ARKA News Agency
Sept 13 2004

Cancellation of NATO exercises due to position of Azerbaijan is a big
loss for regional cooperation – RA MFA

Presentation of collection of sociological polls takes place in
Stepanakert

Since 15, 2004 Converse Bank (Armenia) announce a month of free
services for its clients

On September 14 RA Prime Minister to leave for Astana to take part in
the sitting of CIS States Prime Ministers

RA National Assembly Speaker considers negative the efforts of
Azerbaijan on banning the participation of the officers of RA Armed
Forces in NATO exercises in Baku

RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian leaves for Brussels
and Astana on September 12-16

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CANCELLATION OF NATO EXERCISES DUE TO POSITION OF AZERBAIJAN IS A BIG
LOSS FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION – RA MFA

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. Cancellation of NATO exercises due to
position of Azerbaijan is a big loss for regional cooperation, RA MFA
told ARKA that it was stated by RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
during the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Oskanian highly estimated NATO position in the issue of equal
participation of all parties in the exercises. He said that Armenia
remains attached to the necessity of preservation of the atmosphere
of cooperation and mutual trust in the region.
Scheffer in his turn expressed deep concern with the fact that Azeri
party makes obstacles for participation of Armenian military men in
NATO exercises in Baku. He stressed that similar approach is
inadmissible from any party being a member of Partnership for Peace
program.
NATO Cooperative Best Effort -2004 exercises scheduled for September
14-26 in Azerbaijan were cancelled, according to RIA Novosti with
reference to Exercises press center. This decision was taken by NATO
Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces in Europe. According to the
information, this necessary decision was based on the fact that
during the organization of the exercises the principle of openness
for all countries cooperating with NATO in frames of Partnership for
peace was not applied. L.D. –0–

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PRESENTATION OF COLLECTION OF SOCIOLOGICAL POLLS TAKES PLACE IN
STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, September 13. /ARKA/. Presentation of collection of
sociological polls took place in Stepanakert. According to the
President of Stepanakert Press Club Gegham Baghdasarian, the project
is directed on support of democratic reforms, creation of traditions
of conductions of sociological polls in young republic, study of
dynamics of changes of public opinion under the influence of internal
and external factors. The Press Club conducted 4 polls, during which
it question 1000 people in the capital and regions of the republic.
The polls represented opinions of different strata of society
considering development of democratic processes in Nagorno Karabakh,
activity of different power branches, legal system and
law-enforcement bodies, perspectives and ways of Karabakh settlement.
The results of the polls are published in Armenian, Russian and
English.
Conduction of polls in Karabakh was realized in accordance to the
agreement achieved 2.5 years ago between Stepanakert Press Club and
German Fund of Friedrich Ebert. L.D. –0–

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SINCE 15, 2004 CONVERSE BANK (ARMENIA) ANNOUNCE A MONTH OF FREE
SERVICES FOR ITS CLIENTS

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. Since 15, 2004 Converse Bank (Armenia)
announced a month of free services for its clients, the bank told
ARKA. This activity is dedicated to 10th anniversary of bank’s
activity and will last till October 15.
CJSC Converse Bank was registered on Dec 20, 1993. According to
financial reports of the bank, the assets of the bank as of June 30,
2004 amounted to 30.7 billion AMD, total capital – 4 billion AMD, net
profit in first half of 2004 – 852.9 million AMD. ($1 – 514.54 AMD).
L.D. –0–

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ON SEPTEMBER 14 RA PRIME MINISTER TO LEAVE FOR ASTANA TO TAKE PART IN
THE SITTING OF CIS STATES PRIME MINISTERS

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. On September 14 RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian will leave for Astana to take part in the sitting
of CIS States Prime Ministers, RA Government press office told ARKA.
According to the press release, the parties plan to discuss the
report on activity of agency on coordination of fight against
organized crime in CIS states, and creation of regional operative
group on coordination of fight against illegal turnover of drugs in
Central Asia. Special attention in the agenda is paid to economic
issues, namely issues of joint budget of CIS structures, financed
from the budgets of these countries.
The parties will also discuss cooperation in the sphere of television
and radio broadcasting on preparation and celebration of 60th
anniversary of victory in Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Besides
it is planned that the prime ministers will sign several agreements
on future development of cooperation in the sphere of energy,
transport, education, fight again illegal migration, in military and
other fields.
Armenian delegation includes RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian,
Regular Representative of Armenia to CIS States Suren Harutyunian,
Regular Representative of Armenia in Commission on Economic Issues in
CIS Economic Council Artak Vardanian and others. L.D. –0–

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RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CONSIDERS NEGATIVE THE EFFORTS OF
AZERBAIJAN ON BANNING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE OFFICERS OF RA ARMED
FORCES IN NATO EXERCISES IN BAKU

YEREVAN, September 13. /ARKA/. Arthur Baghdasaryan, the Head of RA
Parliament considered negative the efforts of Azerbaijan on banning
the participation of the officers of RA Armed Forces in Cooperative
Best Effort-04 NATO exercises in Baku. “The position of Azerbaijan
has always been harsh and unacceptable, it avoids contacts both on
regional level and on level of Heads of the Parliaments”, said the
speaker. According to him, Armenia should continue the regional
cooperation and active contacts both in frames of NATO and other
international organizations. “Issues of peace and security require a
constructive position and we should show to the world community that
Armenia is the supporter of civilized processes and problem solution
in calm and constructive atmosphere, and not through unsubstantiated
and warlike announcements”, noted Baghdasaryan. L.V.-0–

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RA MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VARTAN OSKANIAN LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS
AND ASTANA ON SEPTEMBER 12-16

YEREVAN, September, 13. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan
Oskanian left for Brussels and then for Astana, the capital of
Kazakhstan, on September 12-16. According to the RA MFA Press Service
Department, on September 13-14 Oskanian will head the Armenian
delegation at the 6th meeting of the Council on EU -Armenia
co-operation. Oskanian will meet its colleagues and the
administration of NATO in the framework of the working visit. On
September 14 Oskanian will leave Brussels for Astana, where he will
participate in the session of CIS Ministers of Foreign Affairs on
September 15-16, as well as in the regular Summit of CIS. A.H. -0–

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