Guest Posted September 9, 2000 Report Share Posted September 9, 2000 1. Armenia, Poland Discuss Business Development 2. Armenian Concert to Take Place Despite Turkish Protest 3. Sarkisian Meets with US, Iran Ambassadors 4. $2 Million Bible Owner Identified 5. Canada to Issue 1,700th Anniversary Stamp 6. Turkey Angry at EU Parliament for Resolution 7. Iran-Armenia Expand Cultural Ties 8. CIS Countries to Hold Command-Post Exercises 9. Community in Sydney Prepares to Welcome Team Armenia 10. Chess-Players Place Third, Fourth in Chess Festival in Abu Dhabi 11. Government Seeks Ways for More Efficient Use of Funds 12. Defendants in "Others Minus Vano Siradeghian" to Appeal -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Armenia, Poland Discuss Business Development YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--"The economic policy of Armenia has over the last few years been oriented to the development of free market relations in the country and integration of Armenia's economy into the world economy." So stated, Minister of Coordination of Production Infrastructure Activities David Zadoyan said at an Armenian-Polish business forum held in Yerevan, Thursday. Zadoyan also stressed that the development of trade and economic relations with Poland is of high importance for Armenia. According to Zadoyan, the agreement on holding a business forum was reached last year as part of the Armenian president's visit to Poland. Greeting the forum participants, Minister of Economy of Poland Janush Steinhoff pointed out that the two countries can cooperate in agriculture, chemical, machine-building and light industries. Expressing regret over the reduction in the trade turnover between the two countries in 1999 ($8.3 million in 1997, $2.4 million in 1999), Steinhoff pointed out that the Armenian-Polish business cooperation will allow the increase in the trade turnover between the two countries up to $20 million to $30 million. The delegation, consisting of 30 Polish businessmen, arrived in Yerevan Wednesday on a three-day official visit and was met by productive substructures minister David Zadoyan and other officials. Agreements on the establishment of a stone-milling plant in Armenia and on the implementation of a number of industrial programs have been reached at the Armenian-Polish business forum, Thursday. Zadoyan stated that in a few months, after the agreements are discussed, contracts may be signed. During the Armenian prime minister's meeting with the Polish delegation the sides discussed the possibility of the Polish side's participation in the TRACECA and INOGATE projects as well as the development of bilateral economic relations Minister of Industry and Trade Karen Chshmaritian also stated that the trade turnover between Armenia and Poland does not meet the economic interests of both countries and, if the bilateral cooperation were more effective, it would be larger. He considers pharmaceutics, steel, molybdenum and oil processing to be the most promising spheres of the bilateral economic cooperation. The possibility of cooperation in the production of building materials and jewelry is not ruled out. 2. Armenian Concert to Take Place Despite Turkish Protest BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (Noyan Tapan)--A delegation of Yerevan's Municipality headed by Vice-Mayor Vardan Vardanian is currently visiting the Slovak capital of Bratislava. The delegation was received by Mayor of Bratislava Joseph Moravcic, who announced his plans to participate in the celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia due next year. As was earlier reported, a concert with the participation of Bratislava-based musicians of Armenian origin - renowned soloist of the Bratislava Opera House Gurgen Hovsepian and gifted pianist Hasmik Gabrielian - is expected to be staged in honor of the guests from Armenia. The schedule of the concert includes music by Armenian and European composers. However, the concert aroused interest not only within musical circles but also within political circles. It is connected with the fact that the Turkish Embassy in Slovakia presented an official note of protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia and demanded that the concert be banned. In particular, the note points out that through similar arrangements Armenia is seeking to pressure the parliaments of various countries to get an international recognition of the Genocide and that the arrangement "may have a sharply negative impact on the development of relations between Turkey and Slovakia". Nevertheless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia and the Municipality of Bratislava found it advisable to stage the concert, agreeing with the statement of the Armenian side that one must not turn a cultural event into a political act. 3. Sarkisian Meets with US, Iran Ambassadors YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenia's defense minister Serge Sarkisian welcomed the US ambassador to Armenia, Michael Lemmon Wednesday. The ambassador introduced the US Embassy's newly appointed military attaché, Major Eric von Tersch to the minister. According to the defense ministry information and propaganda department, Sarkisian informed the ambassador, who had just returned from his vacation, about the results of the defense ministry delegation's visit to the US July 23-25. Issues concerning the present situation of the Armenian-American military co-operation and development prospects and other issues of bilateral interest were discussed during the meeting. Sarkisian also met with Iran Ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Farhad Koleini, Thursday. The Iranian diplomat was accompanied by the military attaché of the embassy Mohammad Validad. The meeting reportedly discussed the current state of Armenian-Iranian relations and prospects of their development, as well as the general military and political situation in the region and problems of security, other issues of mutual interest. 4. $2 Million Bible Owner Identified TBILISI (Armenpress)--The owner of an ancient Armenian bible, valued at $2 million, which was seized earlier this week at Ankara's Ataturk airport from a smuggler was identified as 61-year-old Yegaderina Hakopova. The Georgian Prime News Agency quoted Hakopova as saying that the two-volume Armenian bible was stolen from her Moscow home one year ago. She said the bible belonged to her mother and had been in safe keeping at her residence for more than 30 years. According to Hakopova's mother's will, she could only give the bible to St. Mary's Church in Gumri, Armenia. The bible was not to have been sold, since the mother believed it would be a sin. To fulfill her mother's wishes, Hakopova traveled to Gumri and presented the bible to the pastor of the St. Mary's Church, who promised that he would keep the bible safe. However, the pastor told Hakopova that he opted to return to the United States, from where he was dispatched to Gumri. Concerned about the fate of the bible, Hakopova did not leave the bible at the church and returned to Tbilisi with the volumes. Hakopova explained that while she was residing in Moscow, he apartment was robbed and among the items stolen from her residence was the two-volume bible. She added that aside from her immediate family, only another relative living in Gumri knew about the bible. In order to retrieve the bible, Hakopova intends to appeal to the Turkish Embassy in Tbilisi. 5. Canada to Issue 1,700th Anniversary Stamp OTTAWA--President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post, Andr Ouellet announced last week that the Canadian Post will issue a stamp in 2001 marking the 1,700th anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity as a state religion Details of the 2001 stamp program were revealed last week and the Canada Post will continue to offer favorite subjects like the Lunar New Year, Birds and Masterpieces of Canadian art. Customers and philatelists alike are sure to enjoy the beauty of new and exciting subjects as well, including the World Figure Skating Championships, Canadian roses, and the anniversaries of organizations such as the YMCA and the Royal Military College. 6. Turkey Angry at EU Parliament for Resolution ANKARA (Reuters)-- membership candidate Turkey on Thursday criticized the European Parliament for linking EU financial aid to the country's efforts to resolve conflict with Kurdish rebels and to grant Kurds cultural rights. The union's Strasbourg-based legislative body decided on Wednesday to release 135 million euro ($116 million) in funds to help prepare Turkey for prospective membership. But in return, it requested that the country improve respect for minority rights, scrap the death penalty and encourage cooperation for a solution to 16 years of armed conflict between Turkish troops and Kurds. ``Such European Parliament initiatives, stemming from misinformation and misjudgment, do not reflect a constructive approach ahead of forming cooperation for Turkish participation in the European Union,'' said a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement faxed to Reuters on Thursday. Turkey won EU candidacy status in December and now must work toward the bloc's criteria in many areas to be able to join. But granting Kurdish cultural rights or supporting efforts for a negotiated solution to a conflict that has claimed more than 30,000 lives are sensitive issues for many in Turkey. Turkey refuses to talk to the Kurds, whom it dubs ``terrorists'' and many officials believe that allowing Kurdish broadcasting and education would fuel separatist nationalism. Mesut Yilmaz, the deputy prime minister responsible for ties with the EU, this week said that Turkey's powerful military shared those concerns and had reservations over EU entry. The Turkish statement called on EU executive bodies to take measures to prevent tying fresh conditions to financial support. 7. Iran-Armenia Expand Cultural Ties YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Iran's Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ayatollah Mohajerani held a meeting Tuesday with Armenian Ambassador Gharibjanian in which the ambassador called for holding Armenian cultural week in Tehran, the Iranian IRNA news agency reported. Gharibjanian also thanked the Iranian minister for his collaboration in reconstructing ancient Armenian churches in Iran. "The next year which has been named as the Year of Dialogue among Civilizations will coincide with the 1700th year of Christianity as a state religion in Armenian and we hope Iran will participate in the ceremony to be held in Yerevan," the Armenian ambassador said. "Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran both enjoy a similar civilization which has resulted in increasing cultural commonalties between the two countries," noted Mohajerani. 8. CIS Countries to Hold Command-Post Exercises YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Seven countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States held command-post exercises of air defenses Thursday, Itar-Tass reported. Deputy commander of the Russian armed force, Lieutenant-General Yuri Bondarev stated Wednesday that the exercise will involve units from Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Anti-aircraft forces of the Baltic fleet will take part in the exercises, Bondarev said. Some 50 aircraft, more than 30 anti-aircraft missile complexes and some 300 radar stations will be used in the exercises. TU-95MS and TU-22M3 strategic bombers will fly from Russian to Belarussian airfields. A-50 radar aircraft and SU-27 fighter planes will drill the operation to detect and intercept a transgressor plane. 9. Community in Sydney Prepares to Welcome Team Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress)—With the Olympics just days away, the Armenian Community in Sydney is in preparation for the arrival of the Armenian Olympic Team (a portion of the Armenian athletes has already arrived in Sydney). The official opening of Armenia House in Sydney Olympics is scheduled for September 15 with guests including President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenian Benur *****yan & Chef of the Mission of the Armenian Olympic Team Gagik Chobanian along with other Olympic & Government Officials and the Armenian Olympic team. This will be the Australian Armenian Community's only chance to show their compatriots their support and encouragement, and wish the team well in their upcoming events. The involvement of the Armenian community in Sydney will be sure to boost the team's morale by letting them know they are not alone in Australia and the community is behind them. The Closing Ceremony will be held Sunday, October 1, 2000.. 10. Chess-Players Place Third, Fourth in Chess Festival in Abu Dhabi YEREVAN (Armenpress)—International chess masters Melikset Khachikian and Varuzhan Hakobian of Armenia placed third and fourth among 120 chess-players from 20 countries in an international chess festival held August 26-September 5 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. According to Armenian foreign ministry, Armenian chess-players showed excellent results gaining 6 points out of 9. The Armenian participants also placed first and second in a speed chess tournament, receiving special prizes. During the tournament the Armenian chess-players defeated several international grand chess-masters Elmar Mageramov (Azerbaijan), Roder Matteus (Germany) and Marat Jumaev (Uzbekistan). 11. Government Seeks Ways for More Efficient Use of Funds YEREVAN (Armenpress)—To secure efficient use of its funds the Armenian government has decided that each purchase made to meet governments needs that exceeds 250,000 Drams (approximately $500) is to be realized by a specially set up agency for state purchases. The Agency will act on behalf of the customer and the relevant government commission will decide through a tender who the supplier will be. The Agency will sign a contract with the supplier and thus will be fully accountable to the government. The agency is not liable to conclude deals that are regarded as secret. They are supposed to be made by relevant government bodies through closed tenders. 12. Defendants in "Others Minus Vano Siradeghian" to Appeal YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—Defendants in the "Others minus Vano Siradeghian" case Vahan Harutiunian, Sahak Balian, Norair Tadevossian, Artur Khachatrian and Movses Nersissian intend to appeal the verdict of the lower court in the Court of Appeals demanding that they be found not guilty and be acquitted by court, their lawyers who find the court's decision groundless and unmotivated said at a Thursday news conference. The lawyers said that their defendants were in the services, they executed orders only and those giving orders are responsible for their execution. Ruben Balabanyan, lawyer of former deputy minister of interior, former head of the Internal Troops Department, Vahan Harutiunian and ITD former agent Sahak Balian (who committed murders of Artur Hovhannissian and Karen Rafaelian), explained that according to the Armenian Criminal Code the crime is considered premeditated if the murderer was aware of the goal of the crime. According to defendant Norair Tadevossian's lawyer Patvakan Khudoyan, even the then interior minister Vano Siradeghian did not know that the victims had to be killed: the order was issued by "superiors." Khudoyan pointed out that the crime was incompletely detected and the motives of the crime were not found Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.