention of European
Armenians, organized by the European Armenian Federation on October 18th and
19th, 2004, was a great success, drawing more than two hundred European
citizens of Armenian origin and many European officials. The participants,
who included leaders of various organizations and concerned individuals from
sixteen countries, attended the debates organized within the framework of
three sessions dedicated to the Armenian culture and identity in Europe, the
relations between the European Union and Armenia, and the challenges of EU
Enlargement.
In addition to the many European and Armenian officials, religious
dignitaries representing the two Catholicoses of the Armenian Apostolic
Church and one civil representative of the Patriarch of the Armenian
Catholic Church participated in the Convention, as well as Mr Ruben
Shugarian, Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During his welcoming speech, Mr Francis Wurtz, Chairman of the United Left
Group (GUE), the inviting party, declared that “regarding the Armenian
question, GUE has always supported the Armenian claims not only within the
context of the right to remembrance and dignity but also in accordance with
a peoples’ right to self-determination.”
The Convention covered many issues, from the European Commission’s New
Neighborhood Policy, to the question of the protection and the development
of the Armenian language in the Diaspora. During the second session, the
ambassador of Armenia to the European Union, Mr Vicken Tchitetchian,
presented Mr Demetrio Volcic, Italian Senator and Former member of the
European Parliament, the medal of Mkhitar Gosh, one of the highest official
distinctions made by the Armenian Republic. Apart from sessions, meetings
were organised between national delegations from different countries and
their permanent representation to the European Union, as well as the
European Parliament’s Presidency.
The Convention was concluded by the adoption of the Charter that Hilda
Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation, presented to
a panel of journalists during the final press conference. On the much
anticipated topic of Turkey’s candidacy to the European Union, Hilda
Tchoboian declared that “Turkey expressed through the Genocide of the
Armenian people – the very people who represented the values of
enlightenment within the Ottoman Empire – its rejection of European
modernity.” She warned European Union’s leaders against the integration of a
State that persists to express that rejection of European values through its
policy of denial and that through its attitude “threatens the regional
stability and the right to security and life of the Armenian people”.
Reminding that “in the eyes of International law and its practice, today’s
Turkey remains responsible for this genocide as a successor State”, she
concluded that we cannot “artificially bring a people into modernity by
using external constraints.”
All documents related to the Convention, and particularly the Charter, will
be soon published on the website of the European Armenian Federation

Georgia grants entry to Armenians trapped on South Ossetia border
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
21 Oct 04
[Presenter] The Georgian government has decided to let the convoy of busses
and lorries belonging to Armenian citizens pass the Ergneti market checkpoint
[on breakaway South Ossetia’s border with the rest of Georgia] where they have
been stalled for a week. Until now, the Georgian authorities did not allow the
convoy to travel [to Armenia] through the Tskhinvali region because of the
violation of the customs rules.
This is a goodwill gesture for this occasion only. Today’s arrangement does
not allow foreign citizens to travel through Tskhinvali.
[Man, no caption, in Russian] The decision has been taken. They are letting
us go. There are no more problems.
[Reporter] You will be departing now?
[Man] Yes, right away.
[Levon Akopyan, captioned as aide of the Armenian ambassador to Georgia, in
Russian] Now a convoy is being formed, the drivers should get instructions
about the passage of the convoy, and we will start our journey towards the
Armenian border.
[Aleksandre Sukhitashvili, the chief of the Shida Kartli regional police, in
Georgian] This is a goodwill gesture by the Georgian authorities. We will now
let Armenian citizens pass. However, I want to urge all foreign citizens not
to travel through this road. There is no customs or border checkpoint here.
Therefore, foreign citizens should only travel through the Lars [checkpoint on
the Georgian-Russian border].

AZERBAIJAN STRESSES COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA, IRAN IN ELECTRICITY
Asia Pulse
Oct 21, 2004

BAKU, Oct 21 Asia Pulse – Azerbaijan`s First Deputy Prime Minister
said here Tuesday that Baku attaches immense importance to its
cooperation with Iran and Russia in the electricity sector.
Speaking at an electricity seminar in Baku, Yaqob Yaqobev said that
Azerbaijan has signed several agreements with Iran and Russia on
electricity which is an economic priority for Azerbaijan.
Several electricity projects including `Astara` 10 kilowatt
electricity transfer line between Iran and Azerbaijan will make
available the needed electricity in the Azerbaijan southern region.
An Iranian delegation is also attending the seminar as observers.
Iran is considering connection of its power grid to European and
Russian electricity networks in the near future, Iran`s Energy
Minister Habibollah Bitaraf said here last week.
Bitaraf said that grounds should be paved for Iran`s connection to the
electricity networks in Europe and Russia in future, in addition to
connection to the neighboring countries.
Given that a great amount of electricity is exchanged in the networks
of Europe and Russia, Iran`s connection to these networks would bring
about many advantages for the energy market, he added.
Iran`s electricity network is presently connected to those of Turkey,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq, with the voltage of 130
KV, the minister explained
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY VICE SPEAKER COMMENTS ON REFORMS IN ELECTION SYSTEM
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMINFO. Changeover to 100% proportional system
of elections to the Armenian Parliament will rather bring damage than
benefit, Vice Chairman of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan said
at a press-conference at the National Press Club today.
Touching upon the forthcoming reforms in the Election Code of Armenia,
Torosyan said that the Council of the political parties included in
the ruling coalition has repeatedly considered the above
issue. However, sharp changes must be ruled out in order not to damage
the whole reforms. It is not a secret that political parties in
Armenia cannot be called full-fledged, that is why a full changeover
to the proportional principle will become a peculiar obstacle in the
way of “oligarchs running for the parliament on majority constituency,
they will successfully prove to be in the party lists, and it happened
to all the parties without an exception during the last parliamentary
elections in 2003,” Torosyan said.
He refused to bring any specific figures of single-mandate and ticket
seats in the Armenian Parliament, calling it untimely. Vice Speaker
touched upon the recent actively spread issue on possible advancement
of Robert Kocharyan’s candidature for a third term. He said that this
issue was not discussed either during consideration of the package of
constitutional reforms in 2003 or in the course of the current
discussions. As regards freedom of native mass media, Torosyan said
that this sphere like the others in the country is not perfect.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST INTERNATIONAL AGRIFORUM TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA OCT 28-31
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20. ARMINFO. The First International Agriforum will
be held in Yerevan on October 28-31 with participation of more than 18
countries: Russia, the USA, Italy, Holland, Lithuania, Germany,
Argentina, Thailand and others.
Talking to ARMINFO, Head of the Department for International Relations
and Management Agricultural Ministry of Armenia, Andranik Petrosyan,
said that deadline for applications for participation in the forum is
Oct 28. He said that 5 large international agri-industrial companies
and 100 foreign businessmen have applied for participation in the
forum by present. Petrosyan said that under the agriforum, reports on
4 topics will be heard: agricultural technologies and development of
agri-tourism, the tasks of agrarian industry and producers,
investments for development of agrarian science, education and
information service, agrarian reforms.
In his turn, Director of Agribusiness Development Center LTD Armen
Davtyan said that under the forum, the 4th international exhibition
“Armprodexpo-2004” will be organized with participation of 60 native
foodstuffs producers and 8 Armenian- Russian, Ukrainian, Cyprian,
Cuban, French and others JVs. It should be noted that Agriforum is
organized with support of the Agricultural Ministry, Foreign Minister
of Armenia, Yerevan Municipality, Armenian Chamber for Commerce and
Industry, and Agribusiness Development Center LTD.

NEW NEWSPAPER “BUSINESS WORLD” ISSUED IN NKR
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 20. ARMINFO. A new Armenian-language newspaper is
issued in NKR twice in a week with a circulation of 2,000 samples.
The newspaper’s editorial says that it will not only cover economic
sphere, but also touch upon social and spiritual and other problems of
the public, becoming a tribune for professional talks and discussions.
The first issue of “Business World” contains interviews with
representatives of business circles of NKR as well as a material on
demining process of the country’s territory. The editor of the
newspaper is Kim Gabrielyan, Chairman of the NKR Union of Journalists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress