MosJan

"The news about creation of Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC) has sent part of the Armenian public into hysterics, which is difficult to comprehend. The Commission was formed on voluntary basis and none of its members reserves the right to represent the entire Armenian nation," former Armenian foreign minister and a member of the TARC Alexander Arzoumanian announced today. Arzoumanian did not agree that there were few supporting the Commission, claiming that he personally was receiving about 100 encouraging letters from abroad daily. "Armenia has marked its 10-th independence anniversary, but no officials contacts between Armenia and Turkey have taken place over that period of time," Arzoumanian said, adding that state-level relations between the two neighboring nations have gone into a deadlock with no signal of possible advancement. "But neighbor countries have to have friendly relations, that was why a group of Turks and Armenians met under the aegis of the Vienna Diplomatic Academy to see what can be done to improve relations," he said. According to Arzoumanian, the Commission's goal is to help the public on both sides to embark on bilateral contacts. "If there is a certain progress the Commission will continue the work, otherwise it will have to cancel work and the initiative will be described as an "unsuccessful attempt," Arzoumanian said. The Commission's recent meeting took place in Istanbul, Turkey, which was followed by another meeting with most prominent representatives of Turkish cultural, scientific, business and even Islamist community to try to reveal the Turkish public's expectations regarding the Commission's activity. According to him, the Turkish public is gradually overcoming some of its radical approaches towards improvement of relations with Armenia bending down towards a dialogue. "The Istanbul meeting discussed several programs, as well as several statement concerning the Commission's members which can create obstacles for its further operation. That is why we have decided to be more cautious and careful while wording our statements. The TARC members have also agreed about the principles of how to work with the press and also to avoid commenting on what another member has said," Arzoumanian said, adding that the next meeting of the Commission would be held in New York November 18-21. The venue was proposed by Transit Justice international organization, which is examining international reconciliation models. “We have to try to find out the most appropriate model which would satisfy both Turks and Armenians,” he said. Arzoumanian said that a fifth Armenian member would be included in the Commission, who most likely will be from Armenian Diaspora either in the Middle East or Europe. In reference to the issue of the Armenian genocide Arzoumanian said it was not a subject of trading. “It is an undeniable fact for the Armenian side,” he said. © Copyright AZG

Leading Parties Demand Protection For Abkhazia Armenians By Ruzanna Khachatrian Armenia’s leading parliamentary parties added on Thursday their voice to official Yerevan’s concerns over the latest bloodshed in Abkhazia which has resulted in heavy casualties among the region’s substantial Armenian population. Leaders of the main parliamentary factions said the government should act quickly to ensure security of local Armenians. The leader of the largest Miasnutyun faction, Galust Sahakian, said Armenia should “take certain steps” for that purpose. He did not elaborate, saying only that “we should be moderate in our statements.” “We have to weigh up how beneficial our interference in the clashes would be,” Sahakian told reporters. Simmering tensions in Abkhazia, which broke away from Georgian control in the early 1990s, have flared up into renewed violence over the past several days. At least ten local Armenians were reportedly killed in separate attacks on two village’s near the Black Sea republic’s lawless Kodor gorge. The Abkhaz authorities have blamed the bloody raids on Georgian and Chechen militants which they say operate in the area. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Wednesday expressed concern at the killings and said the Armenian government has come into contact with the Abkhaz and Georgian officials in an effort to protect the Armenian population from further attacks. Another major parliamentary party, the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), said the National Assembly should consider sending a special fact-finding mission to the region. The head of the Dashnaktsutyun faction, Aghvan Vartanian, claimed that at least 16 Armenian civilians are known to have been killed in Abkhazia over the past week. Senior opposition deputies called for more active Armenian intervention in Abkhazia. “Our government must demand from both the Georgian and Abkhaz parties to end the acts of violence against the Armenian population,” said Frunze Kharatian of the Communist Party. Oskanian and other senior officials are seen as favoring a cautious line on the latest events in Abkhazia. Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian argued on Thursday that a further “destabilization” of the situation in the region would have an adverse impact on Armenia “in economic and other spheres.”

Armenian Airspace ‘Not Yet Used’ For Afghanistan Strikes By Shakeh Avoyan The US-led anti-terror coalition has not used Armenia’s airspace since the launch of its air strikes on Afghanistan Sunday, but will likely be allowed to do so if necessary, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian said on Thursday. “We have not received such a request yet,” Sarkisian told reporters in Yerevan. “If we do receive it we will almost certainly give our permission.” Yerevan granted US military aircraft use of Armenia’s airspace late last month, and says the Americans made used of that permission shortly afterwards. US warplanes made the overflights as part of preparations for the retaliatory attacks on suspected terrorist camps in Afghanistan. Armenia and neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan provide an important corridor to Central Asia for US troops stationed in Turkey. Some of them have already been deployed in Uzbekistan, the main regional power bordering on Afghanistan. Sarkisian spoke to journalists on his return from the Tajik capital Dushanbe where he attended a meeting of top security officials from Russia and five other former Soviet republics linked by a common defense treaty. The situation in Afghanistan was the main focus of the meeting. Armenia Monday voiced its support for the start of the US-led strikes, indicating that they are a necessary measure against the threat of international terrorism facing “the entire civilized world.” The foreign ministry said it received “evidence” from the US government showing a link between Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden and the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

5TH WORLD TEAM CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP OPENS IN YEREVAN YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS The opening ceremony of the 5th world chess championship among national teams will be held October 12 at Yerevan Opera and Ballet State Theatre. The competitions are to continue till October 20. The world team championship is held once in four years. All the previous championships were held in Lucerne (Switzerland). The 5th championship is to be held in Armenia, taking into account the achievements of the country in chess and rich traditions. In 1993 when Armenian National Team first took part in the world championship, it won the 4th place, while four years later it was already the second. Today 4 Armenian chess-players are included in the list of 100 best chess-players, namely Vladimir Hakobian, Rafael Vahanian, Smbat Lputian and Karen Asrian.

WEEK OF ITALIAN LANGUAGE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: The Week of Italian Language will be held in Armenia's capital Yerevan from October 15-20 within the framework of a Council of Europe and European Union program called European Language Year, Italy's ambassador to Yerevan Mr. Paolo Trabalza announced today. The ambassador presented the list of events to be held in Armenia, which have been prepared by Della Cruise Academy, Institute of Dante and Italy's embassy in Yerevan. The Week will begin at Yerevan State University with a lecture by Karo Karapetian. A special class for students learning Italian will open at the University. It will be called Ciro Trabalza Class, named after the ambassador's grandfather who was the author of a book on Italian grammar. A contest of best compositions in Italian will be held at Yerevan Bryusov foreign languages institute and the University. A Dante classroom will also open at Bryusov institute. Other events include lectures, recitation of Italian poetry. The Week will end with a lecture by Mr. Trabalza. A Council of Europe decision advocates developing the learning of French, German, Spanish, Italian and other languages spoken by millions of people in the world such as Russian, Chinese and Arabic.

FOREST PLAN RESTORATION PLAN TO EXTERMINATE VERMIN YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: A forest restoration plan, drafted by the Armenian nature protection ministry for 2002-2003, involves a set of measures aiming to exterminate vermin, which destroy hundreds of hectares of forests. Deputy nature protection minister Artashes Ziroyan told Armenpress that the plan had been approved by the government and was submitted to Global Ecological Fund and relevant UN organizations to seek funds for its implementation. The plan's implementation will require about $500,000. He also said that another program, called 'Management of Natural Resources and Reduction of Poverty', has been drafted jointly with the World Bank and is supposed to be implemented in the forests in the provinces of Tavoush and Gegharkounik. Ziroyan said the World bank has pledged funds for implementation of this program. The deputy minister said some 600 hectares of forests have been restored this year and another 800 hectares are set for the next year.

US PROVIDED BIGGEST PORTION OF AID TO ELIMINATE 2000 DROUGHT AFTEREFFECTS YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian agriculture ministry submitted on Wednesday a report to the parliament about the pace of elimination of 2000 drought aftereffects. Agriculture minister Zaven Gevorgian, who was presenting the report, said the volumes of damages caused by an unprecedented drought in 2000 summer were estimated at from $40 million to $60 million. The minister said the special government commission, set up for easing and eliminating the aftereffects of the drought, has regulated the distribution of aid coming from abroad and other sources. Gevorgian said around $10 million worth aid was delivered to farmers who suffered from the drought, of which $4 million came from the government. The minister said the biggest portion of aid came from the USA, which had made available some 1,750 metric tons of wheat seed, 6,000 metric tons of corn and 60,000 tons of food grain. Second was Russia, which provided 5,000 metric tons of grain and 8,000 metric tons of barley. The Armenian government also received aid from France, Germany, China, Greece, Cyprus, Belarus and other countries.

ARMENIA ACCUSES AZERBAIJAN OF DRIVING PEACE REGULATION INTO IMPASSE YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Hovanes Hovanisian, chairman of Armenian parliament committee on foreign relations, accused on Wednesday Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev of driving Karabagh regulation process into an impasse after he rejected the regulation principles reached in Paris and Key West. Hovanisian reiterated that the cornerstone of Karabagh regulation was its status. Hovanisian made the statement on Wednesday when meeting with a group of Azerbaijani journalists who are visiting Armenia now. According to Hovanisian, the future of Azerbaijani occupied territories can be decided only after defining Karabagh status. Hovanisian stressed that belligerent calls coming from Azerbaijan are not taken seriously in Armenia. "To solve the conflict on the basis of compromises the both sides have to first build such a field," he said. Hovanisian said Armenia hoped that Azerbaijani leaders would realize that fundamentally the Karabagh conflict was solved after its people had made their choice. "Karabagh is not responsible any longer for forced decisions made by Bolsheviks in 1920, who surrendered the Armenian Karabagh to Azerbaijan," he said.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN HAS ALERTED US PRESIDENT TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF 907 SECTION LIFTING 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia President Robert Kocharyan has sent a letter to US President George Bush where he alerts the President to dangerous consequences of lifting of the Freedom Support Act, 907 Section that restricts the US administration's aid to Azerbaijan until it lifts the blockade against Armenia and Nagorno-Artsax. It is noted in the letter that the 907 Section lifting will negatively effect the Artsax conflict settlement and will bring to the disturbance of the present balance. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

ARMENIAN LAWMAKERS HAVE REFUSED TO DEPRIVE VANO SIRADEGHYAN OF HIS DEPUTY AUTHORITIES 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian parliamentarians have refused to deprive Vano Siradeghyan, ex-Minister of Armenia internal affairs, ex-leader of "Armenian national movement" party, of his deputy authorities. 36 deputies were in favor, but 44 votes are needed for the mandate deprivation. So the lawmakers ignored the regulations adopted by themselves. The regulations state that a deputy is deprived of his/her authorities if he/she misses most meetings of the Parliament session because of not acceptable reason. It should be reminded that Siradeghyan stands accused of a number of very serious crimes and now is in international search. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

AZERBAIJAN DECLARES ITS PREPARATION FOR BEGINNING OF WAR AGAINST Artsax 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan's ministry of internal affairs gets ready for the military operations in Artsax. As «Arminfo» agency informs with reference to Baku media, this has been stated by the chief inspector of Azerbaijani MIA press service Ehsan Zahidov. According to him, the law-enforcement officers are ready for the orders of the country's commander-in-chief. The head of Azerbaijani defense ministry press service Ramiz Melikov has noted «antiterrorist operation» in Nagorno-Artsax territory must be started by MIA forces and after that other military units will join the police. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

16 ARMENIANS WERE KILLED AT RECENT ARMED CONFLICTS IN ABKHAZIA 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ 16 Armenians were killed at the recent armed conflict in Abkhazia. As "Arminfo" agency informs, Dashnaktsutyun party chairman has informed about that at the briefing in National Assembly of Armenia today. According to him, Dashnaktsutyun party addressed with an initiative to send a parliamentarian group to Tbilisy and Sukhumi to meet with Georgian leadership and discuss the question of Armenian population security providing. Head of the parliamentary faction of "Unity" bloc Galust Saakyan said that on the initiative of French Senate Speaker Cristian Ponsle, the meeting of the speakers of France, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia would take place in Tbilisi November 3-4. According to Saakyan, many other issues as well as the situation in Abkhazia will be discussed at the meeting. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

AZERBAIJAN INTENDS TO BOYCOTT EUROPEAN COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WILL BE HELD IN YEREVAN 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan is going to boycott the forthcoming meeting of the European Council committee that will take place in Yerevan in October. Milli mejlis deputy Vagif Samedoglu has stated that Azerbaijani parliamentarians will not participate in any meetings that are held in Armenian. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

FIRST ARMENIAN FILM WILL BE NOMINATED FOR «OSCAR» TOMORROW 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tomorrow, the preview of film director Vigen Chaldranian's "Symphony of Silence" film will be held at the famous movie theatre "Samuel Goldwin" in Hollywood. This is the first Armenian film to be nominated for "Oscar". As "Arminfo" agency informs, the results of the first stage will be known February 14, 2002. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

MOST US SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE AGAINST THE 907 SECTION LIFTING 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Most members of the subcommittee for the questions of Central Asia and the Caucasus on international relations of US Senate are against the lifting of the 907 Section that restricts the aid to Azerbaijan. As «Arminfo» agency informs, congressmen have noted the necessity of involving of Armenia in the region energy projects. According to Joseph Crowley the construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeykhan oil pipeline through Armenia territory will be much more reasonable for investors. The subcommittee members have gotten to know with the document, introduced by Armenian Assembly where it was emphasized that the 907 Section lifting might not only break the stability in the South Caucasus region but also might damage the US interests. It was also mentioned in the document that El-Quaide terrorist organization units acted in Azerbaijan territory. «907 Section can be lifted if Azerbaijan lifts the blockade against Armenia and Nagorno-Artsax», claim Armenian Assembly representatives. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

TERRORIST ACTS IN USA WILL NEGATIVELY EFFECT ARMENIAN ECONOMY 11.10.2001 /PanARMENIAN.Net/ The terrorist acts in the USA will effect Armenian economy. "Credit-Service" bank executive director Boris Arakelyan has expressed this opinion at his interview to "Arka" agency. Arakelyan has particularly noted that financial aid to Armenia will be reduced, the tourism will be damaged, and there will be investment delay. It should be reminded that RA Central Bank president Tigran Sarkisyan have said that reduction of Armenian external asserts' revenues 4%-2,5% is expected. According to leading Armenian travel agencies, travel industry has already suffered $50 million damage. Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without reference to "PanARMENIAN.Net"

RAffi jan Welcome BAck

Khodja - i liek to get some mor info on this Steve Samuelian. hmm~~ - Steve Samuelian who is he???

Alpha jan Welcome BAck

Armenia Concerned Over Abkhazia Killings By Emil Danielyan Armenia expressed concern on Wednesday at the escalating tensions in Georgia’s breakaway republic of Abkhazia, which have led to the death of at least a dozen local Armenians. Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said Yerevan maintains close contacts with “all interested parties” to the Abkhaz conflict in a bid to “alleviate the plight” of the region’s substantial ethnic Armenian population. He said most of 14 villagers killed Monday night near Abkhazia’s lawless Kodor gorge were apparently ethnic Armenian. The Abkhaz authorities have blamed the bloody raid on the Armenian-populated village of Noa on Georgian and Chechen guerrillas and ordered a partial military mobilization in response to the attacks. Several local Armenians were reportedly gunned down in a similar raid on another village in the area last week. Speaking during the government’s weekly question-and-answer session in the parliament, Oskanian did not blame anybody for the killings. He said the Armenian authorities are “seriously concerned” about the latest outbreak of fighting in Abkhazia but indicated that they will seek to avoid a confrontation with official Tbilisi, which is under growing Russian pressure to stop harboring “Chechen terrorists.” “We must be very cautious and vigilant, and should not allow other interested parties to drive a wedge between Armenia and Georgia,” Oskanian told lawmakers. But he did not specify what those forces are. The Armenian official made the comments as Russian troops headed toward the border with Abkhazia, a lush Black Sea region which has been de facto independent since 1993. The chief of Russia's Border Guards, Col. Gen. Konstantin Totsky, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the troops were sent to beef up security on the Russian border with the volatile region, the Interfax news agency reported. Abkhaz officials, meanwhile, claimed their forces had surrounded 200 "terrorists," including Georgians, Chechens, Arabs and Azerbaijanis, in the area around Sugar Head mountain in the Kodor gorge. Russian and Abkhaz leaders have also accused Georgia of bombarding three Abkhaz villages on Monday. Georgia has denied any involvement. The Associated Press quoted National Security Minister Vakhtang Kutateladze as saying on Wednesday that intercepted radio transmissions proved that two Russian helicopters and four planes entered Abkhazia from Russia and dropped bombs. The Georgian foreign ministry sent Russia a protest note and demanded the two nations hold a joint investigation. Later Wednesday, a spokesman from the Abkhazian defense ministry said a new group of 500-700 Georgian and Chechen militants entered the region from Georgian territory. The tensions were further heightened following the downing Monday in the Kodor gorge of a helicopter carrying four UN observers, three crew members and a translator. All were killed. The UN mission in Tbilisi said in a statement on Wednesday that "both the Georgian and Abkhazian sides bear responsibility for the situation that has developed, creating the conditions for such a cruel deed."

FUGITIVE MP’S FATE TO BE DECIDED The Armenian parliament will decide the fate of fugitive parliament member Vano Siradeghian today morning by secret vote. Vano Siradeghian, a parliament member and interior minister in ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian’s administration, fled the country last year after the parliament lifted his immunity allowing the law-enforcement bodies to start his prosecution on charges of masterminding a series of high-profile assassinations in early 90s. Since then his whereabouts are not known. Siradeghian has missed 264 votes in parliament sessions which, some deputies claim, is enough to deprive him of mandate. None of parliament members was willing on Tuesday to say how he was going to vote. If the parliament finds the reasons of being absent inadequate, Siradeghian will lose his parliamentary mandate. If not he will continue to be regarded as parliament member. The chairman of parliament committee on state and legal issues Victor Dalakian says that some other 5-6 MPs, who are in the habit of missing parliament sittings, risk losing their mandates, but he refused to disclose their names. © Copyright AZG

LATVIAN PAINTERS' WORKS DEVOTED TO 1700TH ANNIVERSARY The residents and guests of Latvia's capital Riga will have the opportunity to visit the exhibition of Latvian painters, entitled Christian World' within a month. The exhibition, devoted to the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity, opened at three large halls of one of the buildings of the historical center of Riga. The works of Latvian as well as Armenian painters are displayed. The advisor to the president of Latvia Olgerts Tipans and the historian, professor Tivans spoke about the Armenians' contribution to the world culture and the service of the Armenian community of Latvia at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, organized by the Armenian LAO association and the Riga diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. © Copyright AZG

LINCY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS ARMENIA Kirk Kerkorian, a US billionaire of Armenian origin sent tens of millions of US dollars to Armenia as humanitarian aid from 1988 earthquake until 1998. He was one of the first to respond to 1988 destructive Spitak earthquake that claimed about 25,000 lives. But the highlight of his aid was in 1998 when he pledged $100 million in low-interest loans to the Armenian businessmen, funding infrastructure projects and offering credit guarantees for foreign investors who are taking interest in Armenian economy. In 1998 Kerkorian made and unexpected visit to Armenia, following which the sum rose to $165 million, virtually as much as half of Armenia’s annual budget. The supervision over how the provided loans are utilized is carried out by the chief of president Kocharian’s staff Artashes Toumanian. Speaking to a Tuesday news conference Artashes Toumanian said a three–year plan of cooperation between the Armenian government and Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation is being successfully implemented. The $165 million sum is divided into two major components, $45million worth loans and $90 million worth grants. Mr. Toumanian said $21 million of $45 million have already been borrowed by local businessmen. He then focused on the second component. A considerable part of Lincy grant-$38 million will go for improvement of roads across Armenia, $15 million will go for construction of new apartments in the earthquake zone. Yet another $10 million is earmarked for restoration of culture objects, $7 million is projected for improvement of roads in the capital and $20 million for development of tourism infrastructure. The scheme supposes improvement of 300-km long roads of republican importance and completion of a mountain pass tunnel, connecting Sevan with the resort town of Dilijan. This program is supposed to be over in 2003 November. Some 5,000 people will be hired to do the work. The earthquake zone restoration scheme will give new apartments to about 1,900 homeless families. The culture scheme will involve several theatre buildings and museums in the capital. The tourism plan has not yet been ratified. The entire program is expected to create around 9,000 new jobs. © Copyright AZG

ARMENIA READY TO HOLD WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenia is ready to hold the world chess championship among national teams, scheduled for October 12-20, Vanik Zakarian, the chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation told Armenpress. Several dozens teams, which include 40 grand masters, are expected to compete in Yerevan for the title of the best chess nation.

KAAN SOYAK CALLS FOR ELIMINATION OF EMBARGO ON ARMENIAN GOODS ENTRY TO TURKEY YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Development Committee (TABDC) who was visiting Yerevan recently, dismissed Turkish official and non-official allegations that Armenia would benefit more from improvement of economic cooperation between the two countries. "This is not correct, as both sides will benefit from it," he said, adding that stepping up economic cooperation with Armenia was especially important for Turkey's eastern underdeveloped regions bordering with Armenia. In general, according to Mr. Soyak, Armenia may become an important chain in exports of Turkish goods to Russian and Central Asian markets across its territory. Soyak said huge quantities of Turkish goods are being piled up in Turkey because of the absence of sale markets. Soyak also said the embargo on Armenia-made goods imposed by his government still in 1992 and visa restrictions were serious obstacles in the way of developing economic cooperation. Soyak called for closer cooperation between Armenian and Turkish businessmen to seek lifting of the embargo. But despite the closed borders and other hindrances the annual commodity turnover between Armenia and Turkey is about $100 million. Twenty-five joint Turkish-Armenian ventures, which are based in Armenia, with total assets of $1.3 billion have been created.