Author: Harutyunian Christine

Armenian foreign policy intentions unclear – paper

Aravot, Yerevan
6 May 04

Text of Tigran Avetisyan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 6 May
headlined “An unclear priority”

The foreign policy priorities of Armenia, which according to Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan have been clarified and gained
general shape during the Yerevan consultations of the representatives
of the Armenian Diaspora organizations and Armenian ambassadors, make
us thoughtful. These priorities are euphonious and are not a subject
of argument in the sense of their content. But it is unclear, what
they were taking into account when mentioning the priority directions
of the foreign policy, when contradictory processes are developing in
the country guided by the authorities.

So, let us name the priorities: security, development, integration to
Europe and the Karabakh issue. Sometimes even the state top officials
do not make a secret of the fact that the army is not top of our
security guarantees, and in f act has only a task to hold Azerbaijan
in check. But it changes nothing either they make a secret or not, as
it is obvious truth. It is also obvious that Armenia’s security may be
guaranteed only if it is a fully-fledged member of any international
security system.

There is no need to present in detail the prospects of Armenia’s
“preferences”. Simply the security, mentioned by Oskanyan in this
context, needs no additional explanation. It is not also clear what
they mean by saying development. If they mean economic development,
in that case they probably suggest to our diplomats and influential
Diaspora Armenians to promote foreign capital import and
investments. This is a kind wish. But we cannot but notice that
creation of an attractive investment atmosphere is not a problem of
diplomats at all. And to persuade rich men to spend money in a
country, the economy of which is literally lost in corruption, means
to put our ambassadors in an awkward situation. Here is a situation
which even the recent setting-up of a department in the Armenian
prosecutor’s office to fight corruption, cannot save.

The most mysterious of all the Oskanyan’s priorities is integration
into Europe especially against the background of the recent events. We
cannot understand how our state functionaries imagine Euro-integration
, when in case of its weakest manifestation, the power propaganda
machine immediately calls them national betrayal, and direct orders of
the Council of Europe are ignored by state functionaries. In this case
the Armenian diplomatic corps seems to have a task to disseminate
disinformation about Armenia being a democratic country. And finally
the Karabakh issue. Let only say that it is directly conditioned by
the above mentioned three priorities.

Arts Digest : A capsule review and preview of art and entertainment in
Armenia

May 7, 2004
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow arts reporter

THE PASSIONS O F SECTARIANS: A n agreement was reached on May 5 with
the leadership of Moscow and Nairi cinemas in Yerevan and the Ararat
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) that audiences
attending the film “The Passion of Christ” may be warned against
proselytizing by sectarian religious groups outside the cinema.

$1000 TO THE BEST: Tekeyan Cultural Union of Armenia will award “Vahan
Tekeyan” prize, a diploma, a medal and AMD equivalent to $1000 to the best
pieces of art, literature and science. The union restored its annual award,
adding three other branches, namely, architecture, TV-Radio journalism and
humanities, to its five basic nominations (literature, music, fine arts,
theatre, cinema). The works should be created during 2003.

According to Sergey Galstyan, vice-chairman of Tekeyan union, all works
should uncover Armenian mentality, reflect Armenian nature and artistic
views of Armenian life. They should support the development and expansion of
Armenian culture, literature and humanities.

COMPOSER’S ANNYVERSARY: The Union of Armenian Composers will hold a festival
in autumn dedicated to the 75 th anniversary of Armenian composer Avet
Terterian.

The chairman of the Union, Robert Amirkhanian told Armenpress the festival
will bring to Yerevan prominent performers, critics and composers from many
countries.

Terterian is one of the most progressive and original composers of the end
of the 20th century who introduced new and revolutionary ways in the
development of modern symphony. Terterian is the author of eight symphonies
(the ninth was left incomplete), two operas “Ring of Fire” and “The
Earthquake”, ballet “Richard the 3rd”, vocal-symphonic cycle, and many
chamber works.

WAR AND ART: An exhibition of works of modern Artsakh artists dedicated to
the 12th anniversary of liberation of Shushi and formation of the NKR
Defense Army will be opened in Yerevan on May 7. About 100 works of 20
Artsakh artists will be presented at the exhibition, which will last 10
days.

TWO ARMENIAN FILMS IN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: Two Armenian films will be
presented at the “Arsenal” international film-festival held in Riga in
September 2004: “Zhano, or in Search of Paradise” (film-maker Suren Babayan)
and “Documentalist” (film-maker Harutiun Khachatrian). It is these two films
that were selected by President of “Arsenal” August Sukut and artist
Alexander Buuse, who visited Armenia in connection with the youth
film-festival “It’s Me”. About 200 films will be shown at the “Arsenal”
festival. A jury will select 14 winners.

THREE JUBILEES DURING ONE FESTIVAL . Applications for 130 films from 25
countries were submitted for participation in the “Golden Apricot” first
international film-festival to be held in Yerevan from June 3 to July 4,
reported Noyan Tapan. Applications will be accepted until May 10. Susanna
Harutiunian, Chairwoman of the Association of Film Critics and Film
Journalists of Armenia, said that besides the contest programs it is
expected that three jubilee programs dedicated to the 80th anniversaries of
the establishment of the Armenian movie, Sergey Parajanov and Charles
Aznavour will be held within the framework of the “Golden Apricot”
film-festival.

FIRST PERFORMANCE IN ARMENIA: Karen Shahgeldyan, an Armenian violinist from
Moscow and winner of international competitions, will perform in Armenia for
the first time in a solo benefit concert. The 27-year old violinist will
play the unique instrument made by Antonio Stradivarius, belonging to the
State Fund of the Musical Instruments of the Russian Federation. Concerts
will be held in Yerevan, Gyumri, Spitak and Vanadzor. The violinist will
perform violin concertos by Bach, Vivaldi, Mendelson, Richard Straus. No
fees are charged for the concerts.

ON YEREVAN STAGES .

Russian Dramatic Theatre named after Stansilavsky Premier “Paris Twins”,
directed by Alexander Grigoryan. Ticket cost 500-2000

May 9 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall , Concert of the new pop
star Mister X. Ticket cost 1500-6000

May 10 Chamber Music Hall Concert of National Chamber Orchestra “Music, Love
and Poetry”, conducted by Aram Gharabekyan, soloists Nune Badalyan
(soprano), Lilit Grigoryan (Mezzo soprano), Ruben Nurijanyan (Tenor) and
Garegin Hovsepyan from Germany (bariton). Ticket cost 500-2000.

May 12 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall Lyric and Music Evening
devoted to 80 anniversary of Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak. Ticket cost
1000-3000.

May 15, 16 National Opera and Ballet Theatre Rebirth of the opera “Anush”,
Anush – Anahit Mkhitaryan, Nune Badalyan .. , Sosi – Tamazov, Saro – Ruben
Nurijanyan. artistic director Gegham Grigoryan. Ticket cost 2000-5000 AMD.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
May 7, 2004

ECONOMIC POLICY IN KARABAKH IS FAVOURABLE

This is the opinion of the manager of “Base Metals Ltd.” Artur
Mkrtumian, which he stated during his meeting with the mass media. So
far 7 million dollars have been invested by the shareholders of the
company in capital building, equipment. “The implementation of so much
work within a period of about 1.5 year is not only the result of the
technical skills and efforts of the specialists but also the
favourable economic policy. The construction of a similar factory
might usually be delayed, hindered. It should be mentioned that
everything was done quickly, without any difficulties, and the result
is the powerful factory. At the same time in parallel with the growth
of the company the legislative regulations of Karabakh have been
accomplished, which today favour similar companies to make
investments, set up a business and achieve success,” said Artur
Mkrtumian. PERSONNEL PROBLEMS. The prevailing part of the 750 workers
of the company, mainly the technical staff, are invited. According to
the manager of the company Artur Mkrtumian, the company cannot keep
the invited specialists in the country for years on. Therefore the
company intends creating a base of specialists in the factory through
the invited specialists. The manager explains the absence of
specialists by the absence of similar production in Karabakh. It the
beginning the factory also had lack of labour force. According to him,
the reason was the events of the last 10-15 years. People have been
alienated from industrial work which supposes certain scheduling and
responsibility. The problem, however, has been solved, according to
A. Mkrtumian. Moreover, there are now hundreds of people wishing to
work in the mine. “We have local specialists, miners who excellently
carry out this hard work from the point of view of specialization and
earn as much as the 6th class specialist invited from Kapan,
Alaverdy. They are 24-26 years-old young men and the company has great
expectations from them,” said A. Mkrtumian. The manager also informed
that for the organization and development of the production in
Karabakh with the NKR government they work out a program of training
necessary specialists at Artsakh State University. The program is in
the initial stage. The company has presented the list of the necessary
specialties. NOT ONLY SOCIAL BUT ALSO HOUSING PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED. The
monthly salary fund of the company “Base Metals” totals about 80-100
million drams. The work in the factory lasts 24 hours, in three
shifts, except for the underground mine which works a six-hour shift
taking into account the hard working conditions. “Base Metals” also
favours the improvement of the social conditions of the population of
the adjacent villages. The evidence to this is the newly built
dormitory which will be opened soon. The same is pursued with the plan
of the management of the company to build a resort center on the side
of the reservoir Sarsang.

LAURA GRIGORIAN.

Cooperation within NATO in South Caucasus possible – Armenian army chief

Mediamax news agency
6 May 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian side does not share the opinion that the regional
cooperation in the South Caucasus within the framework of NATO
Partnership for Peace programme is doomed to failure.

As Mediamax news agency reported, the head of the General Staff of the
Armenian Armed Forces, Gen-Col Mikael Arutyunyan announced at a
session of the chiefs of the general staffs of the military committee
of the council of the Euro-Atlantic partnership, in Brussels on 5 May.

“Unfortunately, as a result of a position which is not constructive
and official bellicose demagogy of the neighbour state, in an
atmosphere of presumed failure, the regional cooperation in the South
Caucasus within the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme
has been created. Non-admission of the Armenian officers to take part
in planning conference of Cooperative Best Effort exercises in Baku
and also brutal and an unjustified killing of the Armenian officer
during the events within the framework of Partnership for Peace
programme, is complicating, but it does not rule out the possibility
of the regional cooperation,” Mikael Arutyunyan said.

As Mediamax news agency reported, speaking about the brutal killing of
the Armenian officer, committed by the Azerbaijani servicemen in
Budapest, General Arutyunyan announced: “My officer has lost his life
not as a result of implementing a military task or an accident, but
because an entire generation brought up to hate everything connected
with Armenia has grown in the neighbour state”.

The head of the General Staff of the Armenian armed forces expressed
an opinion that “this hate can be overcome only by the joint efforts
and the Euro-Atlantic partnership has all the necessary tools for
that”.

The Russia Journal
May 06, 2004, 10:16 (Moscow time)

At USD 400 an ounce, Armenia dispenses with its gold reserve

WORLD/CIS » :: May 05, 2004 Posted: 18:49 Moscow time (14:49 GMT)

YEREVAN – Armenia has sold its gold reserve, and the Armenian Central Bank
no longer will accumulate gold, Tigran Sarkisian, the bank chief, announced
at a press conference here. Sarkisian said the nation’s gold reserve of 1.4
tonnes was sold when gold prices reached USD 400 an ounce. The resulting
profit, he said, was USD 5.5 million.

‘Gold is considered a means of accumulating wealth. At the same time,
holding gold offers very little profit,’ Sarkisian said. He also explained
the drop in the value of the US dollar with respect to the Armenian drachma
as a result of a sharp rise in Armenia’s gross national product and a
consequent increase in demand for drachmas. He also noted last year’s sharp
rise in transfers from abroad to a total of approximately USD 450 million.

The dollar has fallen 5.3% against the drachma in the past 12 months.
/Rosbalt/

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 28 2004

KLO Leader Accuses Turkish Embassy Of Indifference

The Turkish embassy in Baku and some political parties display
indifference towards the plans of the Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO) to march to Karabakh on May 8, the date of the
occupation of Shusha, KLO leader Akif Naghi told reporters on
Tuesday, according to Trend news agency.
Naghi said his organization has received support from most of the
foreign embassies in Baku, included among them the embassies of the
OSCE’s Minsk Group member-states, permanent members of the United
Nations Security Council, representatives of international
organizations, heads of political parties and rights advocates.
However, Naghi also voiced dismay with what he called indifference
from some political parties, which `blame the authorities for
avoiding to take decisive measures to settle [Nagorno-Karabakh]
conflict.”

Naghi said the KLO was going to determine the route of their planned
march. He said 7,150 people are expected to start action from the
Martyrs’ Alley on May 8. Their goal in the action is to let the world
community know about the
real truths of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Naghi added.

Turkish Press
May 3 2004

A Date For Negotiations
BYEGM: 5/3/2004
BY COSKUN KIRCA

MILLIYET- Will the European Union give Turkey an exact date at the end
of this year for starting membership negotiations? Firstly, getting a
date is no guarantee that these negotiations will actually end in
membership, though the 1963 Ankara Agreement is still in effect! Under
this agreement, after Turkey’s period of preparation and transition,
the period of the customs union would be passed and this goal thereby
achieved. This way Turkey was able to largely comply with the common
trade policies. None of the countries which became EU members last
weekend could have gone so far forward in their relations with the EU.
Actually the EU countries accepted Turkey’s membership at that time.
For this reason, the acceptance of Ankara’s candidacy at the 1999
Helsinki summit was a declaration. So a date for membership
negotiations would be nothing new.

After the referendums on Cyprus, Turkey thought that both itself and
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be rewarded by it
getting a date for membership. The Turkish nation is also fixed on this
expectation. If the EU doesn’t give us a date at the end of the year,
the Turkish nation will react very harshly. At this point, the EU has
two alternatives. One is to accept us as a member in good faith, and
the other is to keep Ankara in suspense for a long period of time, all
the while pushing for great concessions required for membership.
However, both of these alternatives require the EU to give Ankara a
date. I guess the EU countries can see this obligation.

Turkey should make clear to the EU countries which concessions we could
never accept, to prevent the impression that we’ve left our future in
the EU’s hands by waiting at its threshold. One firm principle is that
we can neither give up nor violate the pillars of our indivisible
state. Secondly, we will neither accept the accusations of Armenian
`genocide,’ nor apologize to them, nor give them land or compensation.
Thirdly, they shouldn’t request from us anything that would violate our
principle of secularism.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND
INFORMATION

ArmenPress
April 26 2004

KOCHARIAN ATTENDS AZNAVOUR CONCERT, TO MEET WITH CHIRAC AND LEAVE FOR
WARSAW
PARIS, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian delegation, led by
president Robert Kocharian, arrived on April 25 in Paris and on the
same day the president and his spouse, Mrs. Bella Kocharian attended
one of farewell concerts of famous singer Charles Aznavour at Paris
Palais de Congres. The concert was one of a series of 25 concerts
which Aznavour has planned to perform to celebrate his 80-th birth
anniversary on May 22. The packed house greeted the Armenian
president . Charles Aznavour thanked the Armenian president for
accepting his invitation and announced that he dedicated the concert
to Armenia and especially to its younger generation. The proceeds
from the concert, which amount to around $250,000, will be
transferred to Aznavour pour l’Armenie Foundation for implementation
of its charity programs in Armenia.
The same day president Kocharian met with the director general of
UNESCO Koshiru Matsura, who was also present at Aznavour’s concert.
Today Kocharian is scheduled to meet with president Jacques Chirac.
On April 27 the Armenian delegation is leaving for Warsaw to
participate in World Economic Forum, where Kocharian is scheduled to
meet, apart from Polish and Georgian presidents, also with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev to discuss the Karabagh
conflict.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
April 26, 2004 Monday

US not intend to deploy military bases in South Caucasus – general

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

General Charles F. Wald, deputy commander of the U.S. European
Command, said the U.S. does not intend to deploy its military bases
in the South Caucasus.

After his talks with Armenia’s military leaders on Monday, General
Wald said the U.S. intends to have its partners in order to fight
terrorism, which continues to grow.

The U.S. intends to maintain cooperation with Armenia, Russia and
Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism, ensuring stability and other fields
of mutual interest, the general stressed. The U.S. is a witness of a
new world and it is ready to maintain partnership in this changing
world for new purposes, General Wald said.

The U.S. European Command is planning to conduct joint exercises with
all countries of the region, he said. The general noted Armenia’s
active participation in NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme.

First Deputy Defence Minister Colonel-General Mikhail Arutyunyan,
chief of Armenia’s General Staff, said, “The consultations on the
army reform in Armenia will be an important part of the talks.”

General Wald discussed prospects for cooperation between Armenia and
the state of Kansas in carrying out peacekeeping and medical
programmes and conducting joint exercises.

The consultations also focused on training of Armenian officers in
U.S. military schools, modernising the Armenian Armed Forces’
communication system and developing cooperation as part of NATO’s
Partnership for Peace programme.

Earlier in the day, Armenia’s Armed Forces and the U.S. European
Command signed an agreement on purchases and supplies. The agreement
will make it possible to provide logistical support to each other
during different exercises with the following compensation on a
mutual basis.

All obligations “are of mutual nature and allow the armies of the two
countries to establish ally relationship,” the Armenian general said.

General Wald said the agreement is very important both for the U.S.
and Armenia. The agreement envisions fuelling up of American military
planes at Armenia’s airfields. Armenian aircraft will be fuelled up
at U.S. military bases in Europe.

MPs recognize Armenian massacre as genocide

Canadian Press

Updated: Wed. Apr. 21 2004 8:50 PM ET

OTTAWA – Canada became one of few countries to formally recognize the
genocide of Armenian Turks during the First World War in a strongly
worded motion adopted 153-68 in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Government members were discouraged from voting for the motion, which
is sure to anger a Turkish government that has never recognized the
massacre of 1.5 million Armenians starting in 1915.

Following a charged debate at their weekly closed-door caucus meeting,
Liberal backbenchers voted massively in favour while the party’s
cabinet contingent rejected the Bloc Quebecois motion.

Prime Minister Paul Martin was absent during the politically sensitive
vote but Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham defended the
government’s opposition.

The Turkish government has warned that recognizing the genocide could
have economic consequences and Graham said he wanted to maintain good
relations with Turkey.

“Turkey is an important NATO ally in a region where it is a Muslim
country with a moderate government,” he said.

“What we seek to do in our foreign policy is to encourage the forward
dimension, we’re forward-looking. We’d like our Armenian friends and
our Turkish friends to work together to put these issues in the past.”

The motion read: “That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide
of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity.”

The Turkish government rejects the charge of genocide as unfounded and
says that while 600,000 Armenians died, 2.5 million Muslims perished
in a periodof civil unrest.

Unlike the Liberal government most opposition MPs _ including
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper _ voted in favour of the motion,
which places Canada in a category of only about two dozen countries to
have recognized the Armenian genocide.

The United Nations has also recognized the massacre, and Armenians
have been fighting for decades throughout the world for that sort of
acknowledgement.

One opposition critic labelled the prime minister “hypocritical” for
promising more free votes and then forcing ministers to toe the line
on such a matter of deep personal conscience.

“It’s a terrible double standard for Paul Martin to force his
ministers to vote against it and not even show up himself,” said Tory
foreign affairs critic Stockwell Day.

“That is a hypocritical double standard.”

Liberal Hedy Fry supported the motion but said it’s important to note
the atrocities were carried out under the Ottoman empire, which has
faded into history and was long ago replaced by a modern Turkish
state.

“I think we need to recognize the past,” she said.

“I think it doesn’t mean we’ve broken ties with the current regime in
Turkey.

They are our colleagues, they are our NATO allies. They are a
moderate, Muslim government and I think we need to work with them.

Recognizing what happened in the Ottoman empire shouldn’t affect
Canada’s diplomatic relations with Turkey, she said.

Fry and many other former Liberal cabinet ministers who are now
backbenchers also voted in favour, including Martin Cauchon, Stephane
Dion, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Lyle Vanclief, Lawrence MacAulay, Herb
Dhaliwal and David Kilgour.

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