Russian nuclear power station holds accident drill
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
28 Sep 04
Yekaterinburg, 28 September: Wide-ranging exercises on dealing with
an emergency started at 0800 [0400 gmt] today at the Beloyarskaya
nuclear power plant near Yekaterinburg, the plant’s spokesman,
Marianna Bakanova, told ITAR-TASS.
The exercise is organized by the Rosenergoatom company which operates
the plant. Over 500 people are taking part in the drill observed by
officials from the USA, France, China, Ukraine and Armenia.
Management and personnel of the plant are taking part in the drill
along with experts from the emergency and crisis centre of the
Rosenergoatom concern and technical support centres for nuclear
power stations (OPAS) [Russ: okazaniye pomoshchi atomnym stantsiyam]
as well as some hardware and forces invited for the purpose from the
Russian Emergencies and Defence Ministries.
Operational cooperation and the exchange of information when dealing
with a possible emergency at the plant are to be improved during the
drill. The work of special communication equipment and hardware will
be checked as well.
One BN-600 reactor is operating at the plant now. It is the most
powerful fast neutron reactor in the world. Experts from Rosenergoatom
have plans to use nuclear waste that is being brought to Russia in
such reactors.
The third unit of the station is expected to be in service for 30
years and is to be closed by 2010. The fourth power unit with an
800 MW BN-800 reactor is being built at the plant at present and is
expected to be finished in 2009.

Russia’s Gazprom set to participate in Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project
A1+ web site
28 Sep 04
The Russian and Armenian interparliamentary commission for
economic issues is planning to discuss involvement of Russia’s
Gazprom company in the building of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline in
mid-October. Sources close to Gazprom report that the company wants
to participate in the construction of the Armenian section of the
gas pipeline from Megri to Yerevan via Kadzharan.
The building cost of the gas pipeline across the Armenian territory
will amount to 30m dollars, and this money has already been allocated
from the Export Development Bank of Iran. Thus, Gazprom’s participation
in the gas pipeline project has become real.

CHINESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS – SEPT 28, 2004
Asia Pulse
Sep 28, 2004
BEIJING, Sept 28 Asia Pulse – Highlights of today’s newspapers:
PEOPLE’S DAILY:
– Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Monday that China is
ready to make joint efforts with Armenia to raise bilateral relations
to a new level. He made the remark in talks with visiting Armenian
President Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, who is on his first state
visit to China as president.
– Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said that the people of northwest China’s
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region should devote themselves to building
a new type of relations between different ethnic groups during his
visit in the region on Monday. “The various ethnic groups in the region
should get together and develop a new type of socialist relationship
of an equal, friendly and mutually beneficial nature,” said Wen, who
returned Saturday after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
CHINA YOUTH DAILY:
– China successfully launched its 20th recoverable satellite for
scientific and technological experiments from the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center, in northwestern China’s deserts, at 16:00 Monday.
ECONOMIC DAILY:
– Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said that the people of northwest China’s
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region should devote themselves to building
a new type of relations between different ethnic groups during his
visit in the region on Monday. “The various ethnic groups in the region
should get together and develop a new type of socialist relationship
of an equal, friendly and mutually beneficial nature,” said Wen, who
returned Saturday after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
– A grand reception was held Monday at the Great Hall of the People for
foreign experts working in China, on the eve of the 55th anniversary of
the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Vice Premier
Huang Ju delivered a speech at the reception. He said that since
the founding of the PRC, and especially since China instituted the
reform and opening-up policy, China has made great achievement. The
annual economic growth rate has averaged 9.4% over the past 25 years,
he said, adding that the living standard of the Chinese has continued
to improve.
CHINA DAILY:
– With a bumper harvest in sight for this year, China is sowing the
seeds for a fruitful 2005, planning its acreage of wheat – the nation’s
second most important crop after rice – by 666,600 hectares. The
added area is expected to increase China’s wheat production by at
least 3.5 million tons, said Xiaobing, an official with the Ministry
of Agriculture.
GUANGMING DAILY:
– Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Monday that China is
ready to make joint efforts with Armenia to raise bilateral relations
to a new level. He made the remark in talks with visiting Armenian
President Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, who is on his first state
visit to China as president.
– China successfully launched its 20th recoverable satellite for
scientific and technological experiments from the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center, in northwestern China’s deserts, at 16:00 Monday.
ECONOMIC INFORMATION DAILY:
– China’s township businesses have reported a total of 2,744.7
billion yuan (US$332.3 billion) of added value in January-to-August
this year, up 12.82% on a yearly basis. According to figures released
by the Township Enterprise Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture,
main indicators such as industrial added value, operational income,
export value of products for delivery, benefit and taxation have all
shown a coordinated and stable upward trend.
CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL:
– The additional stock issue scheme of Shanghai-listed Baoshan Steel
(600019) was adopted at its general meeting of shareholders on
September 27.
– The central bank’s monetary policy committee suggests appropriate
regulation over fluidity in the financial system.

Georgia’s ethnic Armenians appeal to president over surge in firewood price
A1+ web site
28 Sep 04
27 September: A surge in firewood and coal prices has
compelled residents of Javakhetia [Georgia’s Armenian-populated
Samtskhe-Javakheti Region] to appeal to [Georgian President Mikheil]
Saakashvili.
Over 2,000 residents of Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki signed the appeal
to the president, requesting him to take urgent measures to regulate
prices of winter fuel.
As of today, A-Info reports, an average family needs 400 dollars to
buy firewood or 600 dollars to buy coal to heat the house.

Turkish F.M. Gul Holds A Press Conference On His Meetings In New York
Turkish Press.com
28 sept 04
NEW YORK – Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told him
that “Turkey became a model for the world thanks to the reforms it
accomplished.” He stated that this transformation in Turkey gave a
positive signal to the world.
Gul, who attended the 59th session of the United Nations General
Assembly, held a press conference on Monday.
“I had meetings with foreign ministers of Iran, Sudan, Thailand,
China, Ukraine, Armenia and Pakistan and met UN Secretary General
today. A meeting of D-8 countries’ foreign ministers was also held. I
attended this meeting and took the floor. All those meetings were
very fruitful,” Gul said.
Stating that Annan and himself discussed Cyprus and Iraq, Gul said
that he told Annan that the number of Turkish citizens working for
the UN is very low.
Answering a question, Gul said that Greek Cypriot press reports
saying that Annan would undertake a new initiative on Cyprus were
not discussed during the meeting.
“On the contrary, I told him that we support his plan. Turkish
Cypriots voted in favor of it. Turkish Cypriots said (yes), while the
other side said (no). I told him ‘thus, Turkish Cypriot side should
be awarded now’, noting that we expect him to lead on this issue. He
said that he mentioned clearly those things in his report and he will
do what is necessary.”
-CHINA-
Gul said that Chinese Foreign Minister and himself discussed bilateral
relations in their meeting.
Stating that there was a great gap in trade between Turkey and China,
Gul said that trade volume between the two countries amounted to 2.6
billion U.S. dollars. He noted that China exports goods worth of 2
billion U.S. dollars while Turkey exports goods worth the remaining
600 million U.S. dollars.
“I said in the meeting that this gap should be closed. I also
said that China should give Turkish businessmen more opportunity,”
he noted.
“I also asked Chinese Foreign Minister that China should announce
Turkey as a destination for Chinese tourists. They said that they
will work on the matter,” he noted.
-IRAN-
Gul also had a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazzi.
“As you know, Iranian President Khatami postponed his visit to
Turkey. He phoned (Turkish) President and Prime Minister and said that
he wants to pay a visit to Turkey as soon as possible. We considered
this normal,” Gul said.
Stating that Iran’s nuclear studies were discussed in the meeting,
Gul said, “Kharrazzi informed me on the issue. He said that they were
carrying out those studies for peaceful aims. He also noted that they
support the idea to establish a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.”
“I told him that their cooperation with International Atom Energy
Agency and (Iran’s) compliance with international agreements will be
good for them,” he noted.
Answering a question, Gul said that there was a good relationship
between Turkey and Iran.”
-SUDAN-
Informing reporters on his meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister
Mustafa Othman Ismail, Gul said, “Darfur is one of the most important
matters on the international agenda. Thus, peaceful solution of this
problem is very important. Some tragedies of humanity have been
taking place there.”
Recalling that they sent an aid convoy to Darfur in recent weeks,
Gul said, “the minister thanked me. I told him that we will deal
with the issue. Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) should be
active on this issue. After Prof. Ekmelleddin Ihsanoglu undertakes
the office as secretary general of OIC, the organization will be more
active on this issue.”
-ARMENIA-
Gul said that Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian informed
him on the on-going talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stating,
“presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met last month. He informed me
on this issue. Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan met four
times in Prague. He also talked about results of those meetings. I
said that we will continue to play the role of catalyst between the
two countries.”

Commercial Bank of Greece to sell stakes in Armenian and Georgian units
AFX Europe (Focus)
Sep 28, 2004
ATHENS (AFX) – Commercial Bank of Greece (Emporiki Bank) announced
today it plans to sell the majority stakes it owns in the subsidiaries
in Emporiki Bank Armenia and Emporiki Bank-Georgia.
According to a source, Emporiki Bank has already found bidders.
Emporiki currently owns a 76.52 pct stake in Emporiki Bank Armenia
and a 75 pct stake in Emporiki Bank-Georgia.
Source: Euro2day NewsWire
[email protected]

Armenia unhappy about US plans to deploy military bases in Azerbaijan – paper
Aravot, Yerevan
28 Sep 04
entitled “USA reaches Azerbaijan” and subheaded “Another piece of
bad news for Armenia”
28 September: Azerbaijani sources have confirmed that Azerbaijani
Defence Minister Safar Abiyev and US Deputy Assistant Secretary for
European and Eurasian Affairs Steven Pifer on Tuesday [21 September]
discussed prospects of military cooperation, including the stationing
of US military bases in this country. This report has caused Armenia’s
concern.
The matter is that according to some reports, it is planned to station
US military bases on territories under the control of Armenian forces
in the so-called “occupied” districts of Cabrayil, Fuzuli and Zangilan
[southwest Azerbaijan], which, incidentally, border on Iran.
When reports about the return of “occupied” territories cropped up
again, the talk was precisely about those three districts, which,
undoubtedly, are of strategic importance both for the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic and Armenia, and also in this case for the USA,
which is about to realize its far-reaching goals.
The secretary of the Justice bloc faction, Viktor Dallakyan, said that
there were two arguments in favour of deploying US military bases
on liberated territories. “First, the USA is interested in putting
into operation roads and the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Second, the
US presence in these districts is important for the USA to establish
control over Iran and unleash actions at the right moment.”

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 28, 2004
___________________
ACYOA CENTRAL COUNCIL WORKS ON IMPLEMENTING GOALS
You can’t move forward without a map. During their first meeting this
fall, the volunteer leaders of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of
America (ACYOA) sat down to look at their map and see how they can get
to where they want to go.
The ACYOA Central Council and its executive secretary gathered at the
St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church in Wynnewood, PA, on Saturday, September
11, 2004, to plan ways to reach the organization’s goals for the coming
year, which were established during a July meeting in New York City.
PLANNING GROWTH
During the July meeting — with the input of Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, and Dr. Sam Mikaelian,
executive director of the Diocesan Center– the ACYOA Central Council
compiled a list of goals for the group, divided into four categories for
the organization to address.
Each broader goal was given a time frame for completion, and each was
broken into smaller goals, to facilitate planning and execution.
According to the goals set by the Central Council by May 2005, ACYOA
will:
* Improve communications by increasing contacts between the Central
Council and the chapters and parishes;
* Strengthen existing programs by expanding and improving its highly
successful Armenia Service Program (ASP) trip to Armenia in 2005,
studying the possibility of establishing a second trip to Armenia, and
planning unique fall regional conferences to be held in each region;
* Work with local parishes and chapters to expand local chapters,
develop resources for local leaders, and establish or revitalize three
new chapters;
* Implement a new fundraising strategy by establishing a fundraising
committee and developing new fundraising methods.
CONNECTING PARISHES
One new project discussed during the September meeting is called “ACYOA
Fasts for Armenia.” This effort is meant to allow local ACYOA chapters
throughout the Diocese to participate in the same project on the same
day.
During “ACYOA Fasts for Armenia,” to be held on a day yet to be
determined, ACYOA members will come together and fast while
participating in Bible studies and other activities. The objective is
to increase hunger awareness and raise funds to benefit Armenia.
It is just one of the ways the Diocesan ACYOA leadership is working to
tie together young Armenians in parishes throughout the Diocese. They
will host a series of fall regional conferences this year, bringing
young Armenians together to discuss their faith. Topics of discussion
will include learning to live within God’s word, sexuality and spouses,
and programming ideas for local ACYOA leaders.
The first regional conference will be for Midwest regional parishes on
Saturday, October 23, 2004, at the St. John Church of Southfield, MI.
Mid-Atlantic parishes will meet at the St. Mary Church of Livingston,
NJ, on Saturday, November 6, 2004. The Holy Resurrection Church in New
Britain, CT, will host the New England parishes on Saturday, November
13, 2004. And on Saturday, January 15, 2005, Southern parishes will
gather at the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX.
These day-long conferences are free and open to anyone between the ages
of 18 and 28. If you would like more information on any of the
conferences, e-mail ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian at
[email protected].
ACYOA members and young Armenains will also have the chance to get
together this fall in Boston, when the ACYOA chapter at the Holy Trinity
Church of Cambridge, MA, hosts the Archbishop’s Tournament.
Besides planning ACYOA programming, during their fall meeting the
Central Council members discussed other projects, including
participation in the upcoming meeting of the Standing Committee of
Oriental Orthodox Youth of America (SCOOYA) and sending representatives
to a Pan-American Youth Meeting to be held in October. That meeting
will bring together youth leaders from the Eastern Diocese, Western
Diocese, and Canadian Diocese to help increase communication and discuss
common challenges that face the youth of the Armenian Church.
After their business meeting, on Sunday, September 12, all seven ACYOA
Central Council members worshipped with the parishioners at the St.
Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, after which they joined the parish for its
annual parish picnic.
— 9/28/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Members of the Central Council of the Armenian
Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA) gather in Wynnewood, PA,
for a planning meeting on September 11, 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): During a recent meeting, the ACYOA Central Council
set goals and objectives for the coming year, which include supporting
local parishes in establishing ACYOA chapters and formulating a
fund-raising strategy.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): The St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood,
PA, welcomed the ACYOA Central Council members during its annual picnic
on September 12, 2004.
# # #

Georgian government abolishes Armenian history lessons at schools – agency
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
28 Sep 04
Akhalkalaki, 28 September: Under a decision of the Georgian Education
[and Science] Ministry, optional lessons have been removed from
the curriculum beginning this academic year. As A-Info news agency
reports, this has caused anxiety in the Javakhk schools [in Georgia’s
Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti Region].
The problem is that Armenian history lessons are not included in
the curriculum, and Armenian history is taught there as optional
lessons. In fact, since optional lessons have been abolished, Armenian
pupils have been deprived of an opportunity to learn the history of
their ancestors.

Ethnic Armenian appointed chief adviser of Georgian president
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
28 Sep 04
Akhalkalaki, 28 September: The former head of the Akhalkalaki District
executive authorities, [ethnic Armenian] Artyush Ambartsumyan, was
appointed the chief adviser of the Georgian presidential administration
on 23 September.
As A-Info news agency reports, Ambartsumyan will be in charge of
regional problems and ethnic issues.