Author: Hunanian Jack

Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Oct 22 2004

CURRENCY FEARS IN ARMENIA

Worries of economic fallout as the dram surges against the country’s
unofficial second currency – the US dollar

By Naira Melkumian in Yerevan

The first sharp strengthening of the Armenian dram against the US
dollar in seven years is raising fears of economic damage, in a
country where people depend not only on the national currency, but the
greenback too.

Current official rates are about 512 drams to the dollar, while the
market rate is about 505 drams. Just a few months ago, a dollar
fetched 575 drams.

Finance and Economics Minister Vardan Khachatrian has tried to
reassure the public, saying measures are being taken to reduce
negative effects on Armenia’s state budget.

However, many are already feeling the pinch, primarily exporters and
those depending on dollar transfers from relatives working abroad as
migrant labour.

`It is a well-known fact that a considerable part of the population
subsists on money sent by relatives working abroad,’ Yerevan resident
Rita Sarkisian, 49, told IWPR. `Out of the 200 dollars that my husband
sends us from Krasnodar [in southern Russia], my family loses about 20
dollars every month, and that’s a large sum of money considering that
prices of consumer goods have gone up.’

Similar stories can be heard anywhere in Armenia, where up to one
million people, or more than a quarter of the population, have
emigrated, according to official statistics. Though most have gone to
Russia, the cash of choice remains the dollar.

Central bank head Tigran Sarkisian explains the strengthening of the
dram by several factors, both internal and external. `Primarily, it is
the 46 per cent growth of private transfers via the banking system
alone in the first half of 2004, an increase in exports by 40 per cent
and a growth in the number of tourists by 24 per cent, which has
brought about a wide-scale influx of foreign currency into the
country,’ he said.

Economic growth averaging 10 per cent annually in recent years has
also served to boost the dram.

Sarkisian told a parliamentary debate that Armenia was entering a new
stage of economic development, which would be accompanied by rising
incomes and, inevitably, a strengthening of the dram. `It is
impossible to have rapid economic growth, productivity growth and yet
have the devaluation of the national currency,’ he said.

Other experts say it is external rather than internal economic factors
that have made the dram so strong.

Former statistics minister Eduard Agajanov told IWPR that the central
bank’s picture of a booming Armenia was unrealistic. `One gets the
impression that Armenia has suddenly turned into a Mecca for tourists,
and that the Armenians abroad have all got rich overnight and sent
their money to relatives in Armenia,’ he said.

`Armenia is not one of the rich and well-developed countries that are
able to ensure a strong and stable national currency thanks to
internal growth and development alone, however high those might be,’
argued Karine Gevorkian, an economics professor. She pointed to
tendencies on the international financial markets, which are boosting
prices, as well as economic indicators in Russia, Europe and the
United States, as the reason why there has been an influx of foreign
currency to Armenia.

Sarkisian said that a liberalisation of foreign currency rules in
Russia, where there is a large Armenian community, was important. For
example, the limit on cash exports from Russia has been raised to
10,000 dollars.

Now Armenia faces a slowing of exports, Agajanov said. The foreign
trade deficit this year amounts to 285 million dollars, with imports
close to double the volume of imports.

Partly responsible, Agajanov said, are fuel, sugar and grain
importers, who benefit from the currency strengthening. This view was
backed by Areg Gukasian, director of the Avan salt works, who told
IWPR that `the lowered rate is advantageous only for importers who
reap super profits, while

the exporters are suffering serious losses.’ He said his plant had had
suffered a 25 per cent drop in income.

However, the head of the permanent commission for financial, credit,
budget and economic issues at the National Assembly, Gagik Minasian,
told IWPR that any business could profit, `It would be wrong to paint
the situation in dark colours only, especially since entrepreneurs can
take advantage of the situation to import equipment on beneficial
terms so as to produce goods that are competitive both on the domestic
and foreign markets.’

He advised exporters to do their transactions in drams or in foreign
currencies other than the dollar, and suggested that people making
private transfers could do so in Russian roubles. However, several
commercial banks that handle money transfers told IWPR that not all
branches of Armenian banks in Russia carry out rouble transactions.

The economic row is taking on political dimensions.

`I am convinced that the situation at the foreign currency market
suits very well a group of people close to those circles that
influence the currency exchange rate,’ Agasi Arshakian, a
parliamentary deputy from the opposition National Unity party, told
IWPR. `As usual, very few bother to think about ordinary people.’

Arshakian blamed the central bank for not intervening to keep the
dollar stable.

Economist Levon Danieliants also believes that the central bank should
have intervened, `Above all, they could have done an elementary
monetary emission and purchased dollars cheaply, and thus increased
their foreign currency supplies.’

However, central bank head Sarkisian argues against interventionist
policies, warning, `artificial stimulation of exports is a dangerous
phenomenon that can lead to a crisis.

`If the state begins subsidising production, it will become a heavy
burden for the tax-payer, and after the subsidies are over, Armenian
industry will become unable to compete.’

Sarkisian said the bank’s chief concern was to keep inflation
contained. According to the official data, consumer prices in
September were 1.3 per cent lower than in December last year.

Claims that inflation is being held in check are viewed with
scepticism by many ordinary shoppers.

`Personally, I haven’t felt any price containment, because most basic
foodstuffs such as bread, butter and meat have become more expensive,

and fruit was very expensive throughout the summer season,’ said Alla
Hairapetian in the town of Sevan.

Experts believe that the government is not unhappy about the
strengthening dram. The authorities would like to see an increase in
the amount of savings held in drams, thus reducing the influence of
the dollar and the shadow economy. Whether Armenians are ready to put
their trust in the dram or not is another question.

Economist Karine Gevorkian admitted that she preferred to keep her own
savings in dollars and euro, while businessman Areg Gukasian said he
thought the dram’s rise did not reflect any real strengthening of
domestic finances.

`It would be more accurate to call the situation a depreciation of the
dollar, not a strengthening of the dram.’

Naira Melkumian is a freelance journalist in Yerevan.

Public Relations Director
Contact: Mira Yardemian
Haigazian University
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – Lebanon

Haigazian University Celebrates the First Event of Its
50th Anniversary: Founders’ Day

On October 18, 2004, at 12:00 pm, the hall of the First Armenian
Evangelical Church in Beirut was full of anticipation as students,
alumni, faculty, staff, press, guests and others gathered to take part
in Haigazian University’s Founders’ Day, the kick-off event of each
academic year. But among the guests this year were the Ambassador of
Armenia in Lebanon, Mr. Areg Hovanessian, and the keynote speaker of
the occasion, the President of the Lebanese Press Federation,
Mr. Mohammad Baalbaki.

Beginning with the Lebanese National Anthem, followed by the
invocation of the Campus Minister, the Rev. Nishan Bakalian, the
Vice-Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, the Rev. Robert
Sarkissian, announced the official commencement of the 50th
anniversary celebrations. He assured the audience of the board’s
commitment to the founding principles and mission of Haigazian
University.

In her tribute to the Founders, the Dean of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Arda
Ekmekji, highlighted the factors leading to the foundation of the
University 50 years ago: the need to prepare Armenian Evangelical high
school students for university admission, the efforts of churches in
the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches of the Near East (UAECNE),
and its then-president, the late Rev. Hovhannes Aharonian, and the
$25,000 grant of Mr. Steven Mehagian to the Armenian Missionary
Association of American (AMAA) in New York, giving birth to the
project in October 1955. Other significant names, such as Stephen
Philibosian, the Rev. Puzant Kalfayan and the AMAA, were mentioned as
maintaining an ongoing interest in the college.

The Rev. Dr. Armenag Haigazian, in whose name the university was
named, was a graduate of Yale University, a distinguished educator,
theologian, linguist, pastor, writer, musician and photographer. Until
his deportation by the Kemalist forces in 1921, he was the much-loved
and respected president of the Jenanyan Apostolic Institute in Konya,
Turkey. All of these attributes of this prominent academic justify the
fact the University was named in his honor.

Afterwards, the audience enjoyed a solo, `My Tribute’ by Andrae
Crouch, powerfully delivered by vocalist Houry Apartian, and
accompanied on the keyboard by Haigazian student Vartan Agopian.

The Director of the Student Life, Mr. Antranik Dakessian, introduced
the Student of the Year for 2004, Mr. Abdel Khaleq Abdel Khaleq, who
in his address acknowledged that Haigazian University has enriched
students not only with excellent education, but also with high ethical
and moral standards. He considered Haigazian his second home, where he
shared with fellow students his goals and experiences, and most
importantly got acquainted with the Armenian culture. Considering that
a well-rounded university education consists of the balanced
acquisition of academic knowledge, social experience and spiritual
well-being, he urged the new students to get involved in activities
and clubs of the university.

The Dean of Business Administration and Economics, Dr. Fadi Asrawi,
remembered the Rocket Society of Haigazian College by a very
interesting slide presentation: Founded at the College in November
1960, the Haigazian Rocket Society was organized for two aims: one, to
interest and acquaint students with this new field of study; and two,
to research the properties and performance of specific propellants and
the construction design of rocket propulsion systems. During the first
year five students participated. This number increased considerably
during the years following, and in the summer of 1962 it became a
national project, adopted by the Lebanese government, under the name
`The Lebanese Rocket Society’. Of particular note was that the
ballistics expert appointed by the Lebanese Army at that time to the
Society, General Youssef Wehbe, was in the audience, and offered his
own reflections on the Society.

The keynote speaker, the President of the Press Federation,
Mr. Mohammad Baalbaki, eloquently delivered his speech and emphasized
on the role that the Armenian community in general, and Haigazian
University in particular, played in the history of Lebanon, in the
years of the Lebanese civil war, and its positive and exemplary
contribution to Lebanese society. He commented that although
Dr. Armenag Haigazian has passed away, his memory and deeds are
perpetuated through the philosophy of Haigazian University, which in
itself is a `Rocket’ in the field of knowledge and higher education.

Finally, the president of the University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian,
offered words in which he considered the namesake of the university,
Dr. Armenag Haigazian, as symbolically a founder behind the founders,
since he as a person embodied the motto of the university: truth,
freedom and service. Truth – Rev. Haigazian had a true and
comfortable sense of belonging to his people and his cultural
context. Likewise, truth at Haigazian University starts with the
discovery of the self, and God. Freedom – Regrettably, Armenag
Haigazian’s Ottoman context did not allow this in the early twentieth
century. With Armenian identity and Lebanese outlook, the University
was able to integrate the Armenians with the non-Armenians, as well as
initiating in the early 60s a scientific symbol of freedom, that is, a
series of rockets called the `Cedar’. Service – Rev. Haigazian’s
significance was in putting all his knowledge and characteristics in
the service of people and God. This sense of service in the University
today derives from our faith in God.

The president continued by acknowledging a number of significant
people present in the audience: Mrs. Maggie Matossian, a member of the
Board of Directors of Haigazian since the very first years, and later
the founder of the Women’s Auxiliary; two of the 43 original students
who were the first class to register in 1955; and General
Wehbe. Finally he expressed gratitude to the many people in Lebanon
and the USA, who have worked, prayed, paid, planned, thought for
Haigazian or received higher education in it.

Following the Alma Mater, sung by Ms. Apartian, the attendees
proceeded to the Matossian Gallery in the Mugar Building, where
archival documents and photographs of 50 years of Haigazian’s history
had been newly put on display.

ArmenPress
Oct 20 2004

DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DENIES KOCHARIAN’S ASPIRATION FOR THIRD
TERM

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Deputy parliament chairman Tigran
Torosian warned today against pushing for radical changes in the
existing Election Law, saying a drastic reduction in the number of
seats contested under majoritarian system would result in
unpredictable consequences.
Under the existing law, 75 members of the parliament are chosen
under the system of proportional representation, while the remaining
56 parliament seats are distributed in single-mandate constituencies
across the country. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, one of the
three members of the ruling coalition, pushes for a 100 percent
proportional representation system and another coalition member,
Orinats Yerkir is for a drastic reduction in the number of
majoritarian seats, while the Republican Party of Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, which has the biggest parliament faction, is
opposed to that.
Last week the Armenian parliament approved in the first reading
amendments to the electoral legislation which leave the ratio as it
is, saying they will refer to it before putting the bill on the
second reading.
Torosian argued today that even the ARF and other politicians
advocating a 100 percent proportional representation realize that
their arguments are weak to root out election fraud. “Some people say
that money-bags usually win elections in majoritarian constituencies,
but all parties also include rich men with no experience of
legislative work in their slates ,” Torosian said, adding also that
Armenian political parties still have a long road to go to be
established as real political force.
The opposition that continues the boycott of parliament work,
argues that the proposed amendments would not have any effect in
terms of eliminating election fraud practices, saying that the
authorities can hold free and fair elections even with the existing
legislation, however it is going to put forward its own amendments,
which also call for abolishment of single-mandate constituencies and
give more rights to the proxies of election candidates.
Torosian denied also today allegations that a package of
constitutional reforms to be put on a nation-wide referendum would
include a clause lifting the current ban for a third term for
president. “We hope that political process in Armenia will be in line
with its Council of Europe obligations,’ he said.

The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 18 2004

Georgia finds friends in the far North

On October 12-16 President Mikheil Saakashvili visited Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania. These three Baltic, former Soviet countries are
today members of both the EU and NATO and thus represent models for
Georgia, which wants to integrate into the same Western structures.

The leadership of those three countries all promised Saakashvili that
they would support Georgia in this and would lobby for its
integration. Moreover, they will corporate within the framework of
the 3+3 formula, which means that the three Baltic countries will
introduce the experience of regional cooperation to the three South
Caucasus countries.

During the reconstructive (perestroika) period under Soviet President
Gorbachev, the Baltic countries and Georgia were the first four
Soviet republics fighting for independence. The Baltic republics were
the first to respond to the bloody massacre in Tbilisi on April 9,
1989 committed by the Soviet army, while the attack on the Vilnius
television center in January 1990 caused protest demonstrations in
Georgia. The first Soviet republics to declare independence were
Georgia and Lithuania.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, however, the ways of
the Baltic countries and Georgia have been very different. The Baltic
countries achieved their aim with less loss than Georgia, which even
today has many problems that will take years to solve.

President Saakashvili said that Georgia should look to the Baltic
countries for role models: “Our visit to the Baltic countries is very
important, because these countries are the best models for Georgia’s
progress and advance. In the early 1990s, when we declared
independence, Georgia and Estonia had practically equal development
and economic levels, as well as equal social conditions for people.”

“But today the budget of Estonia per capita is 12-13 times that of
Georgia. The minimum pension in Estonia is nearly GEL 240 (in Georgia
it is only GEL 14-18). This fact can show us what can be done in a
freedom-loving country, which seeks to integrate into Europe, reform
and to fight against corruption,” the president said. He added,
however, that Georgia will soon overtake these countries.

Mikheil Saakashvili called his visit to the Baltic countries both
important and successful. With these countries, Georgia has three
lobbyists in NATO and the EU, 24 Saati reports. The Baltic countries
will share their progressive reform experience with Georgia and at
the same time they will help Georgia integrate into NATO and the EU.

But Georgia is not forgetting its regional neighbors. Saakashvili
said that the main aim of the visit is the international 3+3
initiative, which envisages, the presidents of the Georgia and
Lithuania jointly stated, the creation of a new regional cooperation
between the three Caucasus and the three Baltic countries. The same
draft was created between the Baltic and Central European countries,
and now the Baltic countries are passing on their experience.

This is a little different, however, partly because of the opposition
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which necessarily hinders the
development of South Caucasus regional cooperation, and partly
because only Georgia and Azerbaijan want to enter the EU and NATO. As
for Armenia, it is oriented to Russia and as it does not want to
irritate its main strategic partner.

During his visit to the Baltic countries Saakashvili commented on
recent events in Georgia’s conflict zones. He said that the
restoration of Georgia’s jurisdiction in South Ossetia would be
resolved within three months and that, with regard to Abkhazia,
everything would depend on Georgia’s speed of development. “As soon
as we can develop Georgia’s economy and become more open we will have
more chance of reintegrating Abkhazia into Georgia,” Rezonansi quoted
him as saying.

Saakashvili also made a statement directed at Russia, advising Moscow
not to interfere in Abkhazia after the presidential election.
Russia’s “crawling annexation” policy towards Georgia will
necessarily negatively influence relations between the two countries.
“In the 21st century we will not allow anyone to annex our country;
this is simply impossible,” 24 Saati quoted the president as saying.

Don’t shun objective criticism

Politics
Yerkir/am
October 08, 2004

We have spoken about the low level of consolidation of our political
system so much that some people have probably come to think that it
can never be consolidated in Armenia. At least this is the impression
you get when you see the reaction to any attempts and initiatives
aimed at the consolidation of the political system in Armenia.

Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Supreme Body made a public
proposal-statement that evaluated the achievements and drawbacks of
the 16 months of coalition government’s activities and pointed out
the main problems the solution of which, according to ARF, will speed
up the development of the country contributing to the establishment
of justice and legal order. The proposal also includes practical and
realistic measures for achieving these goals. Some of these measures
are directed at the consolidation of the political system and civil
society in our country.

Unfortunately, some statements made in response to this proposal do not
contain any elements of political thought or analysis. And the funniest
thing is that such statements were made by people and media who are
most active in speaking about consolidation of the political system.

Some blamed ARF for not presenting everything in pessimistic
interpretation. Others blamed ARF for not presenting everything
too optimistically. Still others were disappointed to realize that
the rumors about the Coalition Government falling apart were not
justified. Many people cannot accept when things are called by their
names, when good is praised and bad is criticized. Some are most
surprised and outraged when they are told the truth.

Will we manage to accept the truth and the reality? If yes, then we
will manage to build a just country with a consolidated political
system and prevailing social justice.

CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II APPRECIATES HIGHLY SUPPORT OF NORWEGIAN PEOPLE PROVIDED
TO ARMENIANS DURING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND 1988 EARTHQUAKE

ECHMIADZIN, October 11 (Noyan Tapan). Catholicis of All Armenians
Karakin II spoke about the way passed by the Armenian church and
its current challenges, when receiving the Foreign Minister of
Norway Jan Peterson in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin on October
10. Covering the issue of relations between the two countries, Hos
Holiness mentioned with gratitude Norway’s support for the Armenian
people during the 1915 Armenian genocide and the 1988 earthquake. He
also touched upon the issue of current relations between the Mother
See of Holy Echmiadzin and the Norwegian Church. According to the
Information System of the Mother See, Jan Peterson expressed hope
that as a result of his visit to Armenia the relations between the
two countries will become closer and more effective.

JAZZ

Irish Times
Oct 08, 2004

Ray Comiskey

Latest cds reviewed

JAN GARBAREK
In Praise of Dreams
ECM

Garbarek’s first album in six years unites the great Norwegian
saxophonist with a remarkable Armenian-American violist, Kim
Kashkashian, and a fine African percussionist, Manu Katche, for some
beautiful music. With a focused fascination with melody and sound,
there’s a folk-like, deceptive simplicity to what they do. Garbarek
and Kaskashian weave around each other with such intuitive mutual
appreciation that it’s hard, at times, to separate the written from
the improvised. Regardless of instrument, Garbarek, on tenor and
soprano here, has always had a signature, arresting sound, but
Kashkashian’s is also strikingly personal and expressive. Sampling and
some lovely synthesiser (by Garbarek) provide an aural carpet for
their unabashedly lyrical encounter. Is it jazz? Who cares?

Investment Opportunities in Armenia

BISNIS Trades & Tenders
09/14/04 – 10/07/04

BISNIS Trades & Tenders program designed to help U.S. companies secure
export transactions and take advantage of tender opportunities in the
region. Trades & Tenders summary reports are distributed via email. To
search previously distributed Trades & Tenders leads online, visit

This issue of BISNIS Trades & Tenders includes opportunities in:

1.) CHEMICALS LEADS
2.) ENVIRONMENTAL LEADS

*************************************************************************
CHEMICALS LEADS

Oval LLC – granular polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene
Yerevan, Armenia

For more information on the Chemicals Sector in the NIS, please contact
Chang Suh at BISNIS at [email protected]

*********************************************************************** ***
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADS

Government of Armenia – World Bank funded Yerevan Municipal Water and
Wastewater Improvement Project
Yerevan, Armenia

LEASE CONTRACT FOR WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES

For more information on the Environmental Sector in the NIS, please
contact Chris Christov at BISNIS at [email protected]

**Note**

These opportunities are provided solely as an informational service and
do not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Verification of these leads is the responsibility of the reader.

INTRODUCING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TRADE ADVOCACY CENTER:

The Advocacy Center is a unique, central coordination office marshaling
the resources of nineteen U.S. government agencies in the Trade
Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC). The Advocacy Center encourages
U.S. companies to contact the Center at the outset of their projects.
Early contact enables the Center to offer U.S. government assistance
throughout the life of a project to ensure that U.S. companies benefit
from the same level of coordinated government support as their foreign
competitors receive from their host governments, particularly in the
initial stages of a project.

The Advocacy Center Contact Information:
Phone: 202/482-3896
Fax: 202/482-3508
Email: [email protected]
Web:

This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for
the Newly Independent States (BISNIS). BISNIS is the U.S. Government’s
primary resource center for U.S. companies exploring business
opportunities in Russia and other Newly Independent States of the former
Soviet Union.

BISNIS website:

Dubai hosts 9th annual GSM in Middle East, Gulf and North Africa conference

Al-Bawaba
October 4, 2004 Monday

By Mena Report Reporters

The ninth annual GSM in the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa
conference and exhibition is due to take place 5-6 October 2004, at
the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, UAE.

Held under the patronage of the Minister of Communications for the
United Arab Emirates, GSM in the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa is
the established annual meeting place for the GSM community in the
region. This year the event will incorporate the North Africa region,
an initiative backed by a marketing campaign to Algeria, Chad, Egypt,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia.

Organized by IBC Global Conferences, the event will showcase the
latest in GSM technology, solutions and services. It will provide a
platform for the region’s mobile industry to learn from key industry
speakers on the critical business, strategy and technical issues
facing the region as well as providing market case studies of the
leading services, applications and products.

“GSM in the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa conference and
exhibition is a unique event, focused purely on the GSM market,
technology and services,” said Fiona Loud, marketing manager, IBC
Global Conferences. “The event aims to provide a platform where GSM
operators, network vendors and software developers can meet and
exchange experiences in order to better serve the customer in the
region and enrich the lifestyle of the people,” she added.

“Mobile subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa grew to 38.8
million at the end of 2003, an increase of 40.1% on 2002. This figure
is forecast to rise to 51.9 million by the end of 2004, fuelled in
particular by rapid subscriber growth in the North African markets of
Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria,” said John Everington, Senior Analyst at
EMC World Cellular Database, a company internationally reputed as the
best source for operational data and analysis on the mobile industry.

Opportunities for 3G in the region, regulation and liberalisation
developments, customer retention and acquisition strategies, effective
pricing strategies in a competitive market, billing for increased
revenue and customer relationship management (CRM), together with
developing GPRS for the corporate market, will be among the conference
topics.

Endorsed by the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation – Etisalat and
sponsored by the world’s leading GSM technology providers, including
Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, Siemens mobile, Convergys, LogicaCMG,
Metrica, Gemplus, Giesecke & Devrient and Atos Origin, the GSM in the
Middle East, Gulf and North Africa exhibition will demonstrate the
latest in GSM technology, services and solutions.

According to EMC World Cellular Database analysts, the Middle East is
one of the few regions in the world where the mobile
telecommunications industry is still expanding and experiencing strong
growth.

IBC’s GSM in the Middle East and Gulf 2003 set an attendance record
last October in Dubai with an increase of 43% on the previous year,
reflecting the new developments and challenges facing the GSM
community in this region. The audience of over 500 included over 160
mobile operators and delegates from more than 31 countries including
UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Libya,
Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Palestine, Armenia, UK,
France, Belgium, Sweden and Germany. (menareport.com)

Georgian government abolishes Armenian history lessons at schools – agency

Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
28 Sep 04

Akhalkalaki, 28 September: Under a decision of the Georgian Education
[and Science] Ministry, optional lessons have been removed from
the curriculum beginning this academic year. As A-Info news agency
reports, this has caused anxiety in the Javakhk schools [in Georgia’s
Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakheti Region].

The problem is that Armenian history lessons are not included in
the curriculum, and Armenian history is taught there as optional
lessons. In fact, since optional lessons have been abolished, Armenian
pupils have been deprived of an opportunity to learn the history of
their ancestors.