Author: Felekian Ara

ACCORDING TO ESTIMATION OF DE FACTO MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MERUZHAN TER-GULANIAN, SERGE SARGSIAN "IS PERSON CREATING STATE"

Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The first issue of the De
Facto public-political magazine, the editor-in-chief of which is
Meruzhan Ter-Gulanian, was published in October. RA Defence Minister
Serge Sargsian’s photo is on the cover of the first issue of the
newspaper. Responding at the November 2 presentation of the magazine
the journalists’ question by what the choice of S.Sargsian’s photo
was especially provided, M.Ter-Gulanian explained: the editorial
staff chose especially S.Sargsian’s photo as the latter made a
very responsible statement, that’s: "the best elections must be
held in 2007, and there are all the bases for it." According to
M.Ter-Gulanian’s estimation, S.Sargsian "is a person creating the
state." "From Karabakh to Armenia – 19 years, he has led a high state
post. And, I believe, that if this state has had any achievements,
it is obliged for it to Serge Sargsian," the De Facto editor-in-chief
stated. M.Ter-Gulanian assured that the new magazine will differ from
others first of all with its independent posture: "It is not financed
by any party or oligarch." Instead of it, 45 of the 100 pages of De
Facto were sold to advertisers, what the magazine editor considers a
normal phenomenon as "all mass media of the world are depending on
advertisers." In M.Ter-Gulanian’s words, analytical articles will
mainly be placed in the magazine "to lead forward the analytical
idea of Armenia. "All the underwater problems" existing in Armenia
will be explained in those articles. "The magazine has no political
orientation and will not throw mud at anybody" the editor-in-chief
of the newspaper promised.

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS IN ANKARA

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 31 2006

Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) will convene on Tuesday
under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the Turkish
capital Ankara.

General Yasar Buyukanit will attend the meeting at the Presidential
Palace for the first time as Chief of Staff. He was appointed to his
new post August 30.

Turkey-EU relations and EU accession talks are expected to be at the
top of the agenda. The French parliament’s adoption of a controversial
draft bill, which makes it a crime to deny an Armenian genocide,
will also be discussed.

The fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in
addition to the latest developments in Iraq, Cyprus and other regional
security issues are among the other points the Council will debate.

Today’s meeting will be the first since the PKK declared a unilateral
truce October 1st and the last one before the Progress Report on
Turkey’s EU process is revealed early in November.

GEORGY PETROSYAN: NKR APPROACHES REGARDING THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT UNCHANGED

ArmRadio.am
31.10.2006 12:00

The approaches of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic regarding the conflict
settlement have not changed, NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan told
" Armenpress."

The Minister refused to make any predictions about the terms of
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "Nagorno Karabakh stands for
the rapid resolution of the conflict and establishment of friendly
relations with Azerbaijan, as a guarantee of stability and development
in the region," Georgy Petrosyan said.

He is confident that only the peace that guarantees the security of
the conflicting parties, freedom and dignity will be enduring.

In response to the question whether it is possible to agree upon
the pivotal issues of settlement in the current year, the Foreign
Minister said that the year 2006 was full of optimistic statements
and predictions about the Karabakh conflict settlement, which,
unfortunately, do not correspond to the real state of negotiations,
which resulted in certain disappointment.

VARTAN OSKANIAN TO PARTAKE IN BSECO SITTING IN MOSCOW

ArmRadio.am
30.10.2006 13:45

RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will leave for Moscow today to
participate in the 15th sitting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization to be held October 31 – November 1.

RA Foreign Minister is expected to participate in agenda discussions
and deliver a speech.

Panorama.am

14:18 27/10/06

FACTION HEAD SAID CONVICTS OF OCTOBER 27 ARE ONLY TOOLS IN EXTERNAL HANDS

FACTION HEAD SAID CONVICTS OF OCTOBER 27 ARE ONLY TOOLS IN EXTERNAL
HANDS Representatives of parliament factions talked about the fatal
crime committed on October 27, 1999 when several leading politicians
were assassinated right in the parliament. Galust Sahakyan, leader of
Armenian Republican Party (HHK) block, said the main criminals have
not got their punishment yet but time will come and everybody will
know who stands behind it. The deputy is sure that the convicts were
just a tool in the hands of external forces.

Stepan Zakaryan from Justice block, who was one of the witnesses of
October 27, believes Armenia has lost a good deal of its independence
after the assassination of those political men. Gegham Manukyan from
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) said
Dashnakcutiun became a major political force which ensured political
and public stability in the Republic of Armenia after October
27. /Panorama.am/

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 28 2006

PACE President Visits Turkish FM Abdullah Gul
By Zaman, Ankara
Friday, October 27, 2006
zaman.com

Rene van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE), said he did not expect Turkey to have a
`train wreck’ in its EU accession process.

Noting that it was in the interest of both Turkey and Europe to
continue the reform process, Linden asked for Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code to be amended and said, `Everyone in Turkey should
be able to speak their mind freely.’

Van der Linden met with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
Thursday. At a press conference where he made clear statements about
the recent developments and strongly criticized the French parliament
for passing a controversial bill criminalizing even questioning an
Armenian genocide, Linden remarked that he did not believe that the
Upper House would approve the bill, further noting: `This bill is a
mistake because while what we need here is reconciliation, it sets a
bad example in regard to the freedom of expression. This is a back
step from the freedom of expression.’

Remarking that Ankara must continue the reform process for full
membership, the PACE president said the following as regards to the
train crash metaphor: `I prefer not to use the term `train crash,’
because we have lately seen that some politicians invent terms to
ostracize the process. This is not advantageous for either Turkey or
Europe. Both parties should adopt a balanced approach. Sometimes I
see that Turkey is very frustrated.’

Also criticizing the veto system of the European Union, van der
Linden said, `There is no football team or music group where any
member can stop the entire process alone,’ adding that such a system
served only to slow down the decision-making process.

Linden also referred to the news that there was no one to welcome him
at the Istanbul airport when he arrived but the security guards: `It
stemmed from a misunderstanding,’ he said.

Le Télégramme
26 octobre 2006

Une centaine de participants à la journée Bretagne-Arménie

Ararat est le nom du volcan qui culmine à plus de 5.

Ararat est le nom du volcan qui culmine à plus de 5.000 m, symbole de
l’Arménie, aujourd’hui en territoire turc; Menez, c’est la montagne
en breton. On comprend mieux ainsi l’appellation Menez Ararat,
association riche, elle aussi, de symboles illustrant tous les liens
créés entre Bretons et Arméniens au fil de l’Histoire.

Le week-end passé, plusieurs animations se sont déroulées dans la
commune sur le thème de l’Arménie. Elles étaient organisées par
Christian Robin, de Maël-Carhaix, dont la mère et les grands-parents
maternels sont d’origine arménienne. Une centaine de personnes y ont
pris part.

Deux rassemblements

par an

« Au départ, explique-t-il, il y avait des rencontres amicales entre
nous, enfants d’immigrés. Puis, il y a une dizaine d’années, nous
avons créé cette association, Menez Ararat, qui organise deux
rassemblements par an ».

Le président est Nantais; il s’agit de Gérard Bossière.

Il est sûr que cette rencontre prenait une autre dimension dans le
cadre de l’année de l’Arménie en France, et Gérard Bossière ne
pouvait que se réjouir de voir que le projet déposé par
l’association, qui sera présenté à Bécherel le 3 juin prochain, a été
retenu pour son originalité, élaboré autour de la musique, de la
cuisine et de la littérature.

Trois grands axes

Il s’agissait aussi des trois grands axes préconisés pour organiser
cette journée semestrielle des retrouvailles. Le public n’était pas
encore vraiment dans le vif du sujet, en dégustant de bonnes crêpes
bretonnes, le samedi soir, mais il les appréciait beaucoup pour
autant.

Le dimanche, en revanche, après une commémoration au monument aux
morts, un repas arménien, ouvert à tous par souscription, était
organisé au restaurant « Le Faou ». Puis, un concert de musique celte
et arménienne avait lieu à la salle multifonctions de la Maison du
patrimoine, avant les causeries de fin d’après-midi : « L’histoire
des Arméniens », par S. Pogossian et « L’origine de leur alphabet »,
par V. Bossière.

Gérard Bossière a tenu à remercier la municipalité, représentée par
le maire, Christophe de Quelen : « Nous avons reçu ici un accueil
très chaleureux », a-t-il souligné.

Armenpress

WORLD BANK SUPPORTS ARMENIAN SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND
TARGETING THE POOR

WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS: The World
Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved October
26 a credit of US $25 million equivalent for a Social
Investment Fund III (ASIF III) Project for Armenia.
The World Bank said in a press release this project
will assist the Government of Armenia in its efforts
to improve the living standards of the poor and
strengthen institutions at the local level.
So-called "infrastructure gaps," including schools
and primary health clinics or ambulatories that are in
need of repair or reconstruction, are most acute in
the rural areas, especially in the remote and isolated
communities. While unmet demands remain throughout
Armenia, the needs of earthquake zone communities are
large, and include potable water and special schools.
For high mountainous communities, potable water
remains a high priority, along with community centers.
The new project will help to meet these and other
needs over the medium-term.
"The main strength of ASIF is its capacity to
penetrate into remote, isolated, and poor communities,
provoke effective discussion on their perceived
priorities, and to bring the project proposals to
serve their needs," said Caroline Mascarell, Head of
the World Bank team designing the project. Thus, the
Fund will support the improvement of basic social and
economic infrastructure, short-term employment
opportunities, community participation, and local
capacity building and empowerment, she noted.
The ASIF III Project will benefit from the effective
institutional and implementation arrangements already
in place under the ASIF I and II projects. ASIF has
successfully been in operation for the last decade; so
far, 587 micro-projects in 271 rural and urban
communities have been completed under the project,
reaching up to 1.7 million beneficiaries all over
Armenia.
The ASIF III project has two main components. It
would support community investments in the poorest
communities of Armenia through basic small-scale
social and economic infrastructure rehabilitation. The
project would also compliment community investment
through local level institutional strengthening,
monitoring and evaluation. It is designed to increase
the competencies and accountability of municipal
administration in such areas as financial management,
budgeting, accounting, and asset management.
By the time the project is completed, more than a
hundred of the neediest communities (of small and
medium size, and mostly rural) would benefit from
newly constructed and renovated schools that are
warmer during the winter; specialized schools for
orphanages, handicapped children, and art students;
sports facilities; community centers; potable water in
homes; and rehabilitated irrigation systems.
The credit is provided on "hardened" IDA terms,
with a maturity of 20 years and a grace period of 10
years included. Since July 1, 2006 Armenia has been in
the process of graduating from IDA eligibility.
Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in
1993, commitments to Armenia have totaled
approximately US $952.25 million for 44 operations.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

26-10-2006

Minister Oskanian Meets with Elmar Mammadyarov,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister

On October 24, a meeting between Minister Oskanian and Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov took place under the auspices of the OSCE Mink
Group Co-Chairs.

The two discussed new ideas proposed by the Co-Chairs during the Foreign
Ministers’ meeting in Moscow on October 6, 2006.

As a result, the Ministers reached an agreement to continue their
consultations in order to further clarify their positions. The next meeting
will be held on November 14 in Brussels, in the framework of EU-Armenia
Cooperation Council.

BULGARIA, ROMANIA PROPOSE NEW COMMISSIONERS

EurActiv.com, Belgium
Oct 25 2006

In Short:

Meglena Kuneva and Varujan Vosganian have been named as Commissioner
candidates by Bulgaria and Romania.

Brief News:

The Bulgarian candidate Meglena Kuneva holds a doctorate degree in
law and has worked on environmental issues in Bulgaria, as well as
for international organisations, such as the World Bank. Since 2001
she is deputy minister of foreign affairs and chief negotiator for
Bulgaria with the EU. In 2002 she was elected special representative
for Bulgaria to the Convention on the Future of the EU.

Varujan Vosganian holds a doctorate degree in economics and is the
president of the Union of Armenians in Romania. He is founder and
former president of the "Union of the Right-wing Forces" party.

Currently he is spokesman and MP for the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe. According to Mediafax, Vosganian was proposed
and especially favoured by Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu
Tariceanu. Tariceanu said: "I strongly believe that the solid
political experience and the professional profile of Mr. Varujan
Vosganian recommends him for this position."

The official decision will be announced on October 26 2006, following
the Council meeting.

The European Parliament hearings of the two candidates is expected
to take place 27-29 November 2006. The Parliament is to vote on the
new commissioners on 4 January 2007.

EurActiv.ro has contributed to this article.