Author: Felekian Ara

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR DEVOTED TO RESTORATION OF ARCHITECTURAL AND
NATURAL HERITAGE HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 20 (Noyan Tapan). The regular two-day international
seminar started in Yerevan on October 19. The seminar is held within
the framework of the “Restoration of Architectural and Cultural
Heritage in the Urban Development Policy” program implemented in
Armenia since 2003 with the support of the Council of Europe. The
purpose of the seminar is to become acquainted with the European
experience and specify the process of the pilot programs implemented
in the towns of Ashtarak, Goris and Gyumri. Foreign specialists
presented the experience of the political management and town-planning
restoration of the historical towns of Masstricht (the Netherlands)
and Vien (France). According to RA Deputy Minister of Urban
Development Ruzanna Alaverdian, the stable growth is observed in the
sphere of urban development of Armenia, and the preservation of the
structures presenting the architectural and cultural heritage is the
primary task. The program, which is implemented with the support of
the Council of Europe, is of a consulting nature: it is expected that
taking into account the peculiarities of the Armenians towns the pilot
programs of their development will be worked out with the involvement
of the private capital.

Source: Zaman Gazetesi –
;alt=&t rh=20041017&hn=13067

NATIONAL 10.17.2004 Sunday

Kerry Campaign Yields to Armenian Lobby

News of a statement by US Presidential Democratic candidate John Kerry, I
did not say I will accept the Armenian genocide law draft, published in
Zaman last week caused indignation to rise among some Armenian groups.

Kerry’s campaign took a step backwards on the issue of genocide because of
reactions and pressure from the Armenian lobby, which will play a critical
role in the elections on November 2nd. The Asbarez, a newspaper linked to
the America National Committee of Armenians (ANCA), published a statement
attributed to Mark Kitchens, a spokesman for the Democrat candidate, which
confirmed that Kerry supported the Armenian theses. The statement made to
Asbarez said that Kerry has shown his support for US recognition of the
Armenian genocide by his statements during the campaign period and by his
work in the Senate.

Kitchens statement dated October 9th is not posted in the press release
section of John Kerry’s official election web-site,
Kerry’s election bureau has not responded to Zaman’s messages concerning
Kitchens statements. Zaman has also not received a demand for a correction.
In a statement made by Kerry to one of Zaman’s correspondents in Washington
at a party meeting on October 2nd, Kerry responded to claims that his party
would accept the Armenian genocide law draft brought forth by the Armenian
lobby. Kerry explained that he contributed to the efforts of Senator Robert
Dole in 1990, but said he did not make any campaign statement that he would
accept the draft. The special explanation of the Democrat candidate was
published in Zaman on October 8, 2004. It has also been discovered that
Kerry also denied claims that he would accept the draft in meetings he held
with Turkish supporters.

The presidents of several leading Turkish foundations in the US wrote
letters to Kerry expressing their disappointment following the statement by
Kitchens.

10.17.2004
Foreign News Service

Data on Russian investments in Armenia posted

RosBusinessConsulting Database
October 13, 2004 Wednesday

Russian direct investments in Armenia amounted to $230m in 1998 to
2003, co-chairman of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental
commission for economic cooperation Igor Levitin, who is also Russian
Transportation Minister, announced at an economic forum held in the
Armenian capital of Yerevan. Russia invested $68m in the Armenian
economy in 2003, he said. Russian investments in Armenia accounted
for 44 percent of Russia’s overall investments abroad in 2003.
Russian invested the most in the Armenian industry and its banking
sector, he emphasized. The two countries have a number of joint
ventures such as Armenal, in which RusAl invested over $40m, Sibir
subsidiary Armavia and the Orbita company, the ARKA news agency
reported.

Speaker not opposed to Armenian MPs’ planned visit

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2004

Commenting on Armenian parliament members’ planned visit to Baku to
participate in NATO’s “Rose Roth” seminar, parliament speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov said that Armenians’ arrival in the Azeri capital ‘is in
favor of Azerbaijan’. “I believe the visit of military officers is
different from that of diplomats,” said Alasgarov, recalling his
severe protest against Armenian officers’ planned participation in
the NATO exercises, originally scheduled in Baku for September but
later postponed.

The Speaker underlined that at the opening ceremony of the seminar
he inform the participants of the fact that Armenia occupies 20%
of Azerbaijan’s territory.

“I will urge the seminar attendees to voice their position on Armenia’s
aggression and pass a relevant decision on the matter,” he said.

ARKA News Agency
Oct 11 2004

The conference of the council of trustees of the Pan-Armenian
International Youth center Foundation held in Yerevan

Field sitting of Armenian Communities’ Union board takes place in
Sevan (Armenia)

Fulfillment of Armenian commitments to CE to assist development of
the country – Norway Foreign Minister

ITERA oil and gas company holds negotiations on selling 10% of the
shares of ArmRusgasprom CJSC for $ 30 mln

Approach of coalition of Armenia may not be strongly different of
president’s approach – Robert Kocharian

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THE CONFERENCE OF THE COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES OF THE PAN-ARMENIAN
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CENTER FOUNDATION HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. The conference of the council of
trustees of the Pan-Armenian International Youth Center Foundation
was held in Yerevan. According to the RA Government’s Press Service
and Public Relations Department, in the course of the conference, in
which RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan took part, the Executive
Director of the Fund A. Sinanyan introduced the report on the second
youth forum held in Armenia on July 24-29, 2004. The results of the
conference were introduced, including reports and protocols of the
plenary session and the sessions of thematic and working groups, as
well as information concerning informal discussions, the program of
the forum and the way it was covered by the Mass Media. Sinanyan
noted that as compared to the first forum, the second one had a wider
geography of the participants, and the scope of the issues discussed.
Sinanyan summed up the suggestions made during the forum, sating that
they will be taken into consideration when holding a similar forum
next year, and this will allow increasing the efficiency of it.
In his turn, Margaryan noted that it’s necessary to inform the
participants of the forum of its results, and noted the importance of
using the potential of the youth of the Armenian Diaspora to achieve
the goals of the forum. Margaryan suggested involving young
representatives of the Diaspora, who don’t speak Armenian, when
developing the further programs. A.H.– 0–

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FIELD SITTING OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES’ UNION BOARD TAKES PLACE IN
SEVAN (ARMENIA)

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Field sitting of Armenian Communities’
Union board takes place in Sevan (Armenia). The heads of communities
of all Armenian regions, the Chairman of Civil Service Council took
part in the sitting. The parties discussed the draft laws on
municipal service and legal changes in the field of regulation of
administrative control of the State over activity of local
self-government bodies. L.D. –0–

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FULFILLMENT OF ARMENIAN COMMITMENTS TO CE TO ASSIST DEVELOPMENT OF
THE COUNTRY – NORWAY FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Fulfillment of Armenian commitments to
CE will assist development of the country, Norway Foreign Minister,
the Chairman of CE Ministers Committee Jan Petersen stated today in
Yerevan. According to him, fulfillment of the commitments is very
important for Armenia and in this view CE experts are ready to
provide the country consultation assistance on their realization.
Note the issue of fulfillment of Armenian commitments to CE was
discussed at the meeting of RA and Norway foreign ministers. L.D.
–0–

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ITERA OIL AND GAS COMPANY HOLDS NEGOTIATIONS ON SELLING 10% OF THE
SHARES OF ARMRUSGASPROM CJSC FOR $ 30 MLN

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. ITERA oil and gas company holds
negotiations on selling 10% of the shares of ArmRusgasprom CJSC to
one of the West European investment corporations. According to
Regions.Ru referring to ArmRusgasprom, the cost of the deal can make
about $30 mln. At that, the sources didn’t mention the possible buyer
of the shares. According to some analysts of the gas market, the
decision on selling the shares of ArmRusgasprom is connected with the
company’s not becoming the participant of the consortium for the
construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline in Meghri-Kajaran part. The
construction will begin in the end of 2004.
In the meantime, as a reply to the corresponding inquiry of ARKA, the
Press Service of ArmRusgasprom refused to comment this information
“proceeding from the ethical considerations”. According to Shoushan
Sardaryan, this issue refers only to ITERA’s administration and RA
Government, as the shareholders of ArmRusgasprom.
On September 8, the agreement on the construction of the Armenian
part of Armenia-Iran gas pipeline in Meghri-Kajaran was signed in
Yerevan. The construction and funding of the Armenian part of the gas
pipeline will do the Iranian company.
Armenia-Russian ArmRusgasprom CJSC is the only supplier of the
natural gas to Armenia. The company was founded in 1997 to sell the
natural gas to local consumers and to transport Russian gas through
the territory of Armenia to other countries. The co-founders of the
company are Russian Gasprom OJSC (45%), ITERA International Group of
Companies (10%), and the RA Ministry of Energy (45%). The authorized
stock capital of ArmRusgasprom CJSC makes $270 mln. ArmRusgasprom
CJSC imported 1,2 bln cubic meters of gas into Armenia in 2003
instead of the planned 1,6 bln. The number of subscribers of
ArmRusgasprom increased by 54 thsd. and made 186 thsd in 2003.A.H.
–0–

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APPROACH OF COALITION OF ARMENIA MAY NOT BE STRONGLY DIFFERENT OF
PRESIDENT’S APPROACH – ROBERT KOCHARIAN

YEREVAN, October 11. /ARKA/. Approach of coalition of Armenia may not
be strongly different of that of President, as Armenian President
Robert Kocharian said during his visit to Tavush marz of Armenia. In
his words, it is hard to imagine that President and PM can give
strictly different promises. He stressed that President’s and
Government’s opinions are similar for the large programs. However
there can be other small programs in regard of arrangement of which
there may be different in approaches. “All that the President
promises today is being performed by the Government that is the main
instrument. The Government consists of coalition forces: some work
well, some worse, but the works may not have absolute results”,
Kocharian said. In this contexts he stressed the importance of
implementation of all pre-election problems, the productivity must
correspond the results of the investments made. “It is important that
we can perform all tasks and this witnesses that we learnt to
calculate our forces and the income part of the budget allows
implementing large programs”, Kocharian said. T.M. -0–

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Racing Post
October 4, 2004, Monday

ON THE LINE… SARGIS SARGSIAN

SARGIS SARGSIAN has won an impressive 11 of his 16 carpet-court
matches since 2001 and could be a player to follow on this year’s
swing.

The Armenian has failed to fire on hard, clay and grass courts this
season, managing just 14 wins from 37 matches, but he played his best
tennis of this season to reach the last 16 of the US Open in late
August.

Sargsian showed what a great competitor he is at Flushing Meadows
when twice coming back from the brink of defeat – against Paul-Henri
Mathieu and Nicolas Massu – to win in five sets.

Closer inspection of Sargsian’s displays on carpet since 2001 reveal
a player capable of performing well above his present ranking of 45
on this surface.

He was the only player to reach two carpet-court finals last season,
in St Petersburg and Moscow, and in the Kremlin Cup he lowered the
colours of Yevgeny Kafelnikov, one of the finest carpet players of
all time.

Jiri Novak and Rainer Schuttler are other top-class players who had
no answer to Sargsian’s smooth groundstrokes and potent serve on
carpet last term.

The 31-year-old is no spring chicken and before hanging up his racket
he will be keen to add to his sole ATP title, which he captured in
1997 on grass in Rhode Island.

Sargsian has entered this week’s Grand Prix tournament in Lyon and,
providing he stays injury-free, will almost certainly travel to
Russia to play in the Kremlin Cup and St Petersburg Open, in which he
will bid to go one better than last season.

El Pais
Octubre 5, 2004

Docupolis se amplia con una seccion de documentales catalanes

ISRAEL PUNZANO

Barcelona

Cine proximo a la realidad. El Centro de Cultura Contemporanea de
Barcelona (CCCB) acogera a partir de manana la cuarta edicion de
Docupolis, el Festival Internacional Documental de Barcelona,
organizado por la asociacion de cine y video documental Tercer Ojo.
Mas de 600 peliculas -producidas en 50 paises- compiten este ano por
algunos de los premios del certamen. Galardones que van del
reconocimiento honorifico al filme mas comprometido con los derechos
humanos a la mejor opera prima. Entre las novedades de esta entrega
destaca la seccion dedicada a promover la obra de los cineastas
catalanes.

“Desde sus inicios, Docupolis ha apostado por acercar el genero
documental a las nuevas generaciones. Son peliculas que no suelen
aparecer en las cadenas de television por criterios comerciales”,
explico ayer su director, Hugo Salinas, en la presentacion del
festival. Y anadio: “A veces, nos echan en cara cierta falta de
glamour. Esta critica no nos importa, porque lo que nos interesa es
que la gente vea mas documentales”.

Proyecciones aparte, el festival reivindicara la maestria de dos
autores de estilos dispares: el armenio Artavazd Pelechian, cineasta
experimental al que se dedica la seccion Rescate, y el cubano
Santiago Alvarez, protagonista de la tradicional retrospectiva. La
camara de Alvarez registro algunos de los episodios decisivos de la
revolucion castrista en Cuba, como el primer mensaje dirigido a la
poblacion por Che Guevara tras su victoria. Ademas, el director
homenajeado -que fallecio en 1998- dejo un rico testimonio
periodistico de otros hechos historicos relevantes, entre los que
sobresale su cobertura a la guerra del Vietnam desde el frente
comunista.

Compromiso social

A pesar de la diversidad tematica de las cintas, muchas coinciden en
orientar los focos hacia conflictos actualisimos. Asi, el documental
Grissinopoli muestra al espectador la lucha de unos obreros
argentinos para mantener sus puestos de trabajo en una fabrica
abandonada por los patronos, mientras que la pelicula Punto de
Control refleja las tensiones diarias causadas por las restricciones
de acceso a los palestinos arabes en ciudades cercadas de Israel.

Tendencias urbanas de ultima hora, miradas a la actualidad de
Latinoamerica, un repaso a la produccion de paises mediterraneos y la
divulgacion de cortos innovadores conforman otras areas del certamen.
Docupolis, que se prolongara hasta el domingo, completa su oferta con
una serie de actividades paralelas que incluyen debates y un
seminario sobre el genero a cargo del escritor Antonio Weinrichter.
“Me interesan los documentales subjetivos, retoricos, argumentativos,
reflexivos o tramposos. Como intuyo Godard, el documental puede ser
una especie de ensayo. El cine sirve para discutir vivamente ideas y
no solo para contar historias”, dijo Weinrichter.

El programa detallado de la cita cinematografica documental se puede
consultar en la pagina de Internet:

Le Figaro, France
07 octobre 2004

Le « baroud d’honneur » de Pascal Lamy

Alexandrine BOUILHET

Le débat sur la Turquie au sein de la Commission, hier, a mis en
évidence le particularisme français. Dans un collège majoritairement
acquis à la cause turque, les deux Français Pascal Lamy et Jacques
Barrot ont été mis sur la touche. Le plus isolé de tous était le
commissaire Pascal Lamy, l’un des seuls, au collège, à considérer que
la Turquie n’était « pas encore prête » à ouvrir les négociations
d’adhésion avec Bruxelles. L’un des seuls à estimer qu’il fallait
encore laisser la porte ouverte à un « partenariat privilégié ». Le
seul enfin à vouloir poser comme précondition d’adhésion la
reconnaissance du génocide arménien par Ankara. « On a tous été très
étonnés par son attitude. Il a posé de telles conditions qu’il
semblait clairement opposé à l’ouverture des négociations avec
Ankara, raconte l’un de ses collègues. Jacques Barrot avait aussi des
réticences, mais ses demandes étaient plus raisonnables. Sur le fond
de la recommandation, il était d’accord, car elle correspond tout à
fait à la ligne Chirac. »

En cinq ans, la Commission Prodi avait fini par s’habituer à cette
forme de cohabitation française au sein du collège, mais le baroud
d’honneur de Pascal Lamy, l’un des commissaires les plus respectés de
l’équipe sortante, n’est pas passé inaperçu. « Que se passe-t-il avec
Lamy ? Il est sur quelle ligne ? Fabius ou Hollande ? On n’y comprend
plus rien… », demandaient ses collègues, un peu perdus dans les
méandres de la politique française. Ce mystère ne lui déplaît pas.
Socialiste, mais libéral, favorable à la Constitution, mais hostile à
l’entrée de la Turquie, le « cerveau » Pascal Lamy apparaît de plus
en plus « inclassable » politiquement. Commissaire sortant, il quitte
ses fonctions le 1er novembre, laissant à Jacques Barrot le prochain
siège français dans l’équipe Barroso. A Bruxelles, Pascal Lamy reste
très discret sur ses intentions futures.

Ses positions iconoclastes compliquent son éventuel retour sur la
scène intérieure française, même s’il a gardé de solides liens avec
Lionel Jospin. Son ambition comme son profil le portent davantage
vers des organismes internationaux, de type OMC, FMI ou ONU, mais de
tels postes requièrent l’aval de l’Elysée, une hypothèse plus
compromise que jamais.

EU’s yes to Turkey draws mixed response

Irish Times
Oct 08, 2004

Derek Scally

EU: There were mixed reactions yesterday among commentators in Turkey
and Germany, home to some two million Turks, to the European
Commission recommendation to open EU entry negotiations with Turkey.

The front page headline of H’rriyet, Turkey’s best-selling newspaper
was clear: “Dankeschön Verheugen” it said in gratitude to the EU
enlargement commissioner, Mr G’nter Verheugen.

The page was all-blue, surrounded by EU and Turkish flags.

Summoning the founder of modern secular Turkey, a front page editorial
said “Ataturk should have seen this day”.

But inside, columnist Emin Colasin had mixed feelings.

“We shouldn’t try to please the EU too much. There is no country that
has done this until now,” he said, choosing to focus on the
Commission’s “but”.

“The outcome of the discussions is not clear and there are no
guarantees. There are lots of places with shadows.

“Some politicians in Brussels were still talking about Cyprus and the
Armenian genocide. Such things were never said to any country on this
path.This is only the beginning.

“They are caressing our cheeks and giving us a finger of honey so we
don’t run away and cause a scandal.”

Germany’s conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine, called it a “fateful
day” for the EU, adding that Turkey’s accession could “destroy the
European house aswe know it”.

“One should say honestly to the European people: this is not about an
‘enlargement’ of the EU but a ‘transformation’.”

Austria’s Die Presse agreed, calling the Turkey debate “absurd”.

Germany’s Die Tageszeitung praised the Commission’s “good and right”
recommendation, adding it would have preferred a “slightly smaller
‘but’.”

Armenians want open borders with Turkey, worried Turkey will join EU – poll

Mediamax news agency
7 Oct 04

YEREVAN

Fifty-seven per cent of those polled by the Vox Populi Centre of
Electoral Systems in Yerevan support the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border and the restoration of transport
communications between the two countries. A total of 648 people took
part in the poll in Yerevan on 1-5 October. Thirty-three per cent of
those polled did not want the border to be opened, whereas 10 per cent
found it difficult to answer the question.

Forty-three per cent of those polled said that Turkey’s admittance to
the European Union would have a negative effect on Armenia’s
interests, whereas 17 per cent were of the opposite opinion, 18 per
cent said they did not care and 22 per cent could not answer the
question.

Asked whether present-day Turkey bears responsibility for the 1915
Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey, 19 per cent of those polled said
it did, 25 per cent said it most probably did, 17 per cent said it
most probably did not, 15 per cent that it did not while 24 per cent
of those polled found it difficult to answer the question.