Author: Chakrian Hovsep

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
October 23, 2004 Saturday

Georgia, Armenia to step up inter-parliamentary cooperation

By Tengiz Pachkoria

TBILISI

Armenia and Georgia have announced a new stage of enhanced
inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking after talks with Georgian parliament speaker Nino
Burdzhanadze on Saturday, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told
journalists, “The parliaments of the two countries have certain
experience of cooperation. Now it needs to be refreshed and
enhanced.”

Burdzhanadze said Georgia sought “even closer cooperation with
Armenia”. In her words, “This is in the interests of both countries
and the entire region.”

“It is important that the presidents of Georgia and Armenia have
reached an agreement on many areas of cooperation. The parliaments of
our countries will have to create good conditions for the
implementation of these agreements,” she said.

The speaker said she and Kocharyan had discussed problems that “worry
Georgia and Armenia as well as questions connected with the future
activities of the two countries in the international arena.”

NKR LEADER, BRITISH MPS DISCUSS SITUATION IN KARABAKH

Artsakh State TV, Stepanakert
21 Oct 04

October

NKR (Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) President Arkadiy Gukasyan received
members of the British interparliamentary union lead by a member of
the House of Commons, Gordon Marsden, on 20 October.

During the meeting, the NKR president underlined that the visit of
British parliament members was a good opportunity for the people and
leadership of the NKR to inform the international community about
processes going on there.

President Gukasyan filled the British parliamentarians in on the NKR’s
achievements in building democracy based on the rule of law. Arkadiy
Gukasyan noted the importance of creating appropriate conditions for
developing the NGO sector in the republic as a key component of civic
society.

Touching upon the principles of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement, the NKR president underlined that the most important goal
for the NKR authorities was to prevent the resumption of military
operations and provide the security of the Nagornyy Karabakh
population.

The NKR president also reassured the visitors of his adherence to the
further development of the NKR economy and creation of decent living
conditions. Gukasyan said this would have a positive impact on the
process of democratization in the NKR.

For his part, Gordon Marsden said that the visit to Nagornyy Karabakh
helped them get more detailed information about the life in the
republic. He also noted that the goal of the visit was to find about
the possibilities for international organizations to implement
humanitarian projects and strengthen civic society in Nagornyy
Karabakh, which became possible after meetings with representatives of
NGOs of the republic.

(Video showed the meeting)

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Ottobre 19, 2004

VATICANO: CON RABBINI IMPEGNO PER GERUSALEMME E SITI SACRI

CITTA’ DEL VATICANO

(ANSA) – CITTA’ DEL VATICANO, 19 OTT – Le autorita
rispettino “il carattere sacro di Gerusalemme e prevengano
azioni che offendano la sensibilita’ delle comunita’ religiose
che risiedono a Gerusalemme”. Le autorita’ “protestino
pubblicamente di fronte a azioni di non rispetto verso persone,
simboli e luoghi sacri”.

Questi i punti principali di una dichiarazione congiunta
della Commissione per il dialogo tra le delegazioni del Gran
rabbinato d’Israele e della Commissione della Santa Sede per i
rapporti religiosi con l’ebraismo”. La Commissione per il
dialogo si e’ riunita a Grottaferrata dal 17 al 19 ottobre e la
dichiarazione e’ stata diffusa questa mattina dalla sala stampa
vaticana.

La nota congiunta parte dalla constatazione che non c’e
attualmente “piena consapevolezza” nelle rispettive comunita
“del cambiamento che ha avuto luogo nella relazione tra
cattolici ed ebrei”. Tra i punti affermati: “non siamo nemici,
ma partner nell’articolare i valori morali essenziali per la
sopravvivenza e il benessere della comunita’ umana”;
“Gerusalemme ha carattere sacro per tutti i figli di
Abramo”Tra gli esempi di azioni da deprecare a livello di
autorita’, nei casi di non rispetto verso persone, oggetti o
siti sacri, la nota colloca “la profanazione di cimiteri e il
recente attacco al patriarcato armeno di Gerusalemme”.
(ANSA).

Appeal

APPEAL TO ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

Canada Averted Terrorism

Azg/am
19 Oct 04

Armen Qyurkchian, representative of Canada, wrote a letter to the
foreign minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian on behalf of the central
administrationof the World Armenian Organization. He drew minister’s
attention to the fact that the authorities of Canada displayed wisdom
and foresight and didn’tgive in to the USA’s pressure to support in
the Iraqi war thus averting the danger of terrorism. The author of the
letter notes with pain that in case Armenia sends a group in Iraq,
security not only of the Diaspora but also of Armenia will be put
under danger.

Armen Qyurkchian expresses hope that Armenian authorities will break
their promises to America and will put nation’s interests first.

By Nana Petrosian

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY READY TO ACKNOWLEDGE KARABAKH`S INDEPENDENCE

Noyan tapan

YEREVAN, 16.10.04. The international community has come to terms
with Nagorno-Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan and is ready
to recognize its de facto independence, Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian declared on 13 October in response to a question from an
Armenian parliamentarian. “Whereas six years ago nobody was letting
us even dream about Karabakh not being part of Azerbaijan [under a
future peace accord], today not only we but also the international
community, including the co-chairs of the [Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s] Minsk Group, are freely talking about
that,” he said.

“Today the fact of Karabakh not being part of Azerbaijan is real, and
the international community looks at it in a very normal manner. This
doesn’t mean they will publicly affirm it. But I can state for certain
that they consider that option a real one.”

Oskanian was apparently alluding to a Karabakh peace agreement
worked out during talks in Paris and Florida during the spring of
2001. According to Western press reports, the plan put forward by
French, Russian, and U.S. mediators called for Karabakh’s formal
incorporation into Armenia in return for the latter guaranteeing a
transport corridor between Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan exclave. The
Armenian side maintains that the two sides came close to signing
that accord, but that Azerbaijan’s former President Heidar Aliyev
backtracked on the deal. However, Baku claims that no such agreements
were reached at the time.

Alameda Times-Star, CA
Oct 14 2004

Father and son exhibit works to inspire hope and healing

ADISPLAY of mosaic works by Galust “Nick” Orduyan and paintings by
his son, Greg, at the San Mateo Medical Center is meant to make
people feel better, both physically and spiritually. The artists
offer their talents as an act of gratitude to the medical team there
who saved the life of Greg’s mother when she developed a serious
illness. Hospital CEO Nancy Steiger believes the Orduyans’ art “will
help bring hope and healing” to patients. Patients, staff and
visitors can see “Hope Through Art” on the walls of the long-term
care corridor of the main hospital through Nov. 19. Both father and
son espouse a “family tradition” to bring such positive things to the
community through art. When Galust Orduyan, a noted artist, poet and
wine master, returned home to his destroyed Armenian village after
being badly wounded in World War II, he “took a shovel, baby fruit
trees and grape cutters and he began to plant a public garden,” his
son recalls. “His words were, ‘This is my art today.'” Greg and
Galust Orduyan were granted permanent residency in the United States
based on their contributions in the field of fine arts. Today, Galust
Orduyan is a newly sworn American citizen. Greg Orduyan would like
the show at the hospital to inspire more art for the community, “and
not only the wealthiest.” He emphasizes that being an artist “is not
about selling as much of your work as possible for as much money as
possible,” but rather it is “about inspiring change for the better by
delivering a message from the divine.” You can meet the artists at a
reception from 5 to 7 tonight on the first floor of the San Mateo
Medical Center, 222 W. 39th Ave., San Mateo. “Hope Through Art” is
supported by the San Mateo County Arts Commission and a grant from
the Peninsula Community Foundation. For more information, call (650)
573-2796. Oaxacan woodcarving Renowned woodcarver Jacobo Angeles of
San Martin Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico will be in Half Moon Bay to
offer demonstrations of his craft at Nuestra Tierra Gallery from 11
a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and again Oct. 22-24.

The gallery is at 421 Main St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays
through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. For more
information, call (650) 712-9135.

Gouache demonstration

At today’s 7:30 p.m. meeting of the Menlo Art League, Napa artist
Gianna Marino will present a gouache demonstration. The public is
welcome to attend. The meeting is at the Menlo Park Recreation
Center, 700 Alma St. For more information, call Diana Beuttler at
(650) 323-5716.

California Poetry

Kevin Hearle is one of five poets reading from the new anthology
“California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to the Present” Sunday at the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in San Jose. Hearle, who lives in
San Mateo, is joined by Lucille Lang Day, Juan Felipe Herrera, Sam
Maio and Al Young. A book signing follows the reading.

The free event is co-sponsored by the Poetry Center San Jose and
California Center for the Book as well as the King Library. It will
take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at 150 E. San Fernando St., rooms 225 and
229. For more information, call (408) 292-3254 or (408) 808-2397.

Information on visual and literary arts can be sent to Bonny Zanardi,
San Mateo County Times, 1080 S. Amphlett Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402,
faxed to (650) 348-4446 or

Armenian nuclear plant back after major repairs

Arminfo
5 Oct 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian nuclear power plant was connected to the national power
grid today at 1419 local time [0919 gmt], the director-general of the
plant, Gagik Markosyan, has told Arminfo news agency.

He said that the Armenian nuclear power plant was closed for major
repairs and refuelling on 31 July 2004. The reactor is repaired once
every four years. The director-general said that the uniqueness of
the repairs in 2004 was that the amount of work was unprecedentedly
large.

[Passage omitted: Fuel was sent from Russia]

IHL INSTRUCTORS’ COURSE FOR ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4. ARMINFO. A five-day training course on
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for 12 officers of Armenian Armed
Forces has started today in the resort town of Tsakhkadzor (30 km
north of Yerevan). The course for future IHL instructors is organized
by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation
with the Ministry of Defence of Armenia.

The press-service of ICRC Office in Yerevan told ARMINFO that
conducted by the ICRC regional IHL expert, this course focuses on the
effective use of the “IHL for Commanders” and “IHL for Instructors”
manuals, used as a didactic tool for IHL training in the Armenian
Army. The course also covers topics such as conduct of operations,
commander’s responsibility, behaviour in combat and the ICRC and its
activities.

Similar training courses have been organised in the past. Through such
course. the ICRC seek to ensure that officers from Armenian Armed
Forces know and respect the rules and principles of IHL. The ICRC
stands ready to support the Armenian military authorities in
Integrating IHL into the teaching and combat training of the Armenian
armed forces, the source reports.

RUSSIA AND ARMENIA TO FIGHT TERRORISM SIDE BY SIDE

01 Oct 04

YEREVAN, October 1 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and Armenia are on the one
side in their confrontation with terrorism. This was stated on Friday
by Sergei Mironov, speaker of the Federation Council (upper house of
the Russian parliament) upon his arrival in the capital of Armenia.

He noted that during his visit a joint statement on fighting terrorism
is to be signed.

Russia had to toughen control regime at the checkpoints of the
Russian-Georgian border, Mr. Mironov said.

“After the tragic events in Beslan we had to take certain measures
being aware of the fact that it is from the territory of Georgia,
where many terrorists feel themselves free-and-easy, they penetrate
into our territory,” this is how Sergei Mironov commented upon the
closure by the Russian side of the Verkhny Lars border passage point
at the Military Georgian Highway which links North Ossetia and Georgia
via the Daryal Gorge.

He also stressed that these measures are in no way aimed to hinder
transit of cargoes from Armenia.

The speaker of the Federation Council expressed hope that in the long
run Georgia and the Georgian people will understand that “only
peaceful friendly co-existence of all states in the Caucasus makes for
the prosperity of our peoples and the common position on combating
terrorism.

At the same time advisor of the Georgian president for political
affairs Timur Alazania said in an interview with RIA Novosti, while
commenting on the recent interview with Chechen separatist leader
Aslan Maskhadov in the air of the Georgian private channel Mze, which
made so much noise, “that there are no militants on the territory of
Georgia nor there will be any.”

“There are no militants not because we want to please somebody. We are
proceeding from the strategic interests of Georgia,” Mr. Alazania
stressed.” The presence of any kinds of militants, armed people,
terrorists, nationalistically-minded people or religious extremists
would have been to the detriment of Georgia first of all.

At that Mr. Alazania said that it is true that refugees from Chechnya
reside on the territory of Georgia. “We have refugees and we admit
this openly. We are speaking about women, children and old people,”
Mr. Alazania stressed.

In his words, as of today part of the Chechen refugees have left for
Turkey, another part dispersed in the region, and still another part
returned to Russia,” Timur Alazania said.

Within the framework of his visit to Yerevan, Sergei Mironov will hold
meetings with President Robert Kocharyan of Armenia, Prime Minister
Andranilk Markaryan and chairman of the National Assembly Artur
Bagdasaryan.

The speaker of the Federation Council will visit the military base of
the 123rd motor-rifle regiment of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation, take part in the ceremony of placing wreathes at the
Memorial to 1915 Armenian genocide victims in Osman Turkey and will
speak before students and teachers of the Yerevan State university.

Mr. Mironov will also take part in the ceremony of opening the Center
for Assistance to Inter-regional cooperation between Armenia and the
Russian Federation.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 29 2004

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF AZERBAIJAN VISITS BULGARIA
[September 29, 2004, 20:52:35]

A delegation of the Azerbaijan Parliament led by Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov staying on an official visit to Bulgaria was received by
President of the country Georgiy Prvanov to discuss the prospects
of political, economic and cultural cooperation between Azerbaijan
and Bulgaria.

The parties also focused on the problem of peaceful settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. President Prvanov
stated in this connection that his country stands for resolution
of the problem in accordance with the norms and principles of the
international law.

Touching on his forthcoming visit to Azerbaijan, the Bulgarian
President stressed he pins great hopes on the meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.

In Bulgaria, the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan had also
meetings with Chairman of the country’s National Assembly Ognyan
Gerdzhikov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha.