Author: Kajoyan Gevork

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL REDUCES BY 0.5% FROM EARLY 2005 IN RA

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Pension reforms, poverty and family
benefits, first results of newly-established State Labor Inspection
and introduction of social cards were the pivotal issues discussed at
the June 10 working meeting between RA President Robert Kocharian and
RA Minister of Labor and Social Issues Aghvan Vardanian. According to
the report submitted to Noyan Tapan from RA President’s Press Service,
issues concerning people’s employment were also discussed at the
meeting. According to Ministry’s data, from the beginning of the year
the unemployment level reduced by 0.5% and at present the number of
people looking for a job reduced from 142 thousand to 135 thousand.

The Minister represented the process of fulfilment of the assignment
given by the president regarding increasing of the honor payments of
Great Patriotic war veterans by 5000 drams. The interlocutors also
spoke about possible variants of carrying out improvement for other
classification veterans, as well.

US daily editors, Turkish PM discuss unpublished advert on Armenian issue

NTV television, Istanbul
11 Jun 05

[Announcer] It has emerged that New York Times [NYT] [daily] refused
to publish an advertisement by 36 Turkish nongovernmental
organizations [NGOs] which reject the allegations regarding the
Armenian genocide.

The NYT advertisement section wrote a letter to the said Turkish NGOs,
stating: We believe that the Armenian genocide took place. Therefore
we do not find it right to publish your advertisement.

At a meeting with the editorial council of the NYT, Prime Minister
Erdogan expressed his displeasure regarding this issue.

On the last day of his contacts in the United States, Erdogan held a
meeting with the NYT editorial council. At the meeting, the NYT
officials criticized the cancellation of the planned Armenian
conference that was to be held at Bogazici University. Prime Minister
Erdogan said that Justice Minister Cemil Cicek’s remarks on the issue
were his personal views and that there was no legal barrier to hold
the conference.

At this point, Erdogan raised the issue of the NYT’s refusal to
publish the advertisement last April, and criticized the paper for the
decision. Erdogan pointed out that by showing its goodwill Turkey has
opened its archives. Anyone can come and learn the truth from these
official archives, he said.

Given this situation, Erdogan went on, the fact that the NYT refused
to publish the Turkish NGOs advertisement by claiming that it believed
in the Armenian genocide showed that it had had certain ulterior
motives.

Akif Beki, the prime minister’s spokesman, related how the NYT editors
responded to the prime minister’s remarks:

[Beki] They merely listened. Then they said that they would study the
said advertisement as well as the refusal by the head of the
advertisement section, and that they would inform us of the results of
their evaluation.

Turkish premier says meetings during US trip “positive”

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
11 Jun 05

New York, 11 June: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who
completed his meetings in New York left for Turkey on Saturday [11
June].

State Minister Ali Babacan, National Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul,
deputies and prime minister’s advisers who accompany Erdogan in his
visit to the USA, will also return to Turkey.

Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is
expected to leave New York for Turkey later.

Before his departure, Prime Minister Erdogan attended the dinner
hosted by Ahmet Ertegun, one of the successful Turkish businessmen
living in the USA in his honour. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and
many American politicians, journalists and artists attended the night.

Erdogan also attended a reception hosted in his honour by the Turkish
community living in the USA. Addressing the reception, Erdogan said
that he held positive meetings in the USA.

“We had meetings about investments of big American companies and
businessmen in Turkey. Turkey is a stable country and the economic
parameters in Turkey are on the rise. Turkey stands on its feet,”
Erdogan said. Referring to employment problem in Turkey, Erdogan said
that the government worked hard to sort out this problem by the
investments made in service, agriculture and industry sectors.

Later Erdogan chatted with Turkish people living in the USA during the
reception.

Erdogan also met American businessmen on another occasion and was
interviewed by national public radio.

Erdogan got together with the Editorial Council of the New York Times
earlier the same day.

Prime Ministry Spokesman Akif Beki told the Anatolia that the editors
of the New York Times criticized the postponement of the Armenian
conference in Istanbul and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek’s remarks on
this subject.

Erdogan informed New York Times editors that Cicek’s statements
represented his own personal viewpoint and not that of the Turkish
government. “I stated that there is no legal barrier against such an
Armenian conference in Istanbul. I support such a conference although
I do not agree with the notions that were to be expressed at the
Istanbul conference,” commented Erdogan.

Erdogan expressed that Turkey has opened its archives to all
scholars. The New York Times may look at these archives if it wishes
to, noted Erdogan.

Erdogan made a call to all the New York Times editors to visit Turkey
and study the archives.

The New York Times editors assured Erdogan that they will include
Erdogan’s statements in their upcoming articles.

Erdogan also went to Connecticut to see the factory of Sikorsky
helicopters the same day.

Karabakh party to struggle for seats in parliament

Arminfo
9 Jun 05

YEREVAN

“Standing in the parliamentary elections is not a paramount task, but
the party will struggle for seats in the parliament in order to be
able to submit issues of concern to the National Assembly,” the leader
of the Our Home is Armenia Party and an independent member of the
current parliament of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Ararat
Petrosyan, has said.

The main task of the party is “to defend justice in the republic”, but
the final aim is to merge with Armenia, our Arminfo correspondent
reports from Stepanakert. “Let us not forget that historical Artsakh
was the 10th province of Armenia,” Petrosyan said.

Our Home is Armenia intends to make every effort, relying on the
middle class, in order to considerably increase the living standards
of the population, secure the supremacy of the law and observe
national and state interests. The party thinks it important to clearly
divide all branches of powers and draw up mechanisms of mutual
oversight.

Petrosyan said that his party will pay special attention to the strata
and categories of the population which he thinks do not have enough
state attention. Among them are also Karabakh war veterans, “many of
whom have not found a worthy place in society”, the party leader
thinks.

4TH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION “MODERN OFFICE AND BANK” OPENED IN
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, June 10. /ARKA/. The 4th international exhibition “Modern
Office and Bank” has been opened in Yerevan. Anna Hakobyan, Director
of the “EXPOMEDIA” exhibition center, reported that it is a topical
event not only for local businessmen, but also for foreign investors,
which will have an opportunity to get acquainted with this sphere,
analyze the market. Hakobyan said that 26 organizations from Armenia,
CIS and Europe are taking part in the exhibition.

According to her, the goal of the exhibition is consolidating
commercially advantageous relations between trade and industrial
enterprises and banking infrastructures as well as forming effective
business environment for exchanging urgent business information and
experience. The exhibition also helps the participants to get all
necessary information on companies’ activities, new projects,
proposals and bank services.

The exhibition has been organized by the “EXPOMEDIA” exhibition
center, with the sponsorship of the RA Ministry of Finance and
Economy, RA Central Bank, Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Armenia
and of Yerevan, RA National Center of Small and Middle-Sized Business
Development, Union of Banks of Armenia.
P.T. -0–

,1564,1609652,0 0.html

Russischer Waffentransfer nach Armenien

Wohin mit den Kampfgeräten aus Georgien?

Russland bereitet die Schließung seiner Militärstützpunkte in Georgien vor.
Von dort verlegt Moskau Militärtechnik und Waffen nach Armenien. Das
benachbarte Aserbaidschan ist beunruhigt.

Vor kurzem haben Vertreter Georgiens und Russlands vereinbart, die russischen
Militärstützpunkte auf georgischem Territorium zu schließen. Somit beginnt
die russische Seite mit großer Verspätung die Verpflichtungen zu erfüllen, die
Moskau mit dem Istanbuler Abkommen von 1999 übernommen hatte. Der vollständige
Abzug der russischen Militärs soll 2008 abgeschlossen sein. Die Vorbereitung
der Verlegung hat nun begonnen. Davon zeugen Berichte aus Armenien.

Flugabwehrraketen und Munition
Am Samstag (4.6.) wurden im Bahnhof der armenischen Stadt Gjumri Bestände
abgeladen, die aus dem georgischen Batumi eingetroffen waren und für den
russischen Militärstützpunkt in Armenien bestimmt sind. Wie aus Militärquellen, die
ungenannt bleiben möchten, verlautete, trafen in Gjumri 15 Waggons mit
Gasabwehr-Fahrzeugen, Flugabwehrraketen und einer großen Menge Munition ein. Der Quelle
zufolge wird die Verlegung der Technik und der Waffen gemäß einem Plan zum
Abzug der Truppen aus Georgien vorgenommen. Verlegt wird vor allem, was sich in
den russischen Militärstützpunkten in Georgien angehäuft hat und überflüssig
ist. Ende des Jahres soll der vollständige Abzug der russischen Truppen aus
Batumi und Achalkalaki beginnen.

Jerewan: Kein neues Abkommen
In Armenien zweifelt niemand daran, dass Russland seinen Stützpunkt im
armenischen Gjumri mit Militärtechnik, Waffen und Munition aus Georgien verstärken
möchte. Der Pressesprecher des armenischen Verteidigungsministeriums, Sejran
Schahsuwarjan, erklärte, die Verlegung eines Teil der Militärtechnik von den
russischen Stützpunkten in Georgien nach Armenien werde durch das bilaterale
Abkommen über militärische Zusammenarbeit und die russischen Militärstützpunkte in
Armenien geregelt, aber auch durch die übernommenen Verpflichtungen bezüglich
der Quoten, die vom Vertrag über konventionelle Streitkräfte in Europa
vorgesehen sind. Ein neues Dokument oder ein neues Abkommen in dieser Fragesei
zwischen Armenien und Russland nicht unterzeichnet worden, sagte Schahsuwarjan. Er
fügte hinzu, eine Verlegung von Soldaten nach Armenien sei nicht vorgesehen.

Baku: Moskau verstärkt Spannungen

Im benachbarten Aserbaidschan ist man wegen der Verlegung russischer
Militärtechnik und Waffen aus Georgien nach Armenien ernsthaft beunruhigt. Baku
vertritt die Auffassung, dass Russland mit seinem Vorgehen die Spannungen zwischen
Aserbaidschan und Armenien absichtlich verstärkt. Indem Moskau eine der
Konfliktseiten aufrüste, provoziere es die Wiederaufnahme von Kriegshandlungen.

Aschot Gasasjan, Jerewan

DW-RADIO/Russisch, 4.6.2005, Fokus Ost-Südost

AZERBAIJANI COMMENTS ON PROGRESS IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR
SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, JUNE 8. ARMINFO. On the whole, after the meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Warsaw, one can speak of some
progress in the fundamental issues in the negotiations for settlement
of Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
told Trend agency.

He said that in the course of their forthcoming meeting in Paris,
Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers will discuss 7-9 elements
of the negotiations. “We think we shall manage to agree on several
issues, some we think very complicated. We shall discuss each issue.
But the position of Azerbaijan is well-known: territorial integrity
of the country must be restored,” the minister said. The issue of
deployment of peacemaking forces in the region after return of
Azerbaijani refugees and forced emigrant there is also on agenda. The
security issues is very important, and the Armenian party’s approach
to it is also very serious, he thinks.

Mamedyarov says that among the elements to be discussed are also
issue of demining and withdrawal of the troops from the territories
controlled by NKR. The sides also discuss opening of roads linking
Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh (via Lachin) and Azerbaijan with
Nakhijevan. <Motor-road and railway are in question. We think that
opening of the motor-road is more profitable for us. This issue must
be in favor of both countries,> he said. He says that discussion of
the above elements is held stage by stage and solution to each
following issue depends on the solutions to the previous ones. The
minister pointed out that the visit of OSCE MG CO-Chairs to the
region would depend on Paris negotiations. “But we plan that after
this meeting they will more activate their efforts,” the minister
said.

House members urge Bush to raise Armenian blockade issue

08.06.2005 14:41

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – In the days leading up to Wednesday’s meeting
between Pres. Bush and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
members of the US House of Representatives raised serious concerns
about Turkey’s 12-year blockade of Armenia, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA.)

In a June 3rd letter, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) were joined by Reps.
Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA) in urging Pres.
Bush and Secretary of State Rice to “again call upon Turkey to
comply with your Administration’s long-standing position that in
order to restore economic, political, and cultural links with
Armenia, Turkey should immediately lift its ongoing blockade with
Armenia.”

The House members detailed the high cost of Turkey’s blockade on
Armenia’s struggling economy. “A recent State Department report
estimated that the blockade is inflating Armenia’s transportation
costs by 30-35%, thereby stifling its trade and economy,” noted the
letter. “This report also stated that opening the border would
catalyze commercial opportunities for Turkey and Armenia in the
fields of energy, trade and tourism, valued at $1 billion per
year.”

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND AMERICAN SENATOR DISCUSS ISSUES OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS AND KHARABAKH SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN. A wide circle of issues concerning
the Armenian-American relations and regional political and economic
developments was discussed at the June 1 meeting of Vartan Oskanian,
the Foreign Minister of Armenia and Norm Coleman, the US Senator,
the Chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee’s Permanent
Subcommittee on Investigations, a republican from Minnesota being in
Armenia on a two-day visit. Minister Oskanian presented directions
and primary tasks of Armenia’s foreign policy, possibilities of the
economic development as well as the democratizing process. Touching
upon the Armenian-American issues of agenda, Vartan Oskanian
mentioned the close cooperation being promoted in different spheres
both in bilateral and international and regional directions. The
interlocuters exchanged opinions around the Armenian-Turkish relations,
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and a number of
other issues. Senator Coleman is in Armenia by the invitation of
the America’s Armenian Assembly Yerevan Office and the “Cafenjan
Family” fund.

THE CONSTITUTION CAN BECOME THE BEGINNING OF THE CHANGE OF AUTHORITIES

A1plus

| 17:02:41 | 03-06-2005 | Politics |

Members of the National Democratic Union leaded by Arshak Sadoyan
made a political decision yesterday to carry out an action. The
action will be organized for the European structures and for the
COE in particular. During the period of time between the first and
second readings of the draft constitution Sadoyan will represent
about 30-40-offers on the basis of his draft demanding to include
them in the coalition draft. Arshak Sadoyan is sure that none of them
will be accepted in the Parliament, and explains his act this way,
“At least, let people understand: what else can I do?”

The leader of the NDU is convinced that after the failure of the
constitutional referendum in 2003 the authorities will do everything to
introduce their constitution. “The referendum will become the Armenian
variant of the Ukrainian and Georgian processes”, says Sadoyan. The
latter held a press conference today to inform that he has managed
to meet the Venice Commission experts who are in Armenia.

Earlier there was information that the guests will not meet the
representative of any political power during their visit. Arshak
Sadoyan announced today that he had been informed in the COE office
that the program of the visits in Armenia was formed neither by the
Venice Commission experts nor the COE Armenian Office, but by the NA
deputy President Tigran Torosyan.

Nevertheless, NA deputy Arshak Sadoyan has managed to meet the Venice
Commission experts. According to the deputy, it turned out during
the meeting that the experts have been deliberately misinformed
several times. For example, the RA authorities did not send them
the additional changes in Arshak Sadoyan’s draft on the basis of the
offers of the Commission. Form now on Arshak Sadoyan will not count
on the NA and will send all the documents to the Commission himself.

As for the Constitutional referendum, Arshak Sadoyan will join the
oppositional powers which will say “No” to the Constitution. “This
can become the beginning of the change of authorities”, the deputy
in convinced.