Author: Hovhannisian John

Russia says combined efforts needed to meet “dirty atomic bomb” threat

RIA news agency, Moscow
20 Sep 04

Vienna, 20 September: The creation of “a dirty atomic bomb” may only
be prevented by the combined efforts of the global community, the head
of Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency, Aleksandr Rumyantsev, said
ahead of the 48th session of the general conference of the
International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] in Vienna.

“The Russian Federation, as a nuclear power, has always done and
always does everything needed to ensure that nuclear materials and
technologies are strictly controlled and accounted for,” he said.

Rumyantsev added that Russian and American specialists, along with
experts from the IAEA secretariat, are effectively carrying out expert
missions in the countries of the former USSR.

“Fifteen such expert missions have already been carried out – in
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova,
Tajikistan, Estonia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The missions have carried
out the identification of powerful sources of radiation in these
countries, and have provided expert and organizational support for
improving the physical protection of these sources,” Rumyantsev noted.

He went on to say that in connection with an initiative of the IAEA,
which made a proposal to countries to remove highly enriched uranium
from research reactors constructed with the assistance of the Soviet
Union, 13 out of 17 of the countries have confirmed a decision not to
use highly enriched uranium in their reactors.

“To date fresh nuclear fuel has been removed from research reactors in
Serbia and Montenegro, Rumania, Bulgaria, Libya and Uzbekistan,”
Rumyantsev added.

Iranian president assesses outcomes of his three-nation tour as positive

IRNA web site, Tehran
15 Sep 04

Tehran, 15 September: President Mohammad Khatami here Tuesday evening
[14 September] assessed the outcomes of his visit to Armenia, Belarus
and Tajikistan and his presence at the ECO summit as positive.

Talking to reporters at Mehrabad International Airport upon his
arrival, Khatami said the three countries are Iran’s friends which
have had good relations with Tehran since their independence.

“Attempts have been made that ties with the three states be directed
towards progress and development with more speed,” he said.

He added during his visit to Armenia, which took place at the
invitation of his Armenian counterpart, the two countries signed seven
documents for cooperation, adding the document on transfer of Iran’s
gas to Armenia was the most important one.

In the visit to Armenia, the sides discussed bilateral, regional and
international issues, the president noted.

Pointing to natural and industrial resources of Belarus, he said
Tehran and Minsk inked five documents.

Khatami said the commission of Iran’s potentials in Belarus will
be set up, adding a factory will also be established in Belarus for
joint production of paper.

He referred to the deep-rooted cultural ties with Tajikistan and said,
“Iran’s trade exchanges with Tajikistan have been increased during
recent years by three times but there still exist some potentials
for further promotion of ties.”

Khatami noted that Iran and Tajikistan signed six documents, including
construction of Anzab tunnel and Sangtudah power plant in participation
of Iran, Russia and Tajikistan.

Pointing to the ECO summit, held in Tajikistan on Tuesday,
the president stated that in today’s complicated world regional
organizations can play an effective role, adding regarding potentials
of the region and common history and culture of ECO nations, the
Economic Cooperation Organization can take many useful measures.

He stressed that Iran’s two proposals on reforming the trend of ECO
decision-making and establishing ECO free trade zone were approved
during the organization’s summit.

It is expected that the ECO would achieve its goal regarding the
setting up of the free trade zone by 2015, Khatami said.

He added that he held separate meetings with his Tajik, Afghan and
Kyrgyz counterparts as well as the prime ministers of Pakistan and
Turkey on the sidelines of the ECO summit.

President Mohammad Khatami arrived in Tehran on Tuesday evening,
ending his three-nation tour which took him to Armenia, Belarus
and Tajikistan.

Torigian’s legacy evident throughout city
By Chris Stevens

The Daily Item of Lynn, MA
Sept 13 2004

When former Mayor Peter Torigian left office in 2002 he took with
him more than 100 plaques, 44 shovels, a few trowels, a handsaw and
a putter, each of which represent a different groundbreaking event
from his 23 years as mayor.

Chronologically, those shovels represent how a city dotted with
leather tanneries grew into a major high-tech and retail hub.

“He came in when things started to change,” said Mayor Michael Bonfanti
of Torigian’s legacy. “The city was moving from the leather industry
to modern, new business. Peter was aware of that and had the vision
to direct it.”

In his tenure, Torigian established the Centennial Industrial Park,
grew the North Shore Shopping Center and helped build new schools. He
also helped residents refurbish their homes through grants and brought
financial solvency to a struggling city.Until a few months ago,
Torigian was helping to raise money for the new YMCA.

Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem) said he admired Torigian for his grit.

“He would make up his mind on an issue and have the fortitude to stay
with it,” he said. “He would always listen to people and could be
courageous enough to change his mind but he wouldn’t be intimidated
by other politicians or people.”

Just a few blocks down from the cold-water, triple-decker where he
was raised, Torigian built what many believe to be the jewel of the
community, the Community Life Center, that was renamed for him the
year he retired.

In 1985, Torigian established a Capital Improvement Program and oversaw
$33.1 million worth capital projects which he said at the time “did
not cost taxpayers 10 cents.”

His favorites of those projects included the renovations of the public
library and the 1873 Fire Station.

Torigian was also proud of the city’s stabilization fund. Despite
strong criticism, Torigian refused to allow city officials draw down
the fund and when he retired, it had grown to $4.1 million. As other
communities struggled with budget constraints, Peabody enjoyed years
of fiscal stability.

Along with establishing a strong business foundation for the city,
Torigian spearheaded many projects and programs, including Brooksby
Farm, The Meadow at Peabody Golf Course, the summer concert series
and the Pride in Peabody awards.

He also began an educational program where every third grader in the
city went through the George Peabody Museum and heard the story of
the city’s founder, thus assuring they knew their community’s history.

Proud of his Armenian heritage, Torigian established a flag raising
each year, marking the anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Tierney said one of Torigian’s strongest points was not only
recognizing the cultural diversity in his city, but also celebrating
it.

“With little fanfare he started the International Festival, which
sent a message to everyone that cultural diversity was a part of the
city and intolerance would not be accepted,” the congressman said.

“He had such a great love for this city he made his job look easy
at times,” said City Councilor Judy Selesnick. “He leaves behind a
wonderful legacy, unfortunately it could have been more.”

Azerbaijan confirms refusing entry to Armenian officers

Sources:

ANS TV, Baku
13 Sep 04

Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
13 Sep 04

Azerbaijan has refused to allow Armenian officers to attend NATO
exercises in Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has said.

Azerbaijan’s ANS TV on 13 September quoted the State Border Service as
saying that the Armenian officers had not crossed Azerbaijan’s borders.

Armenian Radio reported on the 13th that five Armenian officers had
already returned home from Georgia, where the Azerbaijani embassy
had refused to issue visas for them.

A NATO delegation is due to visit Yerevan today and will discuss the
visa issue with the Armenian leadership, Armenian Radio said.

Armenian opposition party condemns decision to send troops to Iraq

Noyan Tapan news agency
13 Sep 04

Yerevan, 13 September: The Armenian authorities’ decision to send a
50-strong Armenian military unit to Iraq under the command of the
Polish military contingent is premature and “simply selfish”, the
chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia and a National Assembly
member from the Justice bloc, Aram Sarkisyan, has said in an interview
with a Noyan Tapan correspondent.

He noted that his party roundly condemned this step and called on
National Assembly members to vote down the Armenian authorities’
agreement to send Armenian servicemen to Iraq.

“If our powers that be had explained to the USA on time that Armenia
had a unique position with a large diaspora all over the world and
in Arab countries in the first place, I think this would not have
happened. Instead, the Armenian authorities are trying, as they
believe, to win the USA round,” Aram Sarkisyan said.

In the opinion of the Democratic Party leader, Armenian servicemen
should be dispatched when stability is established and peaceful
reconstruction starts in Iraq. It cannot be ruled out in the current
situation, he believes, that Armenians will be taken hostage, and in
this context, the blast at the major Christian church in Baghdad was
kind of a signal.

Aram Sarkisyan expressed his perplexity over the fact that
Armenian servicemen would be stationed in Iraq within the Polish
contingent. “Poland is a NATO member, and our authorities have all
of a sudden forgotten that Armenia is a member of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty Organization. This decision is completely confusing
from the point of view of political culture.”

The Democratic Party chairman is confident that the decision
to send Armenian servicemen to Iraq runs counter to the national
interests. “While a country like Spain is withdrawing troops from Iraq,
Armenia wants to be swept into this vortex.”

The Democratic Party has issued a statement condemning this decision
of the Armenian authorities. The statement calls on the Armenian
public to take an active civic position on this issue.

Conference on Black Sea security opens in Georgia
By Eka Mekhuzla

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 10, 2004 Friday

TBILISI, September 10 — A regional conference on security of the
Black Sea region opened in Chakva, near Batumi, on Friday. It is being
held under the aegis of Harvard University. Taking part in its work
are fifty-eight military experts from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Bulgaria, Romania, USA, and Turkey.

The experts, “whose views are heeded by the presidents of many
countries of the world”, Georgian Defence Minister Georgy Baramidze
stated, will discuss some problems of regional security in order to
“provide objective information to the world community, which is very
important for Georgia”. Present at the conference is Deputy Commander
of U.S. Forces in Europe Charles World, who is known to be among the
authors of the U.S. “Training and Equipment Program”. Four battalions
of Georgian commandos were trained in accordance with it.

This is the third conference on Black Sea security that is being
held by Harvard University. The first one took place in Yalta in
2002 and the second one – in Baku in 2003. “Its main purpose is to
promote contacts among the participants of the Harvard Program and
to draw American generals and politicians into the dialogue on Black
Sea security,” officials of the Georgian Defence Ministry pointed out.

Russia, they told Itar-Tass, is not taking part in the conference.

A1 Plus | 16:50:37 | 10-09-2004 | Politics |

OPPOSITION PARLIAMENTARIANS LIKELY TO BE STRIPPED OF THEIR MANDATES

On Friday, Armenian National Assembly’s proper commission decided
to consider Ardarutyun and National Unity opposition fractions MPs’
abstentions unacceptable.

At the same time, constant absence of Levon Sargssyan, a well-known
tycoon, from parliamentary sessions was taken with clemency. It is
remarkable that he has appeared in National Assembly’s building only
two or three times since was elected as MP.

Another pro-governmental MP businessman Azat Petrossyan was also
survived the commission retraction.

The issue of stripping opposition lawmakers of their MP mandates will
be considered at the next session.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITING LITHUANIA

Baltic News Service
September 8, 2004

VILNIUS, Sep 08 — Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian, currently
on a visit to Lithuania, is to discuss bilateral military cooperation
with Lithuanian officials and get acquainted with NATO’s air-policing
functions in the Baltic states.

Sargsian, who arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday evening, will meet
on Wednesday with President Valdas Adamkus, Defense Minister Linas
Linkevicius, Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, parliamentary National
Security and Defense Committee Chairman Alvydas Sadeckas, members of
the committee and Land Forces Commander Brigade General Arvydas Pocius.

According to a press release from the Defense Ministry, the Lithuanian
and Armenian defense ministers will discuss prospects of regional
cooperation, bilateral military ties, NATO enlargement processes and
the course of armed forces reforms.

After the meeting, the two officials will sign a cooperation treaty
on studies of Armenian officers at the Lithuanian War Academy.
Analogous documents have already been signed with Georgian and
Azerbaijani ministries of defense.

On Thursday, Sargsian will go to the Lithuanian First Air Base in
Zokniai to meet with troops of the international contingent performing
the air-policing mission in the three Baltic states.

NATO forces started patrolling the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian
air space since the Baltic states joined the alliance in the end of
March. Danish troops with five F-16 fighters are now guarding the
Baltic air space.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry has taken the initiative to transfer
the Baltic military cooperation experience to countries of the South
Caucasus region.

Lithuania also assists in the training of Armenian officers by offering
a possibility to study at Lithuanian military training institutions
and paying for studies of one Armenian officer at the Baltic Defense
College in the Estonian city Tartu.

Armenia has been participating in the Partnership for Peace program
since 1994.

Iran’s Khatami says roots of terror must be examined after Beslan

Agence France Presse — English
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN Sept 8 — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday
reaffirmed his condemnation of the Beslan hostage tragedy but added
that the root causes of terror could be found in the “discrimination”
of peoples.

“Without looking at the roots it is impossible to fight terrorism.

The roots can be found in the same places where security forces impose
a discriminatory policy and people suffer from this,” said Khatami
following talks here with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian.

“Unable to find an adequate response to this fight they (discriminated
people) take harsh steps. This is why when you condemn terrorism you
must also condemn violence,” he added.

Although he did not refer explicitly to any particular region, his
comments appeared to refer to the strife-torn Russian republic of
Chechnya, where Moscow’s troops have been locked in a decade-long
war with rebels amid allegations of human rights violations.

However he also spoke out against the way “certain terrorists want
to present their acts under the mask of religion. They besmirch the
religions that preach peace and humanism.”

UMCOR Hotline, August 31, 2004

Reuters AlertNet, UK
Sept 1 2004

[parts omitted]

Armenia: Self-Reliance Is UMCOR’s Best 10th Anniversary Gift
What began as an UMCOR project to supply Armenians with critical
prescription drugs has grown into a multi-faceted program celebrating
its tenth year this fall. Thousands of beneficiaries in the former
Soviet republic enjoy upgraded health, improved standards of living,
and self-reliance as a result. But much remains to be done. UMCOR’s
newest initiatives in Armenia take aim at human trafficking– a
modern form of slavery, usually snaring women and children for
commercial sexual exploitation. Your gift can help in a meaningful
way. Please donate to UMCOR Advance #250225, Armenia Emergency.

UMCOR is the not-for-profit humanitarian agency of The United
Methodist Church. Since 1940 UMCOR’s mission– providing relief in
disaster areas, aiding refugees and confronting the challenge of
world hunger and poverty– has helped to heal the hurts of humanity
in nearly 100 countries. UMCOR maintains a corps of trained disaster
response specialists for quick reinforcement of national efforts and
keeps a supply of relief materials in warehouses for dispatch when
and where required. It also trains disaster response specialists in
their own countries as part of a global ministry by a global church,
and it works in partnership with other international agencies.