Author: Kanayan Tamar

Zaman, Turkey
July 9 2005

Armenian Lobby Makes British Deputy to Retreat

By Selcuk Gultasli

European Parliament (EP) British Member Richard Howitt who supported
Armenian allegations in a statement he made together with the
European Armenian Federation defended his stance saying he was not
sufficiently informed about the panel he chaired last month.

A European Armenian Federation (AEF) statement said that Howitt
welcomed the panel without knowing the subject of discussion. The Ari
Movement was blamed for not informing Howitt about the purpose of the
panel in the statement that implied he was deceived by the Ari
Movement.

After the June 15 forum, the American Armenian Lobby sent a
delegation to Brussels to gather support for the AEF and also lobbied
the EP. The Armenian lobby pressurized Howitt in particular and the
Socialist Group that he is a member of. Howitt, who said several
times that he wanted to be known as “Mr. Turkey in Brussels,” related
that they had discussed about another meeting with Howitt after the
forum and negotiated some activities in September. The Ari Movement
issued a statement of condemnation opposing the EAF statement. The
Movement also sent a letter to Howitt and asked for an explanation
about the inconsistency in his remarks. The letter said Howitt’s
remarks were unethical and he should give an official explanation for
that. It was observed that the French members of EP influenced
Howitt’s statement.

Howitt: I am not regretful

The Ari Movement’s statement which claims that Howitt was not
properly informed about the issue is incorrect and he urged the
cooperation should continue. The statement ended with the sentence:
“the reactions of EAF will not affect Ari Movement’s fight to have
the 1915 events evaluated from a different perspective in Europe.”

In a telephone conversation with Zaman, Howitt stressed he did not
regret welcoming and leading the panel and he did not imply that he
was deceived by the Ari Movement. He further said he was one of the
members of EP who supported Turkey’s European Union (EU) bid most and
he did not want to offend Turkey and Turkish people with his remarks.
He said he wanted to send the same message to Armenians by signing
the same statement with them and added that the peace between Turkey
and Armenia will be one of the main issues of Turkey-EU relations.

Meanwhile the Armenian Lobby, which has been busy with heavy lobbying
in Brussels since June 15, the day the panel was organized, made a
similar attempt at influencing the European Policy Center (EPC) but
the Center did not issue any pro- Armenian statement.

A1plus

21:01:18 | 07-07-2005 | Politics |

WILL VENICE COMMISSION BE PLEASED

Today the draft constitutional amendments were sent to the Venice
Commission, RA NA Vice Speaker Tigran Torosyan reported.

The agreements achieved during the discussions June 23-24 between the
representatives of the Venice Commission and the RA authorities were fixed
in SDF 2005 052 document.

When asked whether the opposition will return to the parliament, Tigran
Torosyan said, `All the issues were settled jointly.’

A1plus

| 20:43:40 | 06-07-2005 | Social |

FOLLOWING THE RULES

Today in Kapan a joint session of the Armenian and Irani borderline
governors has taken place. General issues concerning the Armenian and
Persian drivers, as well as issues about opening a borderline market in
Nurduz have been discussed.

The Irani side called the Armenian to try to correspond to the international
criteria during transit good transportation, the Persian agency `Irna’
reports.

ARARAT BRANDY FACTORY HOLDS SOIREE OF “5 SENSES”

YEREVAN, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. An event entitled “5 senses” dedicated
to 5 human senses – hearing, smell, touch, sight and taste – was held
by the Ararat Brand factory at the Golden Palace Hotel in Yerevan. The
duduk master Jivan Gasparian, saxophonist Didier Malier and guitarist
Patric Miheure performed during the first part “Hearing”. Famous
French perfumer Bertrand Du Chauffour created an aroma of dreams
“Ambroisie” at the request of L’arrisan Parfumeur for “Smell”. Arsen
Avetisian’s sculptural invention specially made for the Ararat Factory
was presented during “Touch”. “Sight” featured Zaven Khachikian’s
exhibition. The guests had a chance to taste unique salads of Nubar
Jivanian during the “degustation” part of the soiree.

VARDAVAR HOLIDAY CELEBRATED IN DILIJAN

YEREVAN, JULY 5. ARMINFO. Yerkir Nairi travelling agency organized a
number of events in Dilijan July 3 to mark the Vardavar holiday.

The objective was to acquaint the foreign guests with Armenia’s
national holidays. The guests were simply amazed with the holiday and
said that Armenia’s culture proved to be far more wonderful than they
could expect. The festivities were held according to the anciet
Armenian tradition. The people made wooden crosses adorned with sweets
and flowers and “kachburs” and “khdums” – wheat ears with multi-colour
threats – the symbol of Vardavar.

All the festivities were accompanied by folk song and dance with the
active involvement of tourists.

The events started at Aghartsin monastery, a complex of three churches
of XII-XIII – Grigor the Enlightener, Mother of God and St. Stepanos –
and proceeded to a one of the Dilijan health care centers.

Vardavar is one of the holidays of the Amenian Apostolic Church dating
back to the pagan times. People pour water on one another to “wash
off” their sins.

PRESIDENT OF LITHUANIA REITERATES READINESS OF HIS COUNTRY TO ASSIST
ARMENIA IN PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

VILNIUS, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Andranik Margarian,
the RA Prime Minister, and a delegation headed by him, being in
Vilnius on an official visit met with Valdas Adamkus, the President of
Lithuania, on June 30. At the meeting, the RA Prime Minister mentioned
the importance of mutual visits at different levels for the
stimulation of the Armenian-Lithuanian relations. In this sense, he
especially emphasized the significance of the mutual visits of the RA
President in June, 2002, and the President of Lithuania in September,
2003 in the issue of the stumulation of the bilateral cooperation. The
Prime Minister expressed confidence that the present visit of the
delegation of the RA Government to Lithuania will also support it. He
mentioned that Valdas Adamkus’ visit to Armenia at the RA President’s
invitation is also looked forward in Armenia with great expectations.

Assuring the inflexibility of Armenia in the choice of the way of the
integration into the European family, formation of a state
corresponding to the European political and economy standards,
Andranik Margarian mentioned that the involvement of Armenia in the
“European Neighbourhood Policy” gives great opportunity for deepening
relations with the EU member countries, including Lithuania. Informing
that on June 16, Armenia officially presented to the observation of
the European Commission the preliminary package of proposals of the
Armenian party of the EU-Armenia Join Actions Plan within the
framework of the European Neighbourhood policy, the Prime Minister
mentioned that Armenia is ready to observe possibilities of the
cooperation with Lithuania within the framework of the Actions
Plan. President Adamkus assured that Lithuania numbers relaions with
countries of the South Caucasus chosen the European way of development,
and with Armenia among them, among primary tasks of its foreign policy
attempting to take a role of a connecting circle among the European
Union and those countries. In this sense, the President of Lithuania
once more reiterated the readiness to assist Armenia in the issue of
overcoming difficulties of the European integration process, to share
its experience gathered on that way. Touching upon problems of the
regional cooperation, the parties attached importance to efforts made
in that direction by international organizations, particularly, by the
EU, OSCE, NATO and CE, which are aimed to strengthening of peace and
stability in the South Caucasus. In this context, Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian emphasized the leading role of Lithuania in the
issue of the 3+3 (Baltic+South Caucasian countries) initiation. In his
turn, President Valdas Adamkus assured that the Lithuanian party will
continue to explain the importance of that initiation to his partners
from Estonia, Latvia as well as Scandinavian countries. The
interlocutors attached importance to making close the cooperation of
the two countries within framework of other international
organizations as well. The current situation and development prospects
of the settlement of the Armenia-Turkey, the Armneia-Russia-Georgia
relations, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict were touched upon from the
viewpoint of strengthening stability and security in the region. The
RA Prime Minister mentioned that he expects the assistance of
Lithuania in the issue of raising the blockade of Armenia by Turkey,
improvement of relations with that country as well as recognation of
the Armenian Genocide by other EU countries. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA Government’s Information and Public Relations
Department, after the meeting with the President of Lithuania, Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian left for the “Antakalnis” pantheon and
laid a wreath to the Monument to Victims for Independence. After a
dinner given on behalf of Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis
and his wife in honour of the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
his wife, the Prime Minister and members of the RA delegation visited
the Mayor’s Office of Vilnius. Accompanied by the Mayor, they observed
the new building of the Mayor’s Office, got acquianted with
development projects of the city and subconstructions. After midday,
members of the RA delegation went to the Genocide Victims Museum of
the Genocide and Confrontation Research Center where RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian left a writing in the honoured guests’ book. In the
evening, in honour of RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and his
wife, an official dinner was given on behalf of Lithuanian Prime
Minister Algidas Brazauskas and his wife. The RA Prime Minister’s
meeting with Arturas Paulauskas, the Chairman of the Parliament of
Lithuania is scheduled for July 1.

Iran to develop ties with Armenia after presidential polls – envoy

Arminfo, Yerevan
1 Jul 05

YEREVAN

The results of the recent presidential elections in Iran will have
absolutely no effect on Armenian-Iranian relations, the Iranian
ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, has told Arminfo, while
commenting on Mahmud Ahmadinezhad’s election as president of Iran.

“No matter who becomes Iranian president, Armenian-Iranian relations
will continue to develop steadily in all directions,” the ambassador
said. He said that relations have been developing intensively since
the first days of Armenia’s independence, regardless of who was
Iranian president. This will continue, he said.

ARMENTEL BIGGEST TAX PAYER IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 30. ARMINFO. THe ArmenTel telecom company is the biggest
tax payer in Armenia – 11.204 bln AMD paid in taxes in 2004 -0.5%
more than in 2003, says AEPLAC survey.

The second biggest tax payer is Flash – 8.643 bln AMD (+32%), the
third one ArmRosgazprom 6.873 bln AMD (-36.5%). Electrical Networks
of Armenia paid 3.305 bln AMD (-67.6%).

At the same time the company leads in the number of employees –
8,344. ArmenTel and ArmRosgazprom employ 5,388 and 5,274 people (-6.4%
and +77.2%) respectively.

ARMENIA WANTS TURKEY TO BECOME EU MEMBER

Armenpress

YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: A senior Armenian diplomat rebuked
today the government of neighboring Turkey for keeping its border
with Armenia closed for more than a decade saying the closed border
is a major obstacle to promoting regional integration.

Addressing a round table discussion on what Armenia could expect from
Turkey in a new geo-political situation, deputy foreign minister
Gegham Gharibjanian said the Armenian-Turkish border is not only a
border separating two nations, but a border with a NATO member country
and possibly may become a border with a European Union member nation.

Gharibjanian said Turkey’s borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan are not
enough for adequate response to ongoing geo-political developments. He
said Armenia expects Turkey to open the border and establish diplomatic
relations without any precondition.” A nation that has been striving
for decades to join the European Union must open its border with
all neighboring countries,” he said, emphasizing Armenia’s policy of
“open doors” for all and its willingness to build friendly relations
with all its neighbors.

Gharibjanian also welcomed indications of positive shifts within the
Turkish society, particularly, the removal of a taboo on Armenian
genocide, the intensified contacts between representatives of the
two countries, exchange of journalists, cultural events and so on,
which he said should become a precondition for normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relationships.

Gharibjanian said Armenia wants Turkey to become an EU member, but
” a Turkey that deserves it, a Turkey which respects the European
system of values.”

PRESS RELEASE
June 28, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Scholarships Available to Diaspora Armenians to Attend Armenian Universities

The Government of Armenia has established 70 full scholarships to
allow Diaspora Armenians to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies
in the Armenian public universities and colleges for the academic
year 2005/2006.

Applications for scholarship and enrollment will be considered
by a special commission of the Armenian Ministry of Education and
Science. Priority is given to applicants pursuing studies in Teacher’s
Training, Armenian Studies, and Fine Arts. The applicants are expected
to have sufficient command of Armenian in order to enroll.

In addition to tuition-free positions, Diaspora Armenian applicants
will also have an opportunity to apply for and be enrolled in public
universities on paid basis, following the procedure outlined above.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 20, 2005. The
application forms, list of universities and departments, as well as
tuition are available upon request from the Embassy of Armenia,
via email: [email protected] or telephone: 202-319-1976,
ext. 348. Further inquiries can be directed to the Diaspora Department
of the Ministry of Education and Science in Yerevan, at +374-10-581391.