Author: Basmajian Ani

IN TIGRAN TOROSIAN’S WORDS, PACE CO-REPORTERS ON ARMENIA POSITIVELY ESTIMATED WORK DONE BY ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 9 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Discussions connected with three
reports directly concerning Armenia and the South Caucasus took place
at PACE standing committees, during PACE autumn session convened on
October 2-6 in Strasbourg. RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian, head of
the Armenian delegation in PACE, said this at the October 9 press
conference, presenting some details.

In his words, among the discussed issues, only the report by deputy
representing Romania, Adrian Severin, on establishment of peace pact
in the South Caucasus has been brought to its final form. The draft
report consisting of draft resolution and proposals will be submitted
for PACE’s approval at one of the coming plenary sessions. The above
mentioned draft proposes convening an international conference and
starting a process with cooperation of the European Union and the
Council of Europe, within the framework of the EU New Neigborhood
Policy, the goal of which is to establish "a small EU model in
the South Caucasus," by the example of the Balkan countries. In
T.Torosian’s words, this time also representatives of Azerbaijan
complained repeating the "old song" that no regional cooperation,
peace and integration envisaged by a document is possible until the
Nagorno Karabakh problem is settled. The Azeris’ objection, in the
speaker’s words, did not have any impact.

As T.Torosian said, according to a preliminary agreement, it is
envisaged to discuss the report on the process of fulfilment of
commitments assumed by Armenia towards the Council of Europe at
the PACE 2007 January session. As the speaker estimated, "if the
activities go on the same way until late 2006, we will have rather a
good report in January." He mentioned that the co-reporters on Armenia,
who arrived in Yerevan lately, in all probability, will complete
the report in mid-November. During preliminary discussions at the
monitoring commission the co-reporters gave a positive estimation to
the process of RA legislation’s harmonization with the constitutional
amendments. They also expressed the hope that the work being done in
Armenia will contribute to holding of the forthcoming parliamentary
elections in correspondence with the international standards. Stepan
Demirchian, opposition representative, Ardarutiun (Justice) faction
head, noted that in the respect of improving the electoral process
it is too important for the persons having committed electoral
falsifications to be punished.

The other discussed incomplete report relates to the missing in the
South Caucasus. The reporter presents the impressions of his visit to
the South Caucasian region. In T.Torosian’s words, it was registered
that everything possible will be done for keeping the draft free from
political questions. Representatives of NGOs of Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh also took part in the above mentioned discussion.

THEY DON’T BELIEVE IN OUR VICTORY

A1+
[12:25 pm] 11 October, 2006

Today at 11:15 p.m. the National football team of Armenia will
play with Serbia within the framework of the qualifying round of
"Euro-2008". Our team left for Belgrade on October 9.

According to the bookmakers, the index of our victory is 20, whereas
that of the Serbs is only 1.1. The index of the draw is 7.5.

Let us remind you that Serbia tops the list of the first group with
7 points. Armenia is in the 7th place with one point.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

FIRS T YEAR REPORT ON THE "KHATCHER KALOUSDIAN"
CENTER FOR PEDAGOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
ACADEMIC YEAR 2006-2007

The July 2006 Israeli war on Lebanon proved to be destructive for Lebanon
and its economy. The educational was not the least damaged as well, even
though the standard academic year had been completed. The official exams
were not yet marked and we had to wait September until they were officially
published.

The "Khatcher Kalousdian" Pedagogical Center had presented 11 students for
official examinations. Three of these of were TS students: Abadallah Lina,
Shirinian Sarine and Dakesian Maral. The remaining eight were BT students:
Aroyian Julia, Aroyian Maral, Khatcherian Maral, Gaidzagian Talin,
Giragossian Hrip, Bedrossian Arpine, Stamboulian Shaghig and Vahradian
Sylva.

Only one BT student failed as a consequence of an unexpected turn of events
during the academic year. She might also sit for the spring round of the
official exams.

Including this year’s students, the center has thus far presented 64
students to official examinations with only 1 unsuccessful candidate and
another one with a pending status.

The center initiated its academic year 2006-2007 in September. The
admissions office accepted application on September 15 and 22. Classes
started on September 29. This year the center so far has 22 students
registered for nine classes a week each.

TS students sit for courses in: Improvement of the Armenian Language, Method
of Teaching Armenian History, Method of Teaching Armenian Language and
Literature, Pedagogical Literature, Arabic Language and Method of Teaching
the Language, Other Subjects Taught in Arabic, Psychology.

BT students have a slightly different schedule: Improvement of the Armenian
Language, Method of Teaching Armenian Language, Pedagogical Literature,
Arabic Language and Method of Teaching the Language, Other Subjects Taught
in Arabic, French Language.

An additional topic, Armenian Pedagogical Writing, will also be proposed to
students as an extracurricular course the followers of which will be
volunteers only.

Towards the end of the previous academic year our third and last methodical
work was published: The Journal of improvement of Armenian. We hope to
publish further works in the future under the scheme of the newly
established pedagogical publications’ project in the Catholicosate of
Cilicia.

K. Shahinian
Director "Khatcher Kalousdian"
Center For Pedagogical Development

Antelias, 7 October, 2006
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
institutions of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

TURKEY VOWS ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IF FRANCE ADOPTS CONTROVERSIAL BILL

Turkish Daily News
Oct 9 2006

Foreign Minister Gul says, ‘If the bill is passed, French
participation in major economic projects in Turkey, including the
planned construction of a nuclear plant for which the tender process
is expected to soon begin, will suffer,’

Turkish leaders warned of economic sanctions against France if the
controversial bill criminalizing any denial of the alleged genocide
of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire was adopted.

"If the bill is passed, French participation in major economic
projects in Turkey, including the planned construction of a nuclear
plant for which the tender process is expected to soon begin, will
suffer," Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was quoted as saying in remarks
published yesterday.

"We will be absolutely unable to have [such cooperation] in big
tenders," Gul told mass-circulation daily Hurriyet, adding that he had
"openly" warned his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy about
the repercussions of the bill.

The French bill, to be debated at the National Assembly on Thursday,
calls for five years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros for anyone
who denies that the Armenians under the Ottoman Empire were subjected
to a genocide during World War I. The adoption of the bill is seen
a high possibility.

In remarks to another Turkish daily Yeni Þafak, Gul said the
government’s reaction and the general reaction of the public would
be inevitable if the developments continued as they were.

"The French will lose Turkey," he said.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer reportedly sent a letter to his French
counterpart, Jacques Chirac, warning that France would lose Turkey
if the contentious bill was legislated. Chirac recently said Turkey
must acknowledge the alleged genocide before joining the EU.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan also expressed his frustration
over the French bill.

"This is an issue between Turkey and Armenia. It is none of France’s
business," said.

"If Turkey’s prime minister — or any other minister, a historian or an
intellectual — goes to France one day and says it was not a genocide,
what are you going to do? Throw that person in jail?" he asked.

"I’m afraid that the adoption of the bill will deal a very serious
blow to our political and economic relations with France which will
be impossible to repair."

On Saturday, Erdoðan met with representatives of French companies
doing business in Turkey behind closed doors, urging them to lobby
French lawmakers to vote down the bill.

"I ask that you make all effort possible to prevent this," Erdoðan
was quoted as telling them.

French companies represented at the meeting included Danone, Peugeot,
Renault and Lafarge. France passed in 2001 a resolution recognizing
the killings as genocide, prompting Ankara to retaliate by sidelining
French companies from public tenders and canceling several projects
awarded to French firms.

Erdoðan also said the Turkish public viewed the bill as a "hostile
act," and said the legislation was against freedom of thought.

A 430-member Turkish-French Association sent letters to the French
headquarters of their companies, calling on the National Assembly to
turn down the bill, which would cause permanent damage to France’s
political interests. The French Association of Trade has launched a
petition campaign that condemns the bill. Turkey’s leading business
group the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association
(TUSÝAD) also condemned the bill, calling it the reflection of fears
that Turkey’s bid for EU membership can come true and an attempt at
disrupting efforts for constructive dialogue and analytical debate.

"I appeal to French politicians: Don’t you see that you are
jeopardizing all the political, economic and social relations that
France has had with Turkey for centuries for the sake of your
own political interests?" Omer Sabancý, head of TUSÝAD, said in
a statement.

On Friday, the Foreign Ministry warned that the adoption of the bill
could jeopardize "investments, the fruit of years of work, and France
will — so to speak — lose Turkey."

Ankara says the bill is designed as a political gesture to France’s
Armenian community. Many here also see it as a punch below the belt
by opponents of Turkey’s EU membership that will tarnish the country’s
image in Europe and fan anti-Western sentiment among Turks.

Military warns of cutting ties with France:

The military expressed full agreement with the Foreign Ministry,
which warned that the bill would inflict an irreparable heavy blow
to Turkish-French ties.

Speaking to daily Hurriyet, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaþar
Buyukanýt said if the bill was adopted, Turkey would cut military
ties with France.

If the French National Assembly votes for the bill on Thursday,
Turkey will close its doors to mutual visits, including military
visits. Joint military exercises with France will be dropped from
the agenda. Also, French firms will be prevented to run for bids in
Turkey, Hurriyet said.

–Boundary_(ID_SPh1+LDj/XJcF9gc0uNN7Q)–

‘GOLD ROBBERS’ FACE MORE CASES

Gulf Times, Qatar
Oct 9 2006

MORE cases have been filed against a group of 11 foreigners, mostly
Armenians, who have been charged with robbing gold shops in Doha,
sources said.

The accused – six men and five women – were detained about two months
after they came to Qatar as tourists.

Some of the accused are charged not with direct involvement in the
robbery but with being accomplices to the crime.

One of the accused told Gulf Times that during the interrogation he
was shown some 2.5kg of gold said to be taken from a Doha shop.

A primary court judge has renewed their remand until the end of the
month, legal sources said.

ADVISOR OF GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA DIED IN CAR ACCIDENT

Georgian Times, Georgia
Oct 9 2006

Gocha Merabishvili, Advisor for security issues of the Georgian
Ambassador to Armenia, died in a car accident in Yerevan.

News-Armenia news agency informs that according to Armenian Police, the
car accident occurred on the Ashotsk-Gumry highway (Shirak district)
on Saturday.

According to the Police, a car Mercedes-Benz-E200, driven by Gocha
Merabishvili, turned out from the highway and got into the gorge.

As a result he died on the spot and his son ans spouse were injured
and taken to the hospital.

The criminal case according t the article "Violation of exploitation
rules and transport movement" was instituted against the fact.

The case is under investigation.

FINLAND FRUSTRATED BY ARMENIA

UEFA.com
Oct 7 2006

Finland’s hopes of reaching a first major finals suffered a setback
as Armenia got off the mark in UEFA EURO 2008~Y Group A.

Armenia hold on

Roy Hodgson’s side led the pool at kick-off after defeating Poland
and holding Portugal, but Armenia – coached by another Briton, Ian
Porterfield – bounced back from their opening loss against Belgium
to hold out for a point.

No repeat

Finland had won 2-0 in Yerevan in FIFA World Cup qualifying almost
two years ago to the day, but here Armenia began brightly. Arman
Karamyan threatened in the opening seconds, but like Armen Shahgeldyan
13 minutes later, could not force his long-range effort past Jussi
Jaaskelainen in Finland’s goal. Egishe Melikyan then sent in a powerful
shot which Jaaskelainen parried, while at the other end Shefki Kuqi
directed Finland’s first real chance wide.

Kasparov checks strikers

The first half ended in stalemate and the second continued in
similar fashion. Kuqi drove over and Sami Hyypia headed wide, while
Shahgeldyan came close twice. Gevorg Kasparov was having a quiet night
in the Armenia goal but earned his corn 19 minutes from time with a
stunning save from Mika Vayrynen. As time ran out, Kasparov pulled
off further stops from substitute Mikael Forssell and Finland captain
Jari Litmanen to give Armenia a point to take to Serbia on Wednesday,
when Finland travel east to Kazakhstan.

TUZMEN MEETS FRENCH MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE LEGARDE

Turkish Press
Oct 8 2006

PARIS/ANKARA – "Approval of a bill (to be debated on Oct 12th) which
considers denial of so-called Armenian genocide claims a crime will
have a negative impact on Turkish-French relations," Turkish State
Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Thursday.

Tuzmen, currently in Paris to attend "Turkish Week" activities of
the Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD),
met French Minister of Foreign Trade Christine Lagarde.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tuzmen said bilateral trade
volume between Turkey and France would exceed 10 billion USD this year.

Tuzmen said, "in case the bill which considers denial of so-called
Armenian genocide claims is approved, several problems will erupt. I
have explained sensitivity of the Turkish public on this issue."

Tuzmen said such initiatives would have a negative impact on relations.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT INCREASES INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION

ARMINFO News Agency
October 6, 2006 Friday

The Armenian Governmentl is going to give more attention to IT
education than production, says Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan.

For this purpose the Government is going to increase IT financing
and to attract soft loans. Margaryan says that presently two
big world renowned companies need good specialists. He says that
foreign companies consider Armenia as the best country in the region
for personnel training. However, it is necessary to train not only
students but also teachers. At the same time, the biggest problem in
the IT sphere in Armenia is copyright.

GEORGIAN DM WARNS RUSSIA TO "THINK CAREFULLY" ABOUT SANCTIONS

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi,
3 Oct 06

[Presenter] The Russian Defence Ministry will have to seek agreement
for the transit of military personnel and equipment to and from the
[102nd Russian military] base in Gyumri [Armenia] through Georgian
territory. The Georgian Defence Ministry has drawn up new rules under
the agreement signed earlier this year. Russia will only be able
to move personnel and equipment from the 102nd base through Georgian
territory with permission from the Defence Ministry, [Defence Minister]
Irakli Okruashvili said in Gori.

[Okruashvili] Those who think they can make life difficult for
Georgia’s people should think very carefully about similar levers that
we have. The fact that we are introducing new rules for transit to
the 102nd military base does not mean that we are going to completely
ban movements [of Russian military traffic], but we will strictly
control the movement of things that present a danger to our citizens,
such as sources of radiation, explosive materials and other dangerous
materials. This refers to the Gyumri military base and there will be
requirements and rules based on the standards of civilized countries,
so that they do not get the impression that they are coming and going
in some kind of banana republic.