Armenian, Cyprus Speakers urge Turkey to improve relations with neighbours
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
19 Oct 04
Presenter Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan and the president of the
House of Representatives of Cyprus, Dhimitrios Khristofias, signed a
memorandum today.
Bagdasaryan At the meeting, we focused on developing political and
economic ties between Armenia and Cyprus.
Correspondent over video of Bagdasaryan and Khristofias The president
of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Dhimitrios Khristofias,
feels at home in Armenia. He believes that the reason is not only
similarities between the countries’ historical past but also the fact
that only Armenians pronounce his country’s name like Cypriots.
Dhimitrios Khristofias, in Greek with Armenian voice-over As a member
of the European Union, Cyprus could be conducive to Armenia’s
integration into Europe.
Correspondent Armenia and Cyprus are in close cooperation at the
international level. Both countries share the same position towards
Turkey’s aspiration to become a member of the European Union.
Dhimitrios Khristofias Although Turkey is an occupying country, some
forces want to see it in the EU. Before admission to the EU, Turkey
should tackle several issues, i.e. recognize all EU member countries
and deal with human rights issues.
Bagdasaryan If this country wants to join the EU, it should first
improve relations with its neighbours.
Correspondent Dhimitrios Khristofias said that Turkey should recognize
the Armenian genocide if it aspires to EU membership, which could
facilitate Turkey’s admission to this organization.
He also aired these views at a meeting with the prime minister. He
spoke in favour of a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh problem. He
said that apart from Armenia, other regional countries’ interests
should also be taken into consideration in this issue.

KARABAKH LEADER THANKS US ARMENIANS FOR SUPPORT
Artsakh State TV, Stepanakert
20 Oct 04
On 19 October, the president of the NKR (Nagornyy Karabakh Republic),
Arkadiy Gukasyan, received a delegation of the Armenian Assembly of
America led by the deputy chairperson of the board of trustees, Mrs
Anni Totah. Arpi Vartanyan, director of the assembly’s offices in
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh, was also present at the meeting. During
the meeting, members of the delegation shared their impression of the
visit with the NKR president. The delegation travelled to Stepanakert
, Shushi (, Gandzasar and some other villages in the NKR.
The guests noticed progress in all spheres of life in Nagornyy
Karabakh and the authorities’ efforts to overcome the consequences of
the war and rebuild destroyed infrastructure and economy of the
republic. At the same time, they said that there are still many
unresolved problems in the provinces in comparison with Stepanakert
where no traces of war have remained. In connection with this they
expressed readiness to use the potential of their organization to
assist Artsakh (Nagornyy Karabakh). The members of the delegation
underlined that people and officials in the NKR were open-minded and
ready to accept any new idea.
They also touched upon the reconstruction of Shushi. Arkadiy Gukasyan
noted that the Karabakh authorities are working in that direction and
have prepared several programmes to revive the town as an all-Armenian
educational, cultural and health resort centre. However, Gukasyan
said, Nagornyy Karabakh is not able to resolve this problem on its own
and the only option here is to join efforts of the entire Armenian
diaspora.
At the request of the delegation, Gukasyan briefed them on the current
stage and the prospects of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement. The president underlined the importance of restoring a
real negotiation format within the OSCE Minsk Group with Nagornyy
Karabakh involved in it as a full party to the talks. Only in this
case, he said, will it be possible to find a constructive solution to
the problem.
Finally, Gukasyan expressed his appreciation for the active lobbyist
activities of the assembly thanks to which the US government provides
annual humanitarian assistance to the NKR; the USA is now the only
country in the world that provides official assistance to Nagornyy
Karabakh. Gukasyan noted that programmes carried out with these
financial resources had a positive impact on the life in the
republic. Although humanitarian programmes which the assembly is
carrying out in Artsakh are very important, the NKR needs mutually
beneficial business cooperation, Gukasyan said.
(Video shows Gukasyan’s meeting with the assembly’s delegation)

RUSSIA HOSTS COMMAND-POST TRAINING FOR SEVEN CIS STATES’ AIR DEFENCES
Channel One TV, Moscow
19 Oct 04
(Presenter) Over 1,500 servicemen and more than 70 aircraft from seven
CIS countries are taking part in command-post training of the combined
air defence system of the commonwealth states, which started
today. Our correspondent Sergey Zenin watched from the central command
post of the Russian air force.
(Correspondent) Those who work here see no sunlight for days on
end. Having passed a multistage vetting procedure, they descend to a
depth of 60 metres in a lift, watched closely by dozens of video
cameras. Behind this door is the central command post of the Russian
air force.
On duty here are officers who have been entrusted with keeping the air
space of a vast country secure. Today though, the area of their
responsibility is even wider: on screen are Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – the CIS countries
taking part in a joint command-post exercise with Russia. Over 1,500
servicemen and dozens of combat aircraft are involved.
(Aytech Bizhev, deputy chairman of the CIS air defence coordinating
committee) We have known each other for a long time, and we developed
our plan together, so we are pleased with our colleagues.
(Correspondent) While we were filming, 23 aircraft were in the
skies. Some of them played the part of air space trespassers, others,
that of foreign aircraft that had accidentally veered off course. The
main forces’ task was to accompany the stray ones to the borders of
CIS countries, and to force the trespassers to land.
The command-post training will last for 48 hours. In that period,
fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters of the CIS counties will make for
than 70 sorties. Vast and very important work to strengthen the air
borders of commonwealth states will be done.

ENVOY TO TURKEY: US UNEASY ABOUT KURDISH EFFORTS TO CHANGE KIRKUK DEMOGRAPHY
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
20 Oct 04
Kayseri, 20 October: US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said on
Wednesday (20 October) that also the United States felt uneasy about
Kurdish groups’ attempts to change demographic structure in Kirkuk,
Iraq, by settling their families in the city.
Speaking at a conference held in the Erciyes University in central
city of Kayseri on “2004 Presidential Elections in the United States”,
Edelman said that there would not be serious changes in Turkey-US
relations following the presidential elections in the United
States. Stressing that the United States had been supporting Turkey’s
EU process since 1963, Edelman said that there could be a difference
between the two candidates (President George W. Bush and John Kerry)
about a resolution like the draft on so-called Armenian genocide. He
said that the candidates, sometimes, could not fulfil their promises
when they came to the power. He highlighted strategic importance of
Turkey-US relations.
Edelman said he believed that the Turkish government, the Iraqi heads
of state and government and the United States were in favour of
preserving Iraqi’s political unity and territorial integrity.
When asked, “who will be bombed next?” Edelman said that there had
been very sound relations between Turkey and the United States, and
any attack on Turkey would be out of question. Referring to the
relations between the Turkish prime minister and the US president,
Edelman said that those relations were further consolidated during
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington DC and
President George W. Bush’s visit to Turkey for NATO summit.
He said that Turkey and the United States had been working together to
find a solution to the Cyprus issue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER, EU’S REHN, GERMANY’S FISCHER ADDRESS CONFERENCE
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
20 Oct 04
Istanbul, 20 October: Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday (20 October): “Turkey will
continue deepening its democracy on the basis of European
values. Actually, these universal values conform to Turkish people’s
traditional and moral values.”
Speaking at a conference organized by the European Parliament
Greens/EFA (European Freedoms Alliance) Group in Istanbul on “Turkey
in the EU: A Common Future”, Gul said: “Some political movements in
political history of Europe made decisive contributions to economic
and social development. Those contributions also affected the
universal politics positively. I consider the Greens Group one of the
most dynamic political powers of today’s Europe and world politics.”
“In the past, disagreements, misunderstandings, tension and
discussions were dominant over our relations with members of the
European Freedoms Alliance. Now, our relations have changed into
mutual understanding, confidence and cooperation. I believe that such
a change is necessary and beneficial in regard to the common future of
Turkey and Europe and their interests,” he said.
Referring to the economic and political reforms made by the (ruling)
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in its two-year political
power, Gul said: “A peaceful foreign policy has been accompanying
those political and economic reforms. Everyone is aware of Turkey’s
initiatives to prevent the war in Iraq, its efforts to reach a
compromise between Azerbaijan and Armenia, its priority to urgent
solution of Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and its courageous efforts to
find a solution to the Cyprus issue.” (passage omitted)
“Turkey-EU integration process should progress steadily towards the
target of full membership without any delay. Therefore, the decision
to be made at the EU summit on 17 December is of great importance as
regards to setting the route of Turkey-EU integration process,” he
said. (passage omitted)
Turkey’s EU membership will open new horizons for both Turkey and the
EU and bring forth new challenges, Olli Rehn, new commissioner of the
EU, said on Wednesday. He also said that Turkey’s accession to the EU
was one of the most important items of the union’s agenda.
Stressing that Turkey had made a series of very meaningful reforms
since 1999, Rehn listed some of those reforms as annulment of death
penalty, broadcast in Kurdish and the other languages and the new
penal code. There are still steps to be taken in fundamental freedoms,
minority rights, trade unions and human rights, but the most important
thing is that reforms should be sustainable in Turkey, he said.
The European Commission said in its progress report for Turkey that if
political criteria were violated, entry talks could be suspended, Rehn
said and noted that it was envisaged by the EU constitution and was
valid for all other candidate states. “Entry talks could last for the
next ten years. Opening of entry talks and Turkey’s ongoing efforts
will lead to a macro-economic stability in Turkey. Turkey’s dynamic
population will support Europe’s ageing population. We are about to
open a new page in the EU integration process. Turkey’s EU accession
process will be tough and complicated. However, the target at the end
of this path is quite meaningful,” he said.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Wednesday
that if the EU made a positive decision on 17 December and opened
entry talks with Turkey, it should put forward a clear perspective.
Fischer also said that Turkey’s modernization had integrated with
Europe’s perspective since foundation of modern Republic of
Turkey. The German government had always advocated the perspective
that Turkey belonged to the EU, he said.
Stressing that Turkey had recorded an unbelievable progress, Fischer
said: “I would like to ask our Turkish partners not to comment on
decisions of the EU against them. This is a learning process. This is
a process to understand implementation of reforms. I propose Turkey to
wait for decision of the EU Council on 17 December. In that case, we
will have taken the first step of our Bosphorus dream.”
Highlighting strategic importance of the Middle East and Mediterranean
for Europe’s security, Fischer said that the EU countries should
realize the importance of Turkey’s desire to become a member of the
EU. (passage omitted)

MESSAGE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
20 Oct 04
NKR president Arkady Ghukassian addressed the captain of the ship
`Kilikia’ and the members of the crew. The message runs, `Your voyage
is the fitting finale of your hard work of many years for restoring
the glorious traditions of navigation which seemed to have been lost
in the course of centuries. We are hopeful that the knowledge and the
precious experience restored piece by piece will help still more
enthusiasts to carry on with the undertaking the avant-garde of which
you are. Certainly your step once again displayed to the world the
cultural and historical wealth of Armenia, the talent and diligence of
its sons. The people of Artsakh know that their state flag also waves
on `CKilikia’ during its historic voyage through the `seven seas’. We
areproud of you and wish you a safe return home. I invite you to the
Republic of Nagorni Karabakh which has become the symbol of rebirth of
the spirit of the Armenian nation.’
AA.
20-10-2004

PRESIDENT’S MEETING
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
20 Oct 04
On October 16 NKR president Arkady Ghukassian met with the noted
Armenian philanthropist from America Vaheh Karapetian. During this
visit Vaheh Karapetian observed the maintenance works on the road
Goris – Stepanakert carried out on his financing. He said that
presently the building for the company `Road Maintenance’ implementing
these works is reconstructed, as well as a warehouse for storage and
repairs of the machines is built. Mr. Karapetian told the president of
NKR about his intention to assume financing of the maintenanceof the
highway `North – South’ after its construction is finished. During the
meeting V. Karapetian spoke about a number of programs implemented in
Artsakh on his means. Among these are the restoration of the church in
the village of Aghavno and improvement of the territory around the
church Ghazanchetsots in Shoushi.
AA.
20-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL FIELD IS MORE IMPORTANT
FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS THAN ELECTORAL CODE REFORMS
YEREVAN, October 20 (Noyan Tapan). A a result of reforms of the
Electoral Code the number of proportional places will increase in the
parliament. Tigran Torosian, RA NA Vice-Speaker, said during his
October 20 interview to journalists that the issue of correlation of
the number of places by proportional and majoritarian systems was
discussed during the sitting of the coalition council, in which RA
President also participated. Not specifying the envisaged number of
places by the proportional system, Torosian said that the reform
should be consonant with the previous change made in the Electoral
Code. He expressed anxiety that abrupt steps in this direction may
have unpredictable consequences.
According to NA Vice-Speaker, in case of 100% proportional system the
businessmen who display willingness to become an MP and at present
spend large sums for being elected by the majoritarian system will
have no alternative and will strive for appearing on party lists and
we have already had such a precedent.
In Tigran Torosian’s opinion, the Electoral Code has faults and no one
doubts that they should be eliminated. Some of these faults contribute
to electoral violations, in particular, problems connected with
electoral rolls and empowered persons. But as the speaker emphasized,
reforms of the Electoral Code aren’t enough for holding elections
corresponding to international criteria. In Torosian’s affirmation,
it’s necessary that all political forces participating in the
elections should be able to show political will. According to NA
Vice-Speaker, all political forces committed violations during the
previous elections and the number of violations committed by the
Republican Party doesn’t exceed the number of those committed by other
parties. About 300 application-complaints submitted by the
Prosecutor’s Office equally concern all political forces.
Answering Noyan Tapan’s question about assuming political
responsibility for electoral violations Torosian mentioned that the
political forces don’t make decisions about committing falsifications
and they are committed by certain groups of people. At the same time
he agreed that the violations and punishments envisaged for them are
disproportionate. According to Tigran Torosian, the next state
elections will have an exceptional importance for Armenia as the fact
if the country will take the way of European development or will
appear among the backward countries depends on free and fair
elections. According to him, establishment of the political field of
Armenia is much more important for free and fair elections than
adoption of 100% majoritarian system.

FOUNDATION OF ST. CROSS CHURCH IN MOSCOW CONSECRATED UNDER LEADERSHIP
OF CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS AND WITH PARTICIPATION OF PATRIARCH OF
MOSCOW AND ALL-RUSSIA
MOSCOW, October 20 (Noyan Tapan). Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II departed to Moscow on October 15 to mark the 75th anniversary of
Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Alexy II, as well as for the
consecration of the foundation of the Surb Khach (St. Cross) Church
and the residence of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church. Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Alexy II
accompanied by high-ranking representatives of priesthood, Archbishop
Grigoris Buniatian, Head of the Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenian
Church, Ezras Nersisian, Head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan
Diocese, and members of the Diocesan Board met Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II at the airport. On October 16 morning, His
Holiness visited Surb Harutiun (St.
Resurrection) Church in Moscow. The ceremony of the consecration of
the foundation of the St. Cross Church was held the same day under the
leadership of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and with the
participation of Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Alexy II. 16
consecrated stones were laid into the foundation of the church. After
the ceremony Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II thanked Patriarch
of Moscow and All-Russia Alexy II and the authorities of Russia for
contribution to the construction of the church, as well as for the
careful attitude towards the Armenian Community of Moscow. “Our soul
is glad on the occasion of the happy event, which we mark together
with the Armenian Community today and which is held simultaneously
with the celebration of the jubilee of His Holiness Patriarch of
Moscow and All-Russia Alexy II. Today we thank God that we day by day
develop the relations between our countries and strengthen fraternal
love between our peoples and our churches in the spirit of
traditionally steadfast friendship and cooperation,” said, in
particular, the Catholicos of All Armenians. The Supreme Patriarch
blessed philanthropists of the St.
Cross Church Vitaly Grigoriants, Murad Sargsian and others. Then
Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Alexy II spoke. He expressed hope
that the construction of the church will more strengthen the relations
between the two people and churches. “Warm relations have been formed
between the two peoples during long years and centuries. A friend in
need is a friend indeed, and when Armenia faced disasters, when the
earthquake in Spitak took human lives, Russia was with the Armenian
people, shared its pain and sufferings. I thank You, Your Holiness,
that when Russia experiences the ramifications of the terrorist acts,
You always share our pain, support us with Your prayers in Holy
Etchmiadzin,” said the Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia, expressing
hope that “the Cathedral, which will be constructed here, will be the
place, where friendship between the two peoples and cooperation
between our churches will grow and consolidate.” Moscow Mayor Yury
Luzhkov also sent congratulations to the Armenian Community.
“When we speak of the Armenian Apostolic Church, we feel our spiritual
kinship, which unites our churches, the especial similarity of our
peoples, which was born many centuries ago and which, thank God,
consolidates and I hope will consolidate in the future,” mentioned the
Moscow Mayor. According to the Information System of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin, Georgy Poltavchenko, Plenipotentiary of the
President of Russia to the Central Federal Okrug, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Russia Armen Smbatian,
Chairman of the Diocesan Council Artur Chilingarov and numerous
believers also participated in the ceremony. A meeting of the two
Patriarchs was held at the patriarchal residence after the
ceremony. The Head of the Russian Orthodox Church gave the Catholicos
of All Armenians the supreme award of the church, the order of
St. Andrey Perwozwanny, for contribution to the strengthening of
friendship and cooperation between the Russian and Armenian churches
and peoples.

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR DEVOTED TO RESTORATION OF ARCHITECTURAL AND
NATURAL HERITAGE HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, October 20 (Noyan Tapan). The regular two-day international
seminar started in Yerevan on October 19. The seminar is held within
the framework of the “Restoration of Architectural and Cultural
Heritage in the Urban Development Policy” program implemented in
Armenia since 2003 with the support of the Council of Europe. The
purpose of the seminar is to become acquainted with the European
experience and specify the process of the pilot programs implemented
in the towns of Ashtarak, Goris and Gyumri. Foreign specialists
presented the experience of the political management and town-planning
restoration of the historical towns of Masstricht (the Netherlands)
and Vien (France). According to RA Deputy Minister of Urban
Development Ruzanna Alaverdian, the stable growth is observed in the
sphere of urban development of Armenia, and the preservation of the
structures presenting the architectural and cultural heritage is the
primary task. The program, which is implemented with the support of
the Council of Europe, is of a consulting nature: it is expected that
taking into account the peculiarities of the Armenians towns the pilot
programs of their development will be worked out with the involvement
of the private capital.