CSTO to hold military exercise in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan 2-6 August
Interfax-AVN military news agency web site
9 Jul 04
MOSCOW
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is going to hold
the Rubezh-2004 exercise in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan 2-6 August, an
official of the CSTO’s press service told Interfax-Military News
Agency Friday 9 July .
“The exercise will be participated in by detachments of the armed
forces of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, as well as
by operative groups of their General Staffs, representatives of
charter and working bodies of the organization, plus observers of the
CIS member-states and states parties to the Shanghai Treaty,” he said.
According to him, the exercise is aimed to improve coordination of
control bodies in the course of an operation to stabilize the
situation in Central Asian collective security zone. Moreover, there
are plans to exercise control over the CSTO parties’ forces in
combating international terrorism.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization includes six states,
namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and
Tajikistan.
The Collective Rapid Deployment Force (CRDF) was formed in Central
Asia 25 May 2001, following a decision of leaders of Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, who were parties to the
Collective Security Treaty at that time. As of now, the CRDF
comprises nine battalions with a total strength of 5,500 people. A
Russian AFB in Bishkek has been supporting the CRDF since October
2003.

Linking with ink: Armenian paper celebrates 70 years of news from the
Diaspora
By Monica Deady
Watertown Tab
Friday, July 9, 2004
To exist for 70 years in a world full of shifting, recycling and revamping
is not a small feat. The Armenian Weekly, a weekly ethnic newspaper written
and published in Watertown, has reached the regal age of 70, with plans to
continue on with its task of sharing news of Armenians worldwide.
The Armenian Weekly, published in English, was first published in Boston in
1934 as a means for the Armenian community to learn about what was affecting
the Armenian people throughout the United States and the world. What began
with four pages a week has increased to 20, with a circulation of about
1,700 and a readership of more than 7,000.
The paper moved to the Watertown office in 1985 to be closer to where the
population is centered. According to editor Jason Sohigian, who has been
editor since 1999, Watertown has the largest concentration of Armenians
outside of Los Angeles. It is published by the Hairenik Association of
Watertown.
“Our primary focus is the Armenian view,” Sohigian said, sitting in the
small newspaper office on the first floor of 80 Bigelow Ave. “I think the
Armenian interest or Armenian point of view is not really represented in the
other media. I think it’s a good chance for Armenians to discuss the issues
that affect the community.”
For example, Sohigian said the paper may cover topics like United States aid
to Armenia or dual citizenship.
“For us, I think the way we present things and the topics we choose to
present … it gives people something to think about,” said assistant editor
Sossi Essajanian, who said her family has always received the paper. “We
want not just a newspaper, but a collection of news and analysis.”
The paper, which is what Sohigian called “an organ” of the Armenian
Revolution Federation, an Armenian political party, tries to represent the
points of view of that party in Armenia, and publishes editorials, political
analyses, columns, short stories and poems.
Several newspapers are published as arms of the ARF party in many areas of
the world, Sohigian said, and the Armenian Weekly published in Watertown
focuses on the East Coast of the United States.
Most of the paper’s subscribers are in major cities, where Sohigian said the
Armenian population is concentrated, including Detroit, Chicago, New York
City, Providence, R.I., Boston and Worcester. He said they also have
subscribers from New Jersey, Florida and other parts of the world.
Members of the Armenian Caucus in Congress receive the paper as well,
Sohigian said.
Although the paper does not have any writers on staff, they have
contributors worldwide and longtime columnists, poets and volunteers who
help them with everything from art to translation to copy.
Sohigian said they accept press releases and often work them into stories
and will report on Armenian issues that are concerns to other regions of the
United States and the political activity in Washington, D.C.
“It’s kind of like a community service,” Sohigian said.
Throughout its publication, the paper has focused on youth writing through
the Armenian Youth Federation. Students are encouraged to submit writing,
and it is often one of the first places they are published.
One journalist, Mitch Kehetian, who says he saw his first byline in the
Armenian Weekly, has been a journalist for more than 50 years. He is
currently the editorial page editor at the Macomb Daily, a paper that covers
the northern suburbs of Detroit.
“I always read the local paper because it gives me a feel for the
community,” he said, and said the Armenian Weekly does the same thing.
Tom Vartabedian, a 37-year veteran reporter and photographer at the
Haverhill Gazette, has also been a correspondent for the Armenian Weekly for
34 years. When he was about 20 years old, he volunteered to be the Boston
chapter scribe for the Youth Federation and said his contributions to the
paper never stopped. He has been writing a weekly column since 1970.
“It gives me a chance to exercise my mind and contribute to an ethnic
newspaper,” Vartabedian said. “It’s a vehicle that connects one community to
another. It’s also a tool to publicize a community, and it’s an organ …
it’s our voice,” he said. “It’s a voice for all to be heard.”
“There are a number of things that create a community…” said Hayg Oshagan,
a member of the editorial board, “but having people spread in a geographic
space does not create a community. A community becomes a community when they
have a connection with one another.”
He said the Armenian Weekly is one of those things that can supply the
connections.
“A newspaper creates a forum across the whole region,” said Oshagan, who
worked on the paper for a few summers when he was in college and has been on
the board for about three years. Oshagan said some of the challenges of the
newspaper are finding stringers to work for them and getting the paper to
all of the subscribers in a timely manner, which can be delayed.
Still, he said over the years, he thinks the paper has found a “comfort
zone” and “a way of working well.”
“It connects [Armenians] with the past, it connects them with the present,
it connects them with their origins and their identity,” said Tatul Sonentz,
who has been contributing to the paper since the 1950s. “It will survive, I
believe, as long as there is a community.”
Photo: Assistant editor Sossi Essajanian looks over proofs of The Armenian
Weekly, which is celebrating 70 years of publication. – STAFF PHOTO
BY KATE FLOCK
Monica Deady can be reached at [email protected].

PRESS RELEASE
July 9, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Embassy of Armenia Hosts Presentation on Armenian Science and Lake Sevan
On July 7, 2004, the Embassy of Armenia hosted members of the Federal Water
Quality Association and the Greater Metropolitan Washington Area Section of
the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America for a presentation on
Armenian science and environmental issues. Dr. Arman Kirakossian, Armenian
Ambassador to the U.S., delivered the keynote address, entitled “The State
of the Science in Armenia, with a View Toward the Water Environment of Lake
Sevan,” to an audience of some 60 experts, researchers, and officials from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Civilian Research & Development Foundation, and other
public and private entities.
In his presentation and the Q&A that followed, Ambassador Kirakossian
presented the modern state of scientific infrastructure, policies, and
directions in Armenia. He described the many challenges facing the Armenian
scientists today, such as drastic decrease in government funding, greater
need for commercial viability and involvement of the private sector in
directing and funding R&D, and curtailing the so-called ‘brain-drain.’
Despite these challenges, the Armenian scientists continue to make progress
in many areas of fundamental and applied science due to perseverance and
support from their foreign colleagues and international donors, the
Ambassador noted. He also presented the government’s plans to strengthen
science and education sectors.
Turning to Lake Sevan, Ambassador Kirakossian described the severity of the
man-made ecological problems in Lake Sevan during the twentieth century,
caused by extensive irrigation and hydropower usage. The resulting 18-meter
drop in water level and disruption of water balance in the lake was a good
example of Soviet era environmental damage, he added. The Ambassador then
noted the current positive trends in Lake Sevan ecology, but stressed the
need for continuing attention for and greater international cooperation to
preserve the unique environment of Lake Sevan.

Hucknall Today, UK
July 9 2004
Byron festival off to Hellas of a start
GREECE’S sensational triumph in winning the Euro 2004 football trophy
has given a surprise boost to Hucknall’s seventh International Byron
Festival.
Festival.
There has surely been no greater champion of the Greek nation than
Byron, who gave his life when he supported its people’s fight for
freedom.
In his final poem, ‘On This Day I Complete My Thirty-Sixth Year,’ he
wrote about the glory of Greece and described the country as being
‘awake.’
The festival is always well supported by Greek people, for whom Byron
is a national hero.
Newstead Abbey Byron Society secretary Maureen Crisp said the timing
of Greece’s football success was perfect as far as the festival is
concerned.
The festival got off to an unfortunate start, with four events
scheduled for last weekend proving non-starters.
The world premiere of a new play, ‘Extraordinary Friends Byron and
Shelley,’ and a performance of ‘Beppo’, a Venetian love story, both
written by Bill Studdiford and starring Ian Frost, had to be
cancelled because Bill had suffered a serious knee injury.
An open-air rock concert, to have taken place on Hucknall Market
Place, had to be called off because of a problem with the licence.
And an international concert at Hucknall Parish Church wrongly
appeared on the festival programme, having previously been cancelled.
To make matters worse, a town crier who was supposed to have
performed the traditional opening of the festival did not turn up.
However, the festival can boast some notable successes as well,
including a fashion show at the Central Methodist Church which raised
more than £300 for Hucknall’s Hope Lea Project for people with
learning difficulties.
Food events have also been well patronised – a poached salmon and
real ale lunch, an Italian night of food, wine and music and a
strawberry fayre, all at Hucknall Community Centre. On the same
theme, there will be ‘A Tram Trip And A Thai’ at lunchtime today.
The Byron Cineplex Cinema has got its new tower, showing the word
Byron, during the ten-day festival, and there was a special showing
of the famous film, ‘The Bad Lord Byron,’ on Monday.
Another special event was a music and poetry session, ‘With Great
Pleasure,’ presented by Gwenda Watkins and Gillian Berry, at
Nottingham University’s Gallery Restaurant and Millennium Garden.
And a further highlight was a fascinating talk by Edward Enfield –
father of comedian Harry Enfield – at the Byron Dinner, held at the
community centre, on ‘Byron And The Elgin Marbles.’
The speaker said he would only be in favour of the marbles being
returned to Greece if plans for a museum to house them went ahead.
A top fun event was a ‘Fawlty Towers’ murder mystery night, also at
the community centre.
The festival will reach its climax on Sunday with the dedication of
an Armenian monument, a khatchkar, at Hucknall Parish Church in
memory of former rector the late Canon Fred Green.
This will be followed by a service and a concert of music and poetry
from members of Holgate Comprehensive School and the Lord Byron
School in Armenia.
Tomorrow night there is a tribute to a friendship agreement between
the two schools with a performance by Armenian artiste Shake
Avanessian at the Parish Church.
The final event of the festival will be an official renaming of the
community centre as the Lovelace Centre.
Poet’s on track
THE poet Lord Byron has been honoured in a special new way – by
having a tram named after him.
He is among a number of famous people with Nottingham connections who
are adorning the city’s transport of the future.
A naming ceremony for the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) trams,
which run between Hucknall and the city’s Station Street, proved a
memorable occasion.
Fittingly, it took place in the same week as Hucknall’s International
Byron Festival. Newstead Abbey Byron Society stalwarts Maureen Crisp
and Ken Purslow attended the ceremony, accompanied by three Greek
people in national costume.
Another of the 15 named trams commemorates Salvation Army founder
William Booth, who had a close affinity with the Dispatch district.
Each tram carries the person’s name on the front and back, while a
notice inside reveals more about them.
NET spokesman Colin Lea described the naming ceremony as ‘fantastic’.
THE LAST OF THE PROGRAMME
TODAY
6.30 pm – Heritage bus tour, starts from Hucknall Community Centre,
free of charge but booking essential by ringing 0115 9529303.
12 noon – A Tram Trip And A Thai, a trip by tram to a location in
Basford providing wonderful Thai food, leaving from Hucknall tram
station, £7.50 (including tram fare), bookings in advance only by
ringing 0115 9529303.
7.30 pm – ‘A Poem And A Pint,’ Hucknall Community Centre, traditional
festival event, come along and listen to or recite your favourite
poems, themes this year include friendship, family and love, £3.
TOMORROW
>From 10 am – Flower festival, Seymour Road Baptist Church,.free of
charge, lunches available.
7.30 pm – Concert for Armenia, tribute to the friendship agreement
between Holgate Comprehensive School and the Lord Byron School in
Armenia, includes a performance by Shake Avanessian, supported by
Hucnall Rotary Club, Hucknall Parish Church, £5.
SUNDAY
10 am – Boatswain Walk, bring yourself and your dog for a pleasant
Sunday stroll in memory of Byron’s dog, Boatswain, starts from
Hucknall Community Centre, free of charge.
>From 10 am – Final day of flower festival at Seymour Road Baptist
Church, free of charge.
3 pm – Dedication of khatchkar in memory of the late Canon Fred
Green, followed by a service and concert of music and poetry from
members of Byron Society and students from Holgate School and Lord
Byron School, Hucknall Parish Church.
4 pm – Official ceremony to rename Hucknall Community Centre, free of
charge.

PRAVDA, Russia from RIA Novosti
July 9 2004
Russia wants relations with CIS to be more practical
In his interview to Rossiiskaya Gazeta published Friday, Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised that Russia would make its
relations with the CIS more practicable and less declarative. “I see
a clear-cut recent tendency toward abandoning slogans in relations
with the CIS nations for the benefit of vitally-important
activities,” said the minister.
In his opinion, the chief priority is to examine all the outstanding
problems with each of the CIS countries in a complex.
“They want our fuels; we want them to level the economic models, to
create favorable conditions for people-to-people contacts and for
business exchanges, to develop joint economic projects and to enable
the CIS countries that are prepared for advanced integration to
progress without being dependent on those who are not yet ready for
such integration,” noted Lavrov.
He claims this logical basis was meant when establishing the CIS and
is reflected in its charter.
“Therefore forming a common economic space (to include Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine), developing the Eurasian economic
community (incorporating Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan as well as Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine as observers),
promoting work on the establishment of a Union of Russia and Belarus
as part of a common European economic space are extremely pertinent
for pulling down the barriers that have been artificially erected to
dismember the once single economic organism,” thinks the Russian
foreign minister.
“The necessity of uniting efforts is also caused by matters of
security, protection from common threats, from terrorism and drug
trafficking in our Southern borders, which is the responsibility of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia),” he added.
Dealing with the presence of the United States in the region, the
minister made a point of Russia’s unwillingness to let the CIS become
an area of confrontation.
“If the U.S. presence helps settle conflicts and thus crush breeding
grounds of terrorism and tensions around Russia with the prospect of
its being surrounded by friendly states, we welcome such
developments. But when the aims of such presence are unclear for us,
we seek answers to our questions,” said Lavrov.

International Journalist’s Network
July 9 2004
Fellowships available for Internet course in the Netherlands
Journalists can apply for fellowships to attend a course in the
Netherlands on using the Internet for research, publication and
distribution of news.
The Radio Netherlands Training Center (RNTC) will conduct the course
from May 9 to June 17, 2005. Full scholarships covering travel,
accommodation and course fees, are available for journalists from
Albania, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, and
Mongolia.
Applicants should be mid-career broadcast journalists with a
secondary or professional education and at least three to four years
of media experience. Applicants must also have a good command of both
written and spoken English and basic computer skills.
Before applying for a fellowship, candidates must apply directly to
the RNTC to attend the course. Course applications are due October 1.
Should they be accepted, candidates will receive a conditional letter
of acceptance, after which they can apply for the fellowship.
Fellowship applications must be received in the Netherlands by
January 1, 2005, but fellowship officers at Dutch embassies or
consular posts in the applicant’s country may need up to a month in
advance to process the application.
Course information and application forms are at

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
July 9 2004
Pepe: We Would Like To Share Our Experiences With Azerbaijan
BAKU – Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said on
Friday that Turkey has a great experience in forestry issues, and
added ”we would like to share our experience with Azerbaijan.”
Pepe and Azerbaijani Ecology and Natural Resources Minister
Huseyngulu Bagirov signed a Cooperation Agreement on Protection of
Environment in Baku today and held a joint press conference.
Pepe said that they encountered various problems in protecting the
environment and launched an appeal for a public support in this area.
On the other hand, Bagirov said that there were wide opportunities
for a cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan in the environment
matters. He added that the basis of this cooperation will be provided
with the agreement signed today.
Answering questions of reporters, Pepe said that cooperation among
the regional countries was very important to solve environmental
problems. ”Without cooperation” he added, ”every country should
pay a heavy price”.
Upon a question about the nuclear power plant in Armenia, Pepe
reminded that the power plant is very close to Turkey’s border. He
said however that tests were conducted in the region and it was
revealed that the radiation level was not above the accepted limits.
Answering to another question, Pepe indicated that Turkey is very
interested in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline and adding that
”meanwhile they were also focused on protection and diversity of the
environment”.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 9 2004
PAKISTANI PRESIDENT RECEIVES AZERBAIJAN FOREIGN MINISTER
[July 09, 2004, 21:10:54]
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf
received at his residence Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mammadyarov, July 9. During the meeting, the Pakistani
President expressed his satisfaction with results of the visit and
noted that the fruitful exchange of views on a wide range of
international and regional issues he had had with President Ilham
Aliyev would have very positive impact on further deepening of
cooperation between the two countries.
Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov updated President
Musharraf in detail on the steps the country had taken with respect
to the settlement of the Armenia – Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh noting that Azerbaijan is striving to solve the
problem on the base of the international legal norms, UN SC’s
relevant resolutions and its territorial integrity. The Minister
expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani President for supporting the
fair stance of Azerbaijan in various international organizations.
Elmar Mammadyarov also stressed the necessity to bring economic
relations between the two countries up to the level of their existing
political partnership.
President Musharraf expressed his country’s readiness for active
cooperation with Azerbaijan in oil and gas sector, light industry and
agriculture. He also expressed confidence that relevant structure of
Azerbaijan and Pakistan would take active steps in this direction.

BISNIS Trades & Tenders
07/08/2004
Dear BISNIS Clients:
BISNIS Trades & Tenders program designed to help U.S. companies secure
export transactions and take advantage of tender opportunities in the
region. Trades & Tenders summary reports are distributed via email. To
search previously distributed Trades & Tenders leads online, visit
This issue of BISNIS Trades & Tenders includes opportunities in:
1.) Automotive
2.) Computer Hardware and Peripherals
3.) Construction Materials and Equipment
4.) Medical Services And Equipment
5.) Mining and Metallurgy
6.) Telecommunications
7A.) Transportation and Distribution
7B.) Transportation and Distribution
** Companies replying to these leads should consider using the BISNIS
FinanceLink program, which distributes information about planned
transactions seeking financing to organizations open to financing
business activities in the region. Please see:
**
***************************************************************************
1.) AUTOMOTIVE – The Irrigation Rehabilitation Project Implementation
Unit, Yerevan, Armenia – Tender for Supply of Vehicles For Water Users
Association
For more information on the Automotive Sector in the NIS, please contact
Charles Raether at BISNIS at [email protected]
2.) COMPUTER HARDWARE AND PERIPHERALS – Ark Computers – Office equipment
Tbilisi Georgia
For more information on the Computer Hardware and Peripherals Sector in
the NIS, please contact Chris Christov at BISNIS at
[email protected]
3.) CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT – Comfort R&V – glue for
ceramic tiles, doors and windows, accessories for swimming pools –
Yerevan, 375028 Armenia
For more information on the Construction Materials and Equipment Sector
in the NIS, please contact Irina Mitchell at BISNIS at
[email protected]
4.) MEDICAL SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT –
Medical Equipment & Products – InterDiagnostika LLC – Used
Electrophysiological Laboratory Equipment – Yerevan, Armenia
For more information on the Medical Services And Equipment Sector in the
NIS, please contact Desi Jordanoff at BISNIS at [email protected]
5.) MINING AND METALLURGY – Armenian Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development – Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Enterprise CJSC sale of shares
For more information on the Mining and Metallurgy Sector in the NIS,
please contact Chris Christov at BISNIS at [email protected]
6.) TELECOMMUNICATIONS – Georgian National Communications Commission –
Auction for Cellular Communication Licence
For more information on the Telecommunications Sector in the NIS, please
contact Chris Christov at BISNIS at [email protected]
7A.) TRANSPORTATION AND DISTRIBUTION – Railroad Equipment & Transport –
IDA Grant to Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communications – Tender
For Supply of Wooden Sleepers
7B.) Port and Shipbuilding Equipment – Poti Port – Production of naval
tugboat
For more information on the Transportation and Distribution Sector in
the NIS, please contact Irina Mitchell at BISNIS at
[email protected]
*******Note*******
These opportunities are provided solely as an informational service and
do not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Verification of these leads is the responsibility of the reader.
This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for
the Newly Independent States (BISNIS). BISNIS is the U.S. Government’s
primary resource center for U.S. companies exploring business
opportunities in Russia and other Newly Independent States of the former
Soviet Union. BISNIS website:

ArmenPress
July 9 2004
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REAFFIRMS PLANS TO VETO TURKEY’S OSCE
CHAIRMANSHIP
YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS: In what can be described as an
explicit indication, Armenian foreign affairs minister Vartan
Oskanian reaffirmed Thursday that Armenia would use its veto power to
prevent Turkey from assuming the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2007.
Oskanian had first disclosed this plan during a talk at the Center
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington on June
14.
In response to a question what his vision of the OSCE was Oskanian
said, as was cited by California Courier online: “Armenia has the
veto power, which we will use, because Turkey has not risen to the
occasion. We cannot allow a country to be chairman in office with
which we don’t have diplomatic ties. We cannot allow a country to be
chairman in office of OSCE which negotiates the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict, and the chairman has certain rights and privileges that can
be used against Armenia, especially given Turkey’s policy in these
past 12 years towards the region, which has been extremely
unbalanced, and given its unequivocal support and solidarity toward
Azerbaijan and one-sided policy toward Nagorno Karabagh.”
Drawing parallels with the European Union, Oskanian said Thursday
in Yerevan that the chairmanship of the European Commission has to be
represented by a country that is directly involved in all EU
programs. “The announcement that Armenia would use its veto power not
to allow Turkey to take up the OSCE chairmanship is conditioned by
this circumstance and is not aimed to start trading with Turkey,”
Oskanian said.
In a reference to the weekend visit of the OSCE Minsk group
chairmen to the region Oskanian said they are not bringing new
proposals for the resolution of the Karabagh conflict, as “the
negotiations on the level of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers and presidents have not built sufficient grounds for them
to offer written proposals.” Oskanian said the meetings in Yerevan,
Baku and Stepanakert will be of consultative character.