Armenian president dismisses deputy prosecutor-general
Arminfo, Yerevan
17 Jul 04
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has signed a decree dismissing
Zhirayr Kharatyan from the post of deputy prosecutor-general as he has
reached the age limit, the Armenian news agency Arminfo has said.
With the same decree, the president also reshuffled various district
prosecutors.
Paris Club to decide Georgia debts
By M. Alkhazashvili
messenger.com.ge
Friday, July 16, 2004, #132 (0656)
The Ministry of Finance is trying hard to reschedule Georgia’s
external debts. Minister Zurab Noghaideli is in Paris where the issue
of restructuring Georgian debts is to be decided Thursday. The Paris
Club agreed to reexamine the issue after the IMF renewed its programs
with Georgia in early June.
Considering that on January 30, 2004 Georgia’s external debt was USD
1.851 billion, the structure of repaying these debts is a major issue
for the new government.
Servicing this debts is a huge burden for the Georgia’s economy. This
year GEL 189 million have been allocated for debt repayments. From
this amount GEL 88.3 million is for covering interests whereas GEL 101
million goes to pay off the principle as well.
The government hopes that the Paris Club will be positive and give the
Georgian budget serious relief. Georgia has 15 creditor countries and
Georgia owes to them USD 751 million. The remaining debt goes to
international financial organizations and most of them are long term
credits whose restructuring is not yet on the agenda.
In Paris, Noghaidelli will try to persuade the governments of
Azerbaijan, Armenia, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Austria, Russia, Turkey,
United States and Netherlands to restructure Georgia’s debts. The
restructuring concerns the amounts to be paid over 2003-2004 and
equals more than USD 196 million.
Georgia approached Paris Club first in 1999. It was decided then that
a restructuring would be allowed for debts taken before November 1999;
this included debts to CIS countries, Austria, Turkey, Iran, China,
Netherlands and United States. During the two years of the
consolidation period 2001-2003 Georgia was in fact free from
payment. The amount accumulated during the consolidation period is
payable from 2005.
Out of debts to individual governments, Georgia’s biggest creditor is
Turkmenistan. These debts were accumulated mainly in 1993-1994 for
consumed natural gas. According to the 1996 agreement, the debt was
fixed at USD 393.5 million. Turkmenistan has not agree to restructure
the debts but on the other hand it agrees to receive payment in
kind. Several Georgian enterprises are supplying Turkmenistan with
their products or services. Until today, these enterprises have
already covered USD 151.9 million in principle and USD 28.9 million in
penalties. For these activities, the enterprises covering Georgia’s
debts are paid back by the Georgian budget through the special
schedule.
In terms of Georgia’s international standing, the positive judgment of
the Paris Club will do a great deal to alleviate the country’s debt
burden. Meeting under the auspices of the World Bank and the European
Commission in June, international donors from 31 countries and 12
organizations, noted that “solid progress is expected to be made in
the July Paris Club meeting.” Without further restructuring of
Georgia’s external debt through the Paris Club, the donors stated,
“viability in public finances would not be possible.”
Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 8 2004
Azeri, Armenian defense ministers meeting anticipated
Azerbaijani and Armenian defense ministers Safar Abiyev and Serj
Sarkisian are expected to meet shortly to discuss the recently
frequent ceasefire breaches.
Russia’s RIA-Novosti news agency quoted Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian as saying that the meeting of the two defense
ministers might take place shortly. Oskanian said that the issue of
frequent ceasefire breaches on the frontline was discussed during his
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Prague
on June 21. The two countries’ defense ministers were sent an appeal
to hold bilateral meetings to discuss the settlement of the Upper
Garabagh conflict.
The number of the dead and injured from both conflicting sides
increased as a result of the frequent ceasefire breaches in June.
ARKA News Agency
July 5 2004
Constitutional reforms in RA to be performed in climate of
understanding among political streams
Catholicos of All Armenians received Mayor of Pasadena
Armenia celebrates Constitution Day on July 5
*********************************************************************
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN RA TO BE PERFORMED IN CLIMATE OF
UNDERSTANDING AMONG POLITICAL STREAMS
YEREVAN, July 5. /ARKA/. The constitutional reforms in RA to be
performed in a climate of understanding among political streams as
well as they must be supported by the society. As RA Government
Public and Press Relations Department told ARKA, this was said in the
message of congratulation of RA PM Andranik Margarian on occasion of
Constitutional Day. The message particularly says that `adopting in
1995 the Main Law of Armenia, our state and people expressed their
commitment to determination to go to integration with the civilized
world, rooting of democratic values, forming of civil society’. It
mentions that during the passed years the RA Constitution certainly
promoted the establishment of the independent state as well as
keeping of internal and external stability in complicated situations.
`New realities require new demands to the society and the state that
naturally should be fixed in the Main Law and only in case of
complexity approach, the RA Constitution would fulfill its principal
role for securing of well-doing and solidarity, preservation of main
human liberties and rights in accordance to the international
standards’, the PM’s message says. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVED MAYOR OF PASADENA
YEREVAN, July 5. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness
Garegin II received Mayor of Pasadena Bill Bogard and the Head of
Police of the city Bernard Melikyan. As St. Echmiadzin Motehr See
told ARKA, during the meeting the Head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church expressed his satisfaction by the visit of the delegation of
the US city to Armenia that was called to strengthen of friendly
relations between sister cities Vanadzor and Pasadena. Garegin II
also mentioned the activity of the Armenian community of Pasadena and
St. Sargis.
In his turn Bogard presented the existing opportunities and practical
steps and programs on strengthening of relations with Vanadzor. T.M.
-0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIA CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY ON JULY 5
YEREVAN, July 5. /ARKA/. The Republic of Armenia celebrates the 9th
anniversary of adoption of Constitution. The acting Constitution was
adopted on July 5, 1995 in the period of government of Armenian
National Movement. The Ra Constitution consists of 117 articles,
which state that the State power in Armenia is executed in accordance
with the Main Law based on the principle of division of legislative,
executive and judicial powers.
On the occasion of Constitution Day, the RA President Robert
Kocharian addressed the people with a message of congratulation,
which says, in particular, that `the adoption of Constitution has a
historical meaning for every nation. It has become a powerful
stimulus for fundamental reform of RA legislative system, as well as
the establishment of priority of legislation and securing people’s
power’. The message also states that the current Constitution has
proved its vitality many times and it’s steady execution guarantees
legality and stability in the country. The President thinks that the
perfection of Constitution and its need for correspondence to
contemporary demands of development is imminent.
The introduction of amendments to Constitution is one of the
commitments of Armenia to the of EC. The deadline for referendum on
making amendments to Constitution in Armenia is June 2005. In the
course of 2004, the package of constitutional reforms will be sent
for examination to Venice commission. It should be mentioned that the
Constitution amendments put for national referendum on May 25, 2003
did not pass. L.V. -0 –
Ottawa Citizen
July 6, 2004 Tuesday Final Edition
Egoyan takes top prize at Armenian film fest: Canadian’s movie about
genocide caused uproar in Turkey
by Tony Lofaro
Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s controversial film Ararat continues
to pick up honours two years after it first caused an uproar among
the Turkish people.
The film was awarded the top prize yesterday at the Golden Apricot
Film Festival in Yerevan, Armenia, which showcases works by ethnic
Armenian directors and this year featured 57 movies by directors from
20 countries.
Mr. Egoyan is a Canadian of Armenian descent and his film, made in
2002, tells the plight of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey. Armenians say
a 1915-1923 campaign to force Armenians out of eastern Turkey left
1.5 million people dead and amounted to genocide.
Turkey says the number of Armenians who died is inflated, and that
people died during civil unrest and not as the result of a planned
campaign.
The movie starred Mr. Egoyan’s wife, Arsinee Khanjian, Christopher
Plummer, Elias Koteas, and newcomer David Alpay, who played one of
the central roles in the film.
Ararat was screened out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival in
2002 and was also selected that year as the opening night gala film
at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was a hit in Canada
and went on to win five awards, including best picture, at the 2003
Genie Awards in Toronto.
Last year, the Turkish cultural minister agreed the film could be
released in the country, but it never made it to theatres. The
Armenian National Committee of Canada said the distributor pulled it
after receiving threats from Ulku Ocaklari, a group with ties to the
Grey Wolves, a nationalist paramilitary group, as well as the Turkish
military and intelligence units.
The threats did not bother Mr. Egoyan, who has said the events
depicted in the film were completely substantiated.
At a news conference at the Cannes Film Festival, Mr. Egoyan was
asked about the issues the film raises. He replied: “This is not a
film that is trying to demonize present-day Turks. In fact, it is the
opposite — I am trying to ask the viewer to consider what it means
to pass judgment on somebody who is alive today for things that were
done, for good or for evil, by people who are no longer around.”
The title of the film refers to the mountain that Armenians regard as
their national symbol, which is now in Turkey.
‘Ararat’ Wins at Armenian Film Festival
.c The Associated Press
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Atom Egoyan’s two-year-old movie “Ararat”
won the top prize at the Golden Apricot Film Festival of works by
ethnic Armenian directors, officials said Monday.
The festival included 57 movies by directors from 20 countries. Egoyan
is a Canadian of Armenian heritage.
The film depicts the plight of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey. Armenians
say that a 1915-1923 campaign to force Armenians out of eastern Turkey
left 1.5 million people dead and amounted to genocide. The title
refers to the mountain that Armenians regard as their national symbol
but which now lies in Turkey.
07/05/04 12:37 EDT
AllAfrica.com
June 30 2004
VOA’s ‘Music Man’ Retiring After 50 Years of Spinning African Music
United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
June 28, 2004
Posted to the web June 30, 2004
Bruce Greenberg
Washington, DC
They call him “The Music Man” at the Voice of America, where
83-year-old Leo Sarkisian, the indefatigable host of the highly
successful radio show “Music Time in Africa,” has been spinning
Afrocentric music for the masses in sub-Saharan Africa twice every
Sunday for 40 years.
“We are the most popular show on VOA by fan mail received,” Sarkisian
said when interviewed recently in Washington. “Forty percent of VOA’s
listenership is in Africa.”
Sarkisian, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Armenian descent, boasts
that he answers every letter addressed to his show.
“My wife and I devote our weekends to answering our fans,” he says.
“I’m limited by VOA budgetary constraints to mailing a maximum of 500
responses per month, and I do this because when you consider that the
annual income in that region may be about $25.00 a year, and it may
cost some kid 50 cents to buy a stamp to write me telling how he
listens faithfully to my program, and likes it, then I feel an
obligation to respond.
“Most cannot afford computers, but they may go into an Internet café
to e-mail us. You know, I get some 162 e-mails a month from the fans.
And we can’t answer them because they have no regular means of
accessing the Internet, nor do they have a personal e-mail account.
That says something.
“I also send a packet containing my newsletter, the latest VOA
calendar and programming schedule, and even an information brochure
on AIDS twice a year, and it goes out to all my listeners,” he added.
When discussing his retirement at the end of 2004, he says that his
show will go on smoothly without him. “I’ve hand-picked my successor.
He’s a young guy — 30-something — a Ph.D. in African music whom I
met some four years ago at a University of Michigan ethnomusicology
conference. You know, the University of Michigan has one of the
largest African studies programs in the country.
“I’ll still be active, though, because I’ve signed with the State
Department’s speaker programming series, which sent me and my
announcer, Rita Rochelle, on a tour of five Nigerian cities last
spring, where we had a tremendous reception.
“We traveled all over,” he said. Unfortunately, he added, his program
is in danger of losing its base among Muslim populations in Africa
because of budget cuts to programming in Arabic.
Sarkisian recalled his 2003 trip to Namibia, a country he says has
few American visitors. “I spoke at a university, was on television
and radio. They had an exhibition of my paintings [he’s an
accomplished portraitist]; I met with the university art department;
there were visiting dignitaries…”
He continued: “I went to Eritrea during the Ethiopian-Eritrean war,
and had an exhibit of my art there. … Every place I went was
amazing.”
He recalled his first trip to the continent in 1959. He was working
as music director for a media company in Hollywood and was sent to
Ghana to record that country’s folk music.
“Ghana had just become independent in 1958, so I was the first
private American citizen there. I was supposed to stay for about
eight months, but wound up staying for a year, working for Radio
Ghana; then went to Guinea. They had just received their independence
from France. The French departed, leaving little behind. I helped
Radio Conakry get back on the air by helping with the repair of its
broadcasting equipment.”
“Shortly after Edward R. Murrow became head of the U.S. Information
Agency [USIA],” Sarkisian said, “he made his first trip to Africa. In
Guinea, he told the ambassador he wanted to see me. We met, and he
recruited me for USIA. … He told me he wanted USIA to begin
broadcasts to Africa. And that’s how it began.”
During his long career, Sarkisian has had the chance to meet many of
Africa’s influential statesmen and artists, some of whom have
appeared on his program. A recent guest, Queen Lambikiza of the
kingdom of Swaziland, was on a U.S. visit this past May to promote
awareness of HIV/AIDS and the plight of its African victims through
the international release of a CD entitled “Songs of Life.”
The CD, which features such big-name performers as Aretha Franklin
and Paul Simon, is the product of RICA, the Royal Initiative to
Combat AIDS, a non-profit organization launched by her husband, King
Mswati III, whose nation has one of the highest rates of AIDS
infections in the world — almost 40 percent of its adult population
is infected.
Sarkisian added that the queen has a law degree and is an
accomplished singer. “She’s also a composer and has made several
recordings. She said that this is Africa’s way of reaching out to
help itself; to use the medium of music and song to reach the people
of all nations, genders, ages and races with a message of hope.”
The proceeds from “Songs of Life” will be used to combat HIV/AIDS in
14 sub-Saharan nations and to promote worldwide awareness of the
disease.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
)
Het Financieele Dagblad (Dutch newspaper)
June 24, 2004
“Recognition of genocide will help Turkey progress”
Turkey is high on the Dutch agenda with a view to an EU membership.
According to Turkey-expert Hilmar Kaiser openness of the past will
increase the chances.
BY OUR EDITOR
AMSTERDAM – Under Dutch presidency, the European Union will decide in
December whether candidate member Turkey receives a date on which
negotiations can begin for accession. The case is sensitive politically
because, among other factors, Turkey is a Muslim state, as written in a
recent report of the Scientific Council for Government Policy. It is also
notable that politicians scrupulously avoid the debate on the concealed
Turkish genocide of 1915 on 1.5 million Armenians. Wrongly, finds Hilmar
Kaiser, who was promoted at the European University in Florence after
studying Turkish archives on this matter. Kaiser is prohibited by the
Turkish authorities to carry out further archival research. Nevertheless the
Turkey expert is optimistic at this moment. Recently he spoke about his
research in Amsterdam.
– How do you estimate the chances of recognition of the genocide?
“To approach the EU Ankara has already done serious work on the Kurdish
problem and the Cyprus question. Judging the capabilities of Erdogan and
Gül, the current political leaders, I expect that the government will carry
out very generous solutions for the Armenian question. I think, however,
that they still need some time, because otherwise, in the eyes of the
military leaders, there will be too much confusion. It must, however, happen
before Turkey becomes an EU member. I have high hope that this will happen
as well.”
– What is the basis for your hope?
“This is the first government that in fact breaks with the kemalists, the
followers of Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey, who radically enforced
the separation of Church and State. Apart from the opposition, the current
politicians have nothing to do with people who have the genocide on their
conscience. Erdogan and Gül are ordinary Muslims. Their supporters originate
from people who had then saved Armenians with danger for their own lives.
This government has, as far as I know, no links with the mafia, the military
elite, the secret service and the media industry.”
– You are now referring to the car accident in Susurluk in 1996.
“Yes. A high police force officer, a member of Parliament, a mafia boss and
a beauty diva were involved. Then it became clear how the Turkish
establishment is interwoven with criminal gangs. This government has nothing
to do with that and has strong roots in a democratic tradition. Therefore, I
do not think that there are still reasons to keep Turkey outside the EU in
the long run, especially if Erdogan recognizes the genocide. Because I do
not see another government doing it so soon. Moreover this will help Turkey
enormously.”
– In which respect?
“Erdogan is able to push the door open for a completely new future for
Turkey and also for the Caucasus Region. He will not do that primarily to
please the EU, but out of personal interest. Because in the long run I see a
leading role for Turkey in the whole region. I consider Erdogan able to do
so. With the recognition of the Armenian genocide Turkey also provides
itself with the legitimacy to develop into a real regional power.
Recognition is in the Turkish interest. Problems do not get solved by
blurring or by denying them.”
– What stops Turkey then?
“Not Erdogan, because he is in fact pleading for renewal and emancipation.
You still find the opponents in all parts of the state apparatus and in the
current opposition party CHP. That party depicts Erdogan’s party AKP as
Muslim fundamentalist that tries to frustrate the reforms. CHP represents
the tradition of the genocide committers, Young-Turks, who for more than
eighty years had the power and up to 1950 sat in the government and owned
the banks. Their ideas are also widespread under Turks in Europe. They still
play the same game, but they are losing their influence.”
– This sounds like a revolution.
“This is exactly so. At this moment a lot is happening in Turkey and that is
a delicate process. AKP finds its basis among the ordinary population in
Eastern Turkey. It is striking that exactly this Muslim government releases
the Kurdish human rights activist Leyla Zana. A kemalist government would
never do that.”
– New York Life recently reached a settlement of millions with Armenian
heirs because of unpaid policies.
“This can be compared to the Jewish credit balances. There are more
financial institutions with genocide money, both abroad and in Turkey
itself. With the Armenian properties state ventures were established that
still exist today. The Turkish government must take the initiative to blow
off the lid. Transparency in companies is, in this respect, a condition for
economic and democratic development in that region. This matter should not
be seen in terms of what it costs, but in terms of new chances. That will
also make Turkey more attractive for foreign investors.”
– In the West too the term “genocide” concerning Armenians is sometimes
avoided. How do you see that?
“That is politically motivated. It was the first modern genocide, complete
with strategy and medical experiments. And also concerning the number of 1.5
million no doubt can exist. I’ll spare you the details.”
PHOTO: In Guzelyurt, Cappadocia, the party offices of ex-Prime Minister
Ecevit and Prime Minister Erdogan are next to each other. FRISO SPOELSTRA/HH
Armenian PM to enhance cooperation with Germany
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 21, 2004 Monday
YEREVAN, June 21 — Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan is
leaving for Germany Tuesday on a working visit to take part in the
Armenian-German economic cooperation forum, the government press
service told Itar-Tass Monday.
The Armenian prime minister plans to meet German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer and other top officials.
The level of bilateral economic cooperation with Germany is far from
satisfactory, the press service said. Forty-nine Armenian-German joint
ventures and 17 German enterprises operate in Armenia. The figures are
less than France has in the republic. Meanwhile, Yerevan considers
the German experience as interesting and useful, especially in the
area of alternative sources of energy.
German imports make up 3.4 percent of the total imports to Armenia,
and export – is 6.6 percent of the republican total.
German government granted 107.23 million euros to Armenia within
the framework of the financial cooperation program and 33.46 million
euros – as technical cooperation, the press service said.
Armenian diaspora head pledges assistance to Karabakh
Mediamax news agency
21 Jun 04
Yerevan, 21 June: The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) is ready to
defend Nagornyy Karabakh’s interests on the international scene in
every possible way.
The chairman of the AAA board of directors, Anthony Barsamyan, said
this at a meeting with the NKR Nagornyy Karabakh Republic foreign
minister, Ashot Gulyan, on 19 June, Mediamax’s correspondent reports
from Stepanakert Xankandi .
Anthony Barsamyan said that during his visit to the NKR, he is going
to study the opportunities of the AAA’s assistance to Nagornyy Karabakh
in the implementation of humanitarian programs.
Ashot Gulyan familiarized the guest with the current state of the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement and the situation in the region. The
minister noted that although the conflict has not been settled,
Nagornyy Karabakh should develop in all directions.
In this regard, Ashot Gulyan expressed the hope that the AAA will
render assistance to the processes of democratization and state
building in the NKR, the development of the republic’s public sector,
and the involvement of Karabakh’s NGOs in the realization of regional
projects.