Car pool The oilfields of Azerbaijan
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Jun 04, 2005
A dilapidated car lies abandoned in an oilfield near Baku. Thanks to
the new 1,094-mile Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which opened last week
and can transport a million barrels of oil a day, the impoverished
country is set to boost its income to almost pounds 4bn a year by
2007 Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
AZG Armenian Daily #101, 03/06/2005
Society
ATTEMPTS TO INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY
Disabled Children Exhibit Their Works at Yerevan State University
In connection with the Children’s Day a number of arrangements were
organized in Yerevan on June 1. The History Department at the Yerevan
State University organized an arrangement with the assistance of YSU
Students’ Central Scientific Company. The arrangement was dedicated
to the works of disabled children.
The exhibition represented over 50 pieces of 21 disabled children from
Yerevan and other regions of Armenia. The pieces were mainly very
interesting watercolors and drawings, as well as gobelins, ceramic
and wooden pieces. These disabled children have many problems but
they are still string enough to create beauty.
Hamo Sukiasian, Secretary of Scientific Board at the History
Department, said that their aim was to represent these talented
children to the students and to contribute to their integration to
the society. “We want to show that the students didn’t forget about
them and they are ready to render them both material and moral aid,”
Mr. Sukiasian said.
“Bridge of Hope,” “Delivery” NGOs, as well as the special school for
disabled children assisted in the organization of the exhibition.
By Melania Badalian
ANDRANIK MARGARYAN AND ZURAB NOGAIDELI TO HOLD WORKING MEETING IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI
Pan Armenian News
02.06.2005 05:23
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian governmental delegation headed by Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan has arrived in the Georgian capital of
Tbilisi to take part in the CIS Summit of Government Heads. Upon
the arrival the Armenian PM met with his Georgian counterpart Zurab
Nogaideli. The parties concerned problems of the Armenian community
of Georgia, specifically the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The Georgian
PM confirmed the intention of the Georgian authorities to implement a
social and economic program in the region. The PMs decided to hold a
working meeting in Samtskhe-Javakheti in July-August. Mr. Margaryan
said he was sure the Georgian authorities would make efforts to
preserve Armenian historical monuments in Georgian territory. It should
be noted that the Armenian Premier will hold a meeting with Georgian
Speaker Nino Burjanadze, after which the program will continue within
the CIS Summit of Government Heads.
Belgium: Armenian Bill Postponed
Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 2 2005
The Belgium Senate Justice Commission has once again postponed the
voting of an amendment that envisions monetary fines and jail terms
for those who deny the Armenian allegations.
During Commission’s May 31 session, heat debates took place for the
motion. Emir Kir of Turkish origin Belgium politician was targeted as
“denier”.
A proposal to invite experts to the Commission to discuss the
Armenian claims was also rejected. The conclusion for the discussions
at the Commission is expected on Tuesday, June 7. Observers
indicating supporters of the Armenian thesis have lost ground during
the May 31 discussions, claim that the likelihood of the draft’s
approval according to the demands of theArmenian lobby has
diminished.
A Senate member of Turkish origin Belgian , Fatma Pehlivan also took
the floor on May 31 and highlighted the drawbacks of the amendment
motion.
The May 31 session became the stage for a battle of words between
Belgian Minister of Justice Laurette Onkelix and Senator Alain
Destexhe. When Destexhe asked: “Kir denies. Why don’t you condemn
him?” by targeting Kir as an example, Onkelinx accused Destexhe of
running after petty calculations.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan argued that the Armenians try to prevent any
different approach.
2 June 2005
Russian ambassador of OSCE Minsk group satisfied with talks in Baku
Today, Azerbaijan
May 31 2005
31 May 2005 [14:32] – Today.Az
Russian Ambassador Yuriy Merzlyakov, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair,
is satisfied with the results of OSCE Mink Group co-chairs to
the region and talks held under the peaceable resolution of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
In his exclusive interview for Trend Merzlyakov said that he had very
good impression and talks with the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister were
too constrictive. “At least, we defined approximate date of the next
meeting of the Foreign Ministers with the participation of the OSCE
Minsk Group c-chairs. Now the prospects are clear,” the diplomat said.
Merzlyakov attributed the meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, held at the initiative of Azerbaijan, as important. “Our
current tour of the region was not a traditional and usual visit,
that the co-chairs do, as it targeted meeting with the Foreign
Minister. “We are very grateful to the President, who found time to
receive the mediators after a difficult period of preparations for the
opening ceremony of the Azerbaijani section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
main export oil pipeline. We had interesting, important and makes us
hopeful for further constructive development of talks,” the Russian
Ambassador stressed.
In two days the exact date of the meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs with the Armenian Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanian,
approximately scheduled for early June 2005, will be determined. Late
in June it is planned to hold a meeting in the format of OSCE Minsk
co-chairs and Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers. Besides,
the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs are planning to pay a visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict region.
URL:
VENICE COMMISSION: THE DRAFT ARMENIAN CONSTITUTION NEEDS DRASTIC CHANGES
STRASBOURG, MAY 30. ARMINFO. The Council of Europe’s Commission for
Democracy through Law (“Venice Commission”) has assessed the draft
constitutional amendments, as adopted by the Armenian National Assembly
in a first reading on 11 May 2005.
The CE press service reports that the members of the Venice
Commission’s Working Group on constitutional reform in Armenia
expressed their deep dissatisfaction with this text, as most of the
Commission’s comments (*) have not been taken into consideration,
notably those concerning the balance of powers between the President
and the Parliament – which implies a stronger role of the National
Assembly -, the independence of the judiciary and the election of
the Mayor of Yerevan (instead of his/her appointment by the President).
“The draft constitutional amendments need to be drastically revised
before they undergo the second reading” said Kaarlo Tuori, member
of the Venice Commission in respect of Finland. The members of the
Working Group also stated that if the text does not fully reflect the
Venice Commission’s opinions, the whole constitutional reform process
would fail to bring Armenia closer to European values and attain the
aim of further European integration.
Representatives of the Working Group will visit Armenia on 2 June to
discuss these issues with the Armenian authorities.
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 30 2005
AZERBAIJANIS CREATES “TURKEL” FUND IN KYRGYZSTAN
[May 30, 2005, 14:31:02]
As reported AzerTAj’s own correspondent, Azerbaijanis living in
Kyrgyzstan have created the Public Fund ‘Turkel” with participation
of 25 delegates from various regions of this country.
A conference which was held in capital Bishkek has elected Mrs.
Hokuma Khalilova as the Fund’s president. The Fund is planning
to publish newspaper and to gather all our compatriots around the
national ideas.
Fund’s President Hokuma Khalilova said the newly establishing
organization will propagandize Azerbaijan literature, culture,
history, art and traditions in Kyrgyzstan. There are unbiased
reports on Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh will
be disseminating in a local mass media too.
MEPs: Greek Cypriot entry was a mistake
Monday, May 30, 2005
DIPLOMACY
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
A European parliamentary delegation led by Joost Lagendijk,
co-chairperson of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, said
the European Union made a “mistake” by accepting the Greek Cypriots
in May of last year for membership as representing the entire island
without having first reached a resolution on the Cyprus dispute.
The delegation, in an internal report written following talks on
both the Turkish and Greek sides of the divided island in April,
said Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos has been engaged in
politics that do not aim to reach a resolution to the Cyprus dispute
but instead which are intended to pressure Turkey into recognizing
the Greek Cypriot government, using EU membership as a tool.
“The EU, by keeping the promises it once gave the Turkish Cypriots,
should rescue this [Turkish] part of the island from isolation,” the
report signed by Lagendijk said, at the same time urging the bloc to
abandon policies encouraging the Greek Cypriots.
Giving Turkish Cypriot students opportunities in EU education
programs and the participation of Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians
in European Parliament sessions under the status of “observer” are
among suggestions of the delegation to the EU.
NA GROUPS AND FACTIONS ESTIMATE PARLIAMENT’S TWO-YEAR ACTIVITY
YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. “In legislative respect I estimate
parliament’s activity very positively as we have no promise or project
we haven’t fulfilled. In political respect I estimate parliament’s
activity negatively,” Galust Sahakian, Head of the NA RPA faction,
declared during the May 27 press briefing while summarizing the
results of the spring session and parliament’s 2-year activity. In
case of giving marks by a 5-point scale, the MP, who is a pedagogue by
speciality, on the whole, would give a “satisfactory” mark to
parliament’s activity. Levon Mkrtchian, Head of the ARF faction, would
estimate parliament’s activity as “satisfactory” as the parliament has
fulfilled its functions, in essence, providing the legislative field,
but the opposition’s boycott had a great impact on the parliament also
influencing the quality of adopted documents and general atmosphere.
Samvel Balasanian, Head of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
faction, would give a “good” mark to parliament’s activity. If party
Chairman Artur Baghdasarian weren’t NA Speaker, the MP might even give
an “excellent” mark. According to him, he would like the parliament’s
activity to be not 30% but much higher. Rafik Petrosian, member of the
National Deputy MP group, RPA member, would give a mark of “3.5”
points to parliament’s activity. 1.5 points lacking for an “excellent”
mark refer to the fact that not all MPs are engaged in legislative
activity, including the opposition that have been boycotting
parliament’s work for nearly 1.5 years, and the burden of fulfilling
their obligations also falls on nearly 30% of MPs carrying out
legislative activity. In the opinion of Viktor Dallakian, Secretary of
the Ardarutiun (Justice) faction, he could give an “excellent” mark to
MP Arshak Sadoyan and “satisfactory” to the rest of MPs, modestly
including himself, too.
Pan Armenian News
ROBERT KOCHARIAN DECORATED CHARLES AZNAVOUR WITH ORDER OF FATHERLAND
27.05.2005 03:41
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with famous
singer Charles Aznavour, RA President’s Press Service reported. Robert
Kocharian decorated the singer with the Order of Fatherland, the Supreme
Order of the Republic of Armenia. At that the President noted that this
order once again proves the great love and gratitude of the Armenian people.
In his turn Charles Aznavour handed to the Armenian leader a hand-written
book which he purchased at an auction. During the meeting the parties
discussed the progress of the republic, the Armenia-Diaspora ties and some
cultural issues. Charles Aznavour pointed out to the changes that took place
in Yerevan while Robert Kocharian expressed hope that our outstanding
compatriot will enjoy the May festivities and the visits to the places of
interest.