PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Meets with Powell, Rice in Washington
Foreign Minister Oskanian is on a two-day working visit to the United
States.
On Monday, June 14, he held two separate meetings with Secretary of
State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice. At
each meeting, the Minister discussed key matters of bilateral interest,
such as expanded trade and deeper economic cooperation, including the
Millennium Challenge Account. They also explored developments in the
Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process, regional matters, including
regional security issues, Armenia’s relations with Turkey, and the
upcoming NATO Summit.
The Minister also met with Mira Rickardel, Assistant to the Secretary
of Defense for Europe and Eurasia, and Assistant Secretary of State
Elizabeth Jones. With each, Minister Oskanian discussed regional
stability and cooperation, as well as the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process and prospects for a resolution.
During his first day, the Minister delivered a talk at the Center
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The audience, a
mix of representatives of official Washington, as well as think
tanks, research centers, press and academia, heard the Minister
assess Armenia’s foreign policy challenges, its security agenda,
the importance of maintaining regional stability and security, and
the significnce of democratic processes and sustained economic growth
to each of these concerns.
On Tuesday, the Minister will meet with members of the US Senate
and Congress, as well as representatives of the media, as well
as Armenian-American organizations. He will leave for Yerevan on
Wednesday.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK
June 14, 2004
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS U.S.
A delegation led by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is in Washington this
week for two days of high-level meetings with U.S. Administration officials
and members of Congress. On Monday, Oskanian met with the President’s
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, her deputy Stephen Hadley,
Secretary of State Colin Powell, Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth
Jones and Assistant Secretary of Defense Mira Ricardel. The talks focused on
bilateral security cooperation and U.S. economic assistance, as well as the
ongoing Karabakh peace process and Armenia’s relations with Turkey. Meetings
with key members of the Senate and House of Representatives, including
leaders of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, are set for Tuesday.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a leading
Washington-based think tank, Oskanian outlined Armenia’s priorities in three
interconnected areas: internal political stability and democratic
development, sustained economic growth and settlement of regional conflicts.
He noted that Armenia’s selection as one of only sixteen countries worldwide
eligible for additional U.S. aid in the framework of the Millennium
Challenge Account reflects approval of Armenia’s economic and political
reforms. But Oskanian stressed that Armenia’s leaders recognized that more
progress is needed in these two areas.
Last week, the Armenian National Assembly gave preliminary approval to
sending a peacekeeping unit to Iraq. The Parliament voted to ratify
Armenia’s Status of Forces agreement with Kuwait, paving the way for a
deployment of a 30-truck transportation company, military engineers and
medics, via that country to support U.S.-led stabilization operations in
Iraq. Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces’ General Staff General Mikael
Harutiunian said two weeks ago that Armenia’s commitment to contribute to
the U.S.-led effort was unaffected by continued violence in Iraq. According
to U.S. and Armenian officials, the deployment is expected by September.
Also this Wednesday, the Senate will hold hearings on the nomination of John
Evans as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia. Evans, a decorated veteran of
the foreign service with experience in Eastern Europe and Iran, is expected
to replace Ambassador John Ordway, who is completing his mission in Armenia
later this summer to become Ambassador to Kazakhstan. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 4-30; AAA Press Release 5-7; Federal News Service 6-7; RFE/RL Armenia
Report 6-8; R&I Report 6-14)
POSSIBLE PROGRESS ON KARABAKH SEEN DESPITE CONTINUED AZERI HOSTILITY
The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing a new
approach to resolving the Karabakh conflict, both officials have confirmed.
Following high-level discussions in April and May, Vartan Oskanian and Elmar
Mamediarov are set to resume negotiations in the Czech Republic this
weekend. In an interview last Friday, Mamediarov said that talks are
focusing on developing a new plan that would include elements of the 1997
“step-by-step” proposal and “package” options discussed since then. Speaking
in Washington this Monday, Oskanian confirmed such discussions were
underway.
The 1997 plan called for Armenian withdrawal from areas adjacent to NKR in
exchange for lifting of the Azeri blockades and limited security guarantees,
with the status of Karabakh left to be determined in future talks.
Incorporation of elements of the “package” approach may imply an early Azeri
commitment to the mechanism that would determine Karabakh’s status.
Meanwhile, an almost daily barrage of militant rhetoric by Azeri officials
and media continues unabated. Last week President Ilham Aliyev again made,
by now, customary threats of a new war. The Azeri government said it
launched “criminal investigations” against the Presidents of Armenia and NKR
for their roles in defeating Azerbaijan’s military in the early 1990s. Azeri
peace activists who did not heed Aliyev’s call for an end to all
non-government contacts with ethnic Armenians were again harassed by
government-linked radicals.
More ominously, Azeri military units resumed provocations along the Line of
Contact last week leading to at least one person killed on each side – the
worst instance of a cease-fire violation since last winter. Both then and
now escalations precede preparatory events for NATO’s Cooperative Best
Effort exercises due in Baku this September. Azeri officials now claim that
they would not hinder Armenian participation in the preparatory event set
for June 21. But after similar claims in January, three Armenian officials
were denied visas and barred from boarding a Baku-bound plane.
Lack of good faith and Azerbaijan’s refusals to implement any
confidence-building measures are likely to undermine any progress in talks.
Recently, NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian urged international organizations
to focus on ending what has become known as the information “war” waged by
Azerbaijan before turning to settlement plans. (Sources: Armenia This Week
1-16, 5-21; Azad Azerbaycan 6-2; Noyan Tapan 6-5; Turan 6-10, 12; RFE/RL
6-11, 14; ANS 6-14; R&I Report 6-14)
Visit the Armenia This Week archive dating back to 1997 at
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(202) 638-4904
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Armenian Assembly of America
Research and Information Office
ISSUE BRIEF: ARMENIA AND NATO SUMMIT IN TURKEY
June 14, 2004
BACKGROUND: President Robert Kocharian is not attending the June 28-29 NATO
Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. Instead, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is
leading the Armenian delegation. This decision was prompted by continued
aggressive Turkish policies towards Armenia, and does not reflect any
Armenian concerns with NATO.
In the absence of any appreciable progress in relations between Armenia and
Turkey after years of talks, Armenia’s President decided not to attend the
NATO Summit in Turkey in order to call international attention to Turkey’s
continued hostility against Armenia.
– ARMENIA-NATO RELATIONS: In February 2004 Armenia deployed a peacekeeping
platoon to Kosovo, as part of the Greek contingent of the US-led
multinational brigade in KFOR. In Iraq, Armenia is set to deploy a
transportation company, as well as de-mining engineers and medical units. In
June 2003, Armenia hosted the NATO PfP Military Exercise “Co-operative Best
Effort 2003,” with participation of 19 states, including Turkey. Last March,
Armenia ratified the Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA). At the same time, Armenia’s Minister of Defense announced that
Armenia would submit an official application to participate in NATO’s
Individual Partnership Action Plan, the most advanced type of engagement
short of actual membership. Armenia appointed a Military Representative to
NATO on May 1 and an Ambassador, whose sole portfolio will be NATO, will
assume office this summer. The annual meeting of the PfP Political-Military
Committee with Armenia took place at NATO HQ, in April 2004. The meeting,
which was held with all partners, covered Armenia’s participation in the
Planning and Review Process, and approved Armenia’s Partnership Goals for
2004, outlining Armenia’s tasks for the next two-year cycle. Although
neither invited, nor self-invited to join NATO, Armenia will continue to
strengthen its partnership with NATO. Senior U.S. and NATO officials have
repeatedly praised Armenia for strides it has made in the development of
closer relations with the alliance.
– TURKEY’S ARMENIA POLICY: Since Armenia regained its independence in 1991,
Turkey has steadfastly refused to establish diplomatic relations. For over
a decade Turkey has also maintained a land blockade against Armenia, defying
international treaties and U.S. law, as well as ignoring calls by the United
States and European Union to open its border. Turkey links normalization to
Armenian concessions on the Karabakh conflict. Turkey has also provided
military and diplomatic assistance uncritically championing Azerbaijan’s
views on the Karabakh conflict. By introducing the blockade against its
neighbor when it did, Turkey aimed to harm Armenia and assist Azerbaijan in
its war against Karabakh Armenians.
– INTERNATIONAL REACTION TO THE TURKISH BLOCKADE: Turkey’s blockade against
Armenia is not sanctioned by any international entity. In fact, both the
United States and the European Union (EU) have repeatedly called for its
lifting. President George W. Bush said that he looks forward to “Turkey
restoring economic, political, and cultural links with Armenia.” The
European Parliament has called for making normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations a pre-condition for Turkey’s accession to the EU. Turkey is in
violation of the 1921 Treaty of Moscow and the Treaty of Kars, which
established the current Armenian-Turkish border. According to these
treaties, Turkey is bound to “uninterrupted communication between the two
countries” and “secure the free movement of persons and goods.”
– ARMENIA’S TURKEY POLICY: Despite Turkey’s confrontational policies and
actions, Armenia’s response has been consistent since independence – normal
relations with Turkey without preconditions. Armenia appreciates that its
most direct links to the west are via Turkey, that Turkey’s most direct
access to the southern rim of the former Soviet Union is via Armenia as well
and that an open border will dramatically enhance the economic development
of eastern Turkey and Armenia. Despite Turks’ claims to the contrary,
President Kocharian has stated that Armenia has no territorial claims
against Turkey.
– ARMENIAN-TURKISH TALKS: Direct Armenian-Turkish contacts resumed after
Armenia lifted its objections to holding the 1999 summit of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul and as several
Western governments pledged to seek moderation and engagement from Turkey in
its future relations with Armenia. Officials from the Ecevit government and
the new Turkish government elected in late 2002 and now led by Prime
Minister Tayyib Erdogan promised to re-think Turkish policies, strongly
hinting at a positive change. But more recently, they have again ruled the
lifting of preconditions as “out of the question.”

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
The European Union Commission Reaffirms Armenia’s Inclusion in the New
Neighborhood Initiative
On June 14, the European Union General Affairs and External Relations
Council reaffirmed the Commission’s proposal to include Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan in its New Neighborhood Initiative. This decision means that the
three countries will each develop individual plans for deeper cooperation
with and possible integration into Europe. At the same time, each country’s
advancement will be judged individually, based on its own merits and
accomplishments.
The Council noted that the region is stable and that Europe is interested in
bolstering democracy and prosperity in the region. It also took into
consideration the suggestions of the European Parliament and the EU’s
Special Representative on the South Caucasus to include the three countries
in the New Neighborhood Initiative. The Council noted that this marks an
important step in the EU’s involvement in the region.
The Council also invited the Commision and the representative of the General
Secretary/High Representative to present individual country reports on
matters relating to political cooperation, as well as foreign and security
policy, and taking into consideration individual political and economic
reforms.
The decision must be finalized at the EU Council meeting on June 17-18.
Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian, welcomed the
Council’s determination and said Armenia awaits the final decision later
this week, and looks forward to an even deeper relationship with the EU,
that brings with it the prospect, if not the promise, of full European
integration.

RUSSIA THREATENS GEORGIA WITH GAS CUTOFF OVER DEBTS
ITAR-TASS news agency
15 Jun 04
Moscow, 15 June: “Gazprom” may limit gas supplies to Georgia over
its outstanding debts, Aleksandr Ryazanov, deputy chairman of the
company’s board, said today.
He said that Georgia’s current debt for Russian gas amounted to about
12m dollars. Despite promises to settle the payment in the near future
and submit a schedule for paying off earlier debts, Georgia has failed
to provide appropriate documents.
Ryazanov said that talks with Georgia on the debt are planned for
this week.
“Gazprom” is committed to setting up a joint enterprise in
Georgia. Georgia, however, has not yet accepted this proposal, Ryazanov
said. A joint venture can either be engaged in joint sales of gas in
Georgia or deal with upgrading Georgia’s gas transportation system.
“Gazprom” is interested in upgrading Georgia’s gas transportation
system since gas to Armenia passes through it, PRIME-TASS said.

Russia’s Gazprom may limit natural gas exports to Georgia
Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
June 15, 2004
MOSCOW, June 15 (Prime-Tass) — Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom
may limit natural gas exports to Georgia, Deputy Chairman of the
company’s board of directors Alexander Ryazanov told a briefing
Tuesday.
According to Ryazanov, Georgia’s current debt for Russian gas exports
amounts to U.S. USD 12 million.
Although the Georgian government promised Gazprom to work out a
payment system for the current gas supplies, no relevant documents
have been signed so far, Ryazanov said
Ryazanov said that Gazprom plans to hold talks with the Georgian
government this week on the issue.
He also said that Gazprom is interested in setting up a joint venture
in Georgia but Georgia did not accept this offer.
According to Ryazanov the joint venture could help to modernize the
country’s transportation system.
Gazprom is interested in the upgrade of Georgia’s gas transportation
system because it is essential for Russian gas transit to Armenia.
On May 25 Georgia’s Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said that Georgia
intended to pay 50% of its debt to Russia for natural gas exports
by mid-autumn.
In 2004 Gazexport, Gazprom’s exports sales arm, accounted for 100%
of gas supplies to Georgia.
Tbilgaz’ total debt to Gazprom stood at USD 7.4 million as of March 10.
Georgia imports about 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas annually. End

The Armenian connection
By Malcolm Pein
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)
June 15, 2004, Tuesday
THE England number one Michael Adams put the shutters up and kept
Garry Kasparov at bay with the black pieces in round four of the
match between “Armenia” and the Rest of the World taking place in
Moscow.
Facing the English Opening, Adams chose the Hedgehog set-up and
defended patiently in a cramped position. Gradually the Cornishman
found some counterplay, which enabled him to engineer some exchanges
into a drawn position on move 45. With two games to play, the score
is 14-10 to the Rest of the World.
Loek Van Wely’s nightmare tournament continued and he was forced into
a passive position by Vladimir Akopian, who took his time before
infiltrating with his rooks to win a pawn. Boris Gelfand more than
equalised against Vishy Anand but the Indian steered the game into a
drawn rook and pawn endgame.
The contest commemorates the 75th anniversary of the late Armenian
world champion Tigran Petrosian. All the players in the Armenian team
have Armenian connections: three are Armenian nationals – Vladimir
Akopian, Smbat Lputian and Rafael Vaganian; Kasparov’s mother Klara
is Armenian, as is Peter Leko’s wife, Sophie Petrosian; Boris Gelfand
studied under Petrosian in the 1980s.
Rest of the World 3-3 Armenia. Kasparov (Armenia) draw Adams English
Opening Hedgehog, 45 moves; Lputian (Armenia) 0-1 Bacrot, Slav
4…a6, 54; Leko (Armenia) draw Svidler, Sicilian Scheveningen, 20;
Anand draw Gelfand (Armenia), Petroff, 30; Vallejo Pons draw
Vaganian, French Defence Winawer 5…Ba5, 48; Van Wely 0-1 Akopian
(Armenia), Queen’s Indian 4.g3, 65
Leko’s direct 6…Nc6 threatens Nxd4 and Van Wely finds that 7.d5 Na5
loses a pawn and 7.e3 Nxd4 works. Perhaps the odd looking 7.e4 was
playable because after 7 e4 Bb4 8.d5 is reasonable and 7.e4 d5 loses
a pawn. As played Leko seizes the initiative and wins with ease.
L Van Wely – P Leko
Armenia – ROW (3) Moscow
Queen’s Indian
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 Qb3 Bb7 6 Nc3 Nc6! 7 Qd1 Bb4 8
Qd3 d5 9 cxd5 Qxd5 10 Bd2 Qh5 11 Bg2 0-0-0 12 0-0 e5 13 Rac1 Nxd4 14
Nb5 Nxb5 15 Qxb5 Bxd2 16 Nxd2 Bxg2 17 Kxg2 Rxd2 18 Qa6+ Kb8 19 Rxc7
Kxc7 20 Qxa7+ Kd6 21 Qxb6+ Ke7 22 Rc1 Rhd8 0-1
Leko
p 7 p p p p e c o c
f p m p p p o p Y
p p p p p p p n b n 7 b n X n p 6 p p
Wely
Final position after 22…Rhd8
The Internet chess newspaper Chess Today reports that Alexander
Morozevich will not play the Fide Knockout in Libya later this month.
The tournament now includes only two of the world’s top 10 players.

A Sterling Exhibition Of Drama
by Clive O’connell Reviewer
The Age (Melbourne)
June 15, 2004 Tuesday
Music review: SUREN BAGRATUNI & TIMOTHY YOUNG, Australian National
Academy of Music, June 10
Armenian-born cellist Suren Bagratuni is the most recent in the
series of the National Academy’s visiting artists, that prolific
source of education for talented young Australian musicians on the
cusp of their careers.
Bagratuni presented a particularly expansive program, working
backwards from a piece by one of his compatriots, Adam Khudoyan, to
the best-known cello sonata in the repertoire: Beethoven No. 3 in A
major. As a tour of masterworks, it was slanted towards modern times,
also taking in the Shostakovich and Debussy sonatas. All four together
is a concentrated night’s work.
The Beethoven work is loaded with problems of balance, including
passages that feature strong detailed work for the piano under which
the cello broods over the melodies. Timothy Young kept his contribution
in the foreground, rarely diminishing his piano’s volume for the sake
of Bagratuni but the outcome made for a benign interpretation rather
than the sparks that other duos bring to the work. The cellist observed
a wide range of dynamics with the accent on moulding lines and there
were several unusual and felicitous pauses and contrasts of attack.
Young was hard-pressed in this work’s finale which holds some
improbably demanding leaps and scale passages but you rarely got
the feeling that he was making heavy weather of them; any blips
occurred in slower sections. He also faced an equally daunting trial
in the fourth movement of the Shostakovich sonata which exercises the
accompanist mercilessly while the solo observes the struggle from a
distance. Nevertheless, Bagratuni produced a soaring account of this
work’s two central sections, an imposing successor to the Khudoyan work
for solo cello – a showpiece and both motivically and atmospherically
suggestive of the one Armenian composer everybody knows: Khatchaturian.
However, the most engrossing moments of this recital came in the last
two-thirds of the Debussy sonata, its leaps and darts excellently
carried off by both musicians in a sterling exhibition of light touch
and rapid note negotiation. To their high credit, both performers
maintained the finale’s underpinning drama and vehemence, qualities
that make the final bars both a joy and a relief.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘Miss Green Line’ pageant tonight
by Tia Goldenberg
The Jerusalem Post
June 15, 2004, Tuesday
Dina Emal of Beit Jala will participate in the first “Miss Green Line”
beauty pageant, Tuesday night in Gilo.
Pageant organizer Azi Neger said it was the recurring violence in the
area – Beit Jala is often used as a base for shooting attacks on Gilo –
that inspired the inclusion of the Arab contestant.
“My goal was to unite girls from Gilo and Beit Jala. I want them to
talk about beauty and fashion and through this to get to know each
other,” said Neger.
He said that since Beit Jala also suffered consequences from the
shootings, its residents should get a chance to participate as well.
Neger said it was a challenge to get permission for Emal to enter
Israel, but he was helped by OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Moshe
Kaplinsky.
Three months ago, Neger began rounding up women from Gilo, Beit Jala,
and Bethlehem to make up the 15 contestants in the pageant.
He said the Arab women he approached were enthusiastic, but somewhat
apprehensive. “I asked the mothers if they wanted their daughters
to join and they were very happy,” said Neger, on his way to pick up
crowns for the pageant in Tel Aviv.
However, “they were afraid that they might get hurt,” while crossing
checkpoints.
He said his idea was also spurred by the Gilo participants. “They
said they wanted to meet girls from Beit Jala.”
Most of the participants have met several times and have formed good
relationships, he said.
The other non-Jewish participant, Arpy Krikorian, 21, an Armenian
Christian from Jerusalem’s Old City, said she spends a lot of time
with Jews through her job as a hairdresser, and is looking forward
to spending time with the other Jewish participants.
“It’s a very nice feeling to mingle with other religions,” she said.
Krikorian hasn’t met with Emal because when she was supposed to,
the latter was not permitted to enter Israel.
Krikorian said she didn’t join the pageant to win. “I joined to
prove that if you want to do something, it can be done. You shouldn’t
be afraid.”
Neger, who is one of seven judging the competition, said he will be
happy no matter who wins the crown.
“I hope the pageant will help change the atmosphere to one of
dialogue.”
GRAPHIC: Photo: DINA EMAL is the only Arab participant in tonight’s
‘Miss Green Line’ pageant. (Credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/Jp)

The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad
Malay Mail
June 15, 2004
THE PASSION’ OF PETER GABRIEL
Reviewed by Jerryz
PETER GABRIEL PASSION PETER Gabriel was part of English progressive
rock group Genesis before he struck out on his own in 1977.
His wide-ranging musical interests ranged from R&B, funk, rock to third
world music, and his first four albums had several very commercial
tracks like Steam, Sledgehammer and Shock The Monkey.
These were hit singles and came with sensational, state-of- the-art
videos.
But he was always keen to extend his own boundaries and he accepted
the task to supply the music for the controversial Martin Scorsese
film The Last Temptation of Christ.
The movie created quite a furore with its intimation of Jesus Christ
having sex with Mary Magdalene, but Scorsese always said it was a
fictionalised account.
While famed for his singing and songwriting, Gabriel made an about
turn and this album has hardly any singing except when the voice is
used as an instrument.
His challenge was was now as a composer.
Gabriel’s interest in world music now came to the fore.
But he combined with them his knowledge of synthesisers and electronic
music to create pieces of music with complex musical layers,
atmospheric, ambient and filled with awe and yes, passion.
Informed by the sounds of North Africa and the Middle East, the
tracks contain instruments like drones, finger cymbals, Armenian
doudouks, surdus tablas, horns, flutes and blend into one another
almost seamlessly.
The first track, The Feeling Begins, start with an evocative
synthesiser drone.
Then the doudouk, an Armenian string instrument, states a haunting
eastern melody, origin and here the record sleeve notes that the
doudouk’s melody is that of a traditional Armenian melody titled The
Wind Subsides.
Then the percussion kicks in – tumbling polyrhythms clash and collide
furiously for a climactic ending.
Another strong track is A Different Drum which features a hard-hitting
beat with percussive loops and samples plus some voices.
On It Is Accomplished, check out the glorious pianos and celestial
bells – passion indeed.
In Gethsemane, flute samples, and sampled brass and woodwind
instruments combine to create a futuristic, spooky atmosphere.
Incidentally Gabriel also released a sister album to this – it’s called
Passion Sources and is made up of the music which influenced him.
This album is more about atmosphere and moods, rather than the usual
verse-chorus-bridge-chorus kind of thing.
If you like Pink Floyd, and world music, this album could well be
your kind of thing.

ARKA News Agency
June 14 2004
Robert Kocharian and Yerji Yaskernia discuss fulfillment of Armenian
commitments to CE
Chief Architect of Yerevan released from the position
RA Prime Minister received YBC Director General
RA Foreign Minister leaves for Washington with a working visit
Armenia does its best to comply with the commitments to the Council
of Europe in due time
>>From June 15 students graduated from Universities to be enlisted in
the army in Armenia
Symposium on tourism and preservation of cultural –historic values of
Gyumri-Ghars to take place tomorrow in Gyumri (Armenia)
RA Secretary of Security Council and Iranian Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Armenia state of the necessity of regional
co-operation development
CBA committed to open dialogue with journalists
*********************************************************************
ROBERT KOCHARIAN AND YERJI YASKERNIA DISCUSS FULFILLMENT OF ARMENIAN
COMMITMENTS TO CE
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian and
Co-Reporter of PACE Monitoring Commission Yerji Yaskernia and the
Secretary of the Commission David Kupin discussed fulfillment of
Armenian commitments to CE. The parties discussed process of
commitments’ fulfillment considering constitutional and election
reforms.
The parties also discussed the issues brought up in April resolution
of PACE on internal political situation in Armenia. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CHIEF ARCHITECT OF YEREVAN RELEASED FROM THE POSITION
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. With the decision of RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, Chief Architect of Yerevan, Deputy Mayor of
Yerevan Narek Sargsian was released from the position, RA Government
press office told ARKA.
Narek Sargsian was the Chief Architect of Yerevan since 1999.
Sargsian graduated from Yerevan Engineering University. He was taking
the position of a dean at Architect Faculty of Yerevan Engineering
University. L.D. –0—
*********************************************************************
RA PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED YBC DIRECTOR GENERAL
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
received Yerevan Brandy Company Director General Pierre Larech, RA NA
told ARKA. During the meeting Larech expressed gratitude to the
Government of Armenia and to its head for assistance and cooperation
in more than 5-year work in Armenia. He said that successes of YBC
consider not only Pernod Richard Group, but the whole Armenia. YBC
Director told the Premier about future plans of the company targeted
on increase of grape purchasing volumes and expanding of foreign
markets.
Margarian in his turn highly estimated the activity of Larech and
said that it contributed to development of wine-growing in Armenia
and provided new working places and stable incomes of Armenian
farming.
In June 1998, YBC entered into Pernod Ricard international
corporation, owning a number of world famous brands of alcoholic
drinks. Pernod Ricard purchased YBC thru international tender for USD
30 mln. In 2003 Armenia produced 7 mln l of brandy, of which 4 mln l
was produced by YBC. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR WASHINGTON WITH A WORKING VISIT
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian left
for Washington with a two-day working visit, RA MFA told ARKA.
Oskanian will meet with the Chairmen of U.S. Department of State.
During the meetings the parties will discuss regional problems and
Armenian-American relations. Besides, Oskanian will meet with the
staff of President’s administration on national security, with the
congressmen and senators. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIA DOES ITS BEST TO COMPLY WITH THE COMMITMENTS TO THE COUNCIL
OF EUROPE IN DUE TIME
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Armenia does its best to comply with the
commitments to the Council of Europe in due time, as stated by RA NA
Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan during his meeting with the PACE
monitoring commission co-reporter on Armenia Yerzy Yaskiernia.
According to RA NA Press Service Department, in the course of the
meeting the importance of holding political dialogue between the
opposition and the coalition and compliance with the commitments to
PACE was emphasized. The parties noted that importance of the
dialogue for the opposition to return to the Parliament and its
participation in works on reforming the Constitution, Election Code,
Legislation in the area of self-governance and legal and judicial
system. A.H. –0–
*********************************************************************
FROM JUNE 15 STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITIES TO BE ENLISTED IN
THE ARMY IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. From June 15 students, who graduated from
Universities, will be enlisted in the army in Armenia. Such info is
published on the official website of RA Ministry of Defense. In
regard with this, tomorrow for the purpose of getting acquainted with
the order of enlistment and informing the public, a meeting of RA
General Armed Forces Headquarter Head, the first Deputy Minister of
Defense, General-Colonel Michael Harutyunyan and Deputy Minister of
Defense, General-Lieutenant Arthur Aghabekyan with Mass Media
representatives. A.H. –0–
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SYMPOSIUM ON TOURISM AND PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL –HISTORIC VALUES OF
GYUMRI-GHARS TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW IN GYUMRI (ARMENIA)
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Symposium on tourism and preservation of
cultural –historic values of Gyumri-Ghars will take place tomorrow in
Gyumri (Armenia).According to AED (Academy for Educational
Development) Armenian office, the first two days of the symposium
will be held in Gyumri, after which a two-day trip to Ghars is
planned. The representatives of local authorities, as well as
architects, businessmen, and specialist in tourism and preservation
of historic-cultural objects from Armenia, Turkey, and Bulgaria will
take part in the symposium. They will discuss the issue relating to
preservation of historical monuments and to tourism development.
According to the press-release, the participants will consider the
current state of historical and natural monuments in Ghars province
in Turkey and Shirak region in Armenia, as well as will discuss the
necessary steps to be taken for their protection. Besides, issues of
regional tourism development, protection of culture territories and
the possibilities of implementation of joint economic programs will
be considered. According to the press-release, the strategy of
tourism development and protection of monuments in Ghyumri will be
discussed during the symposium and then submitted to state authority
structures, donor and international organizations.
The symposium is organized by AED together with some organizations
and people concerned and funded by USAID. Gyumri-Ghars photo
exhibition will take place in the framework of the symposium.
A.H.—0–
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RA SECRETARY OF SECURITY COUNCIL AND IRANIAN AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY
AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO ARMENIA STATE OF THE NECESSITY OF REGIONAL
CO-OPERATION DEVELOPMENT
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Issue relating to bilateral relations and
participation in regional programs ere discussed by the RA Secretary
of Security Council at RA President, Serge Sargsyan, the RA Minister
of Defense and Iranian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to Armenia Mohammad Farhad Koleini whose diplomatic mission will be
over soon. According to Minister of Defense Press Secretary Seiran
Shakhsuvaryan, the parties exchanged opinions about the recent
military and political events. The Minister expressed his gratitude
to the Ambassador for his personal input into strengthening of
Iran-Armenian multilateral relations and expressed hope that the new
Iranian Ambassador to Armenia will continue improving the positive
development of the relations. A.H.–0—
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CBA COMMITTED TO OPEN DIALOGUE WITH JOURNALISTS
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. The Central bank of Armenia is committed to
an open dialogue with all mass media, as Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of
CBA stated when making his speech on the press conference “Banking
System and Public Relations: Actual Tasks and Solutions” held in
11-13 June in Tsakhkadzor. He also stressed that this is very
important task in respect to the formation of new mentality aimed at
availability of the information. “It would be useful if the mass
media report to what extent the state structures secure the
availability of the information”, he said. At that, he offered CBA’s
cooperation in working out of required criteria foe definition of
openness of this or that structure. As Sargsyan mentioned, such
practice may change the way of mentality of those managers that still
refuse in disclosing the information. “This would secure a big
progress and change of the mentality from the point of view of
formation of a civil society”, he stated. T.M. –0–
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