NATIONAL MINORITIES ENJOYING FULL RIGHTS IN ARMENIA
Azg/am
5 Oct 04
Representatives of Jewish, Assyrian, Georgian, Byelorussian and German
communities of Armenia gathered yesterday at the Yerevan State
Pedagogical University after Abovian. They presented their national
songs and dances.
“This is a very important undertaking. It teaches our youth to be
tolerant and respectful to those of other cultures and religions
around them”, Rima Varzhapetian, co-chairman of the Nations’ Council
of Armenia and head of the Jewish community said.
Varzhapetian stated that the conditions of the national minorities,
2.8 per cent of Armenia’s overall population, are well and that there
is noviolation of their rights in the country. “Our relations with the
government are very warm. They are actively supporting us”, she
said. Rima Varzhapetian added that being citizens of the Republic of
Armenia they and their children have to study Armenian history and
language though trying to preserve their national culture by means of
such gatherings.
By Tamar Minasian

National interest should be priority
Politics
Yerkir/am
October 01, 2004
Two years ago when there was a proposal to adopt a law criminalizing
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, a group of politicians and media
outlets reacted hysterically. The authors and the supporters of the
proposal were even accused of violating the rights of the Armenian
citizens.
Even now, after new “initiatives” of reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia have been brought to arena, the same political force and media
advocate the thesis that today’s Turkey is different, it is trying to
join Europe, and that Turks are ready to reform their government and
society to meet the European standards.
This thesis – actually directed at countries that are to decide
whether or not to accept Turkey in the European Union – has ironically
found agreater “understanding” in Armenia than in Europe. Some in
Armenia seem to be even more interested in Turkey’s joining the EU
than Europeans themselves and even some Turkish political circles.
Those people are trying hard to persuade us that after Turkey has
joined the EU, the Turkish-Armenian border will be opened
automatically becoming a border between Armenia and the EU. By the
way, Turkey is the only country opposing the opening of the border it
has shut itself.
Ironically, Turks are the only ones ruining this myth by trying to
introduce a law that would criminalize admitting the Armenian
Genocide.
This is how those who deem their national interest as priority are
preparing to join Europe. It would be great if some of us too could
base their positions on our national interests. Then, maybe many would
base their words and deeds not on virtual reality and foreign grants
but on knowledge of the reality.

Azerbaijani Delegate Appeals PACE Dismiss Armenia Form Membership
ANS
05/10/2004
Member of Azerbaijani staff at Parliamentary Assembly of Council of
Europe MP Rafael Huseynov made appeal to Committee of Ministers to
dismiss Armenia from membership.
In his appeal Mr. Huseynov states that every organization must protect
its reputation, not to give way statements contradicting its
principles and not allow those standing on its lines that ignore
standards and regulations.
For instance in the spring session of PACE Armenian President Robert
Kocharian delivered speech and answered questions. His speech
contradicted democracy and human rights. There are many concrete facts
on pressure on free media in Armenia. PACE also prepared documents on
the issue and held discussion. But Robert Kocharian denied all these
and accused PACE of interfering its internal affairs. On June of 2004
President of Armenia said he was proud of occupation of Shusha city of
Azerbaijan and his direct participation in massacre of Azerbaijanis in
Khojaly city. Besides the statement points to Armenia’s drug
trafficking in occupied lands of Azerbaijan, conducting nuclear
researches and contamination of nuclear wastes in occupied lands may
create second Chernobl in the region. Council of Europe adopted
documents several times on suspending Metsamor atomic station. Rafael
Huseynov’s appeal has been distributed among participants of the PACE
and will be brought to discussion at Committee of Ministers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Speaker is Not Against of Armenian MPs Visit
BakuToday
05/10/2004
Azerbaijani Parliament speaker Murtuz Alasgarov told journalists on
Friday that he does not object to the Armenian parliament members’
participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly “Rose Roth” seminar
to be held in Baku on November 26-28.
AssA-Irada — He said that since the Armenian MPs are not military men
but civilians, he does not object to their participation. “Let them
visit, we will hold talks and learn their position,” Alasgarov said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said earlier that the issue of
Armenian MPs’ participation in the mentioned seminar in Baku depends
on the Azerbaijani parliament.

ALCATEL, ARMENTEL SIGN 2 MILLION EUROS CONTRACT
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: ALCATEL, the French giant
manufacturer of telecommunication equipment, signed September 28 in
Paris with Armenia’s fixed and mobile telephone operator ArmenTel a 2
million euros contract, envisaging modernization and expansion of
ArmenTel’s regional network.
Under the contract Alcatel will deliver modern digital switching
exchanges to be installed in Stepanavan and Gyumri. New technology
will speed up the process of creating a modern telecommunication
infrastructure system for around 235,000 people living in Armenia’s
northern regions. The project will also help ArmenTel to radically
increase the quality of its services. The project is expected to be
over in 2005 August.
“Building of a modern telecommunication infrastructure in Armenia
is of crucial importance for our company. We rely upon the high
quality and reliability of Alcatel equipment. We shall have to work
hard in order to provide high quality services to our clients and be
able to compete with other operators,” Vasileios Fetsis, the chief
executive manager of ArmenTel said.
Gerard Der Agobian, a regional vice-president of Alcatel said the
new contract opens a new era of cooperation with ArmenTel. “We are
happy to make our contribution to the development of Armenia’s
telecommunications market. We want a long-term cooperation with
Armenia,” he said.
ArmenTel shareholders are Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications
Organizations SA (OTE) with 90% and Armenia’s government with 10%.

10 ARMENIAN COMPANIES SUCCESSFULLY EXHIBITED THEIR PRODUCTS AT MOSCOW
INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF TEXTILE INDUSTRY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Some ten companies in textile industry
and sewing successfully exhibited their products at Sept 21-24 Textile
Industry Fair – 2004 in Moscow, Armenian agriculture ministry business consultant in
textile and clothes manufacturing in Small and Middle Sized Enterprises Armine
Tadevosian told Armenpress, mentioning that in a pavilion of 104 square
meters Armenian products were exhibited under the sign “Made in Armenia.”
In Tadevosian’s words, all these companies have reached initial agreements
on partnership. Many companies from Russian, China, Middle East, Korea,
Belarus, Ukraine, Poland and others got interested in Armenian products.
It should be mentioned that Armenian agriculture ministry Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises is a program run by Development Alternatives Inc advisory
agency funded by US AID. The program has covered 60 percent of expenses for
participation of Armenian companies in the fair.

AFTEREFFECTS OF OPEN BORDER WITH TURKEY DISCUSSED
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: A roundtable discussion convened by the
Political Dialogue and Development Center together with the US embassy in
Yerevan on September 29 to explore consequences of a possible opening of the land
border between Armenia and Turkey brought together local politicians and
economists, whose opinions differed significantly.
A parliament member Tatul Manaserian argued in favor of using the full
potential of Armenia’s relations with Georgia and Iran and only then try to
extend the expected experience to its relations with Turkey.
Seyran Avagian, a presidential adviser, put the blame for the sealed
border on Turkey, saying open borders would benefit both nations, as “Armenian
businessmen are familiar with Turkey’s market and Turkish consumers have
discovered the quality of Armenian goods.”
A senior transport and communication ministry official Vahagn Badalian
voiced concern over Turkish-Georgian plans to build a railway connecting Turkish
Kars with Akhalkalaki saying it would further aggravate the blockade imposed
on Armenia.
According to Ashot Yeghiazarian, a senior member of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, fears that the Armenian market would be flooded with cheap
Turkish goods in the event of an open border must be thrown off. He added that
open borders would first of all benefit underdeveloped eastern regions of
Turkey, while Armenia would get a transit route across Turkey to Middle East
markets.
Gagik Melikian from the ruling Republican Party said open borders would
result in more exports and consequently more budget revenues.
According to official figures, Turkish-Armenian trade is estimated
annually between $40 – $60 million and is mainly carried out through neighboring
Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FINLAND’S’ FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YEREVAN TOMORROW
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Finland’s foreign affairs
ministerErki Tuommio arrives tomorrow in Yerevan for a one-day
visit. Armenian foreign ministry said he will meet with president
Kocharian, parliament chairman and foreign minister Oskanian.
The same day he will attend a ceremony for signing a bilateral
agreement on encouragement and protection of reciprocal
investments. He will also laya wreath at the Genocide Memorial.

FOUR ARMENIAN HOSPITALS TO BE INCLUDED IN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF
ITALIAN HOSPITALS
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign affairs ministry
said Armenian and Italian officials signed on September 27 in Rome a
cooperation agreement for 2004 whereby the Italian health ministry
will help Armenian hospitals to increase their information
opportunities.
The ministry said the Italian government has released to that end
30,560 euros, a sum that is enough for 4 Armenian hospitals to be
included in the international networks of Italian hospitals, ensuring
distance health consulting and diagnosis.
government has released to that end 30,560 euros, a sum that is enough
for 4 Armenian h.

NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER IN THE LIMELIGHT OF STATE AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Funded by US State Department ,
Community and Humanitarian Assistance Project Armenian Office of
Counterpart International has provided medical equipment and medicine
in the amount of 320,000 USD to Armenian National Oncology
Center. This is a donation of US National Oncology Coalition.
The center hosted representatives of the organization and the
project today. Counterpart International has committed itself to
continue dispatch of medical equipment to the center with the total
cost of assistance for the running year exceeding 1mln USD. Since
2001, the organization has supplied the center with medical items of
about 12 mln USD through its Community and Humanitarian Assistance
Project.
According to Sergei Khomchenko, a representative of the
organization and the project, Counterpart international assists the
most needy patients. He argued that prevention of oncology illnesses
is far more easier than their treatment. He said that smoking is
widespread in Armenia which is one of the major causes of the illness.
According to Hairapet Galstian, national oncology center head,
thanks to Counterpart International the center is equipped with modern
technology. He said that they are particularly in need of diagnoses
equipment which cost 1mln USD and are not affordable neither for the
state nor the center.
The center head said that government also earmarks funds for the
operation of the center.
US national oncology coalition supports medical program in some 10
countries throughout the world.