Author: Karabekian Emil

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

GEORGIANS TRESPASSED ON OUR LAND, WE ON THEIRS

The process of drawing the Georgian-Armenian border is really based
on the map adopted in 1939. On October 25 Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan confirmed this statement by Member of Parliament Victor
Dallakyan at the National Assembly in answer to the question of
Member of Parliament Armen Ashotyan.

`It’s difficult to tell what the purpose of this stir, of raising
this question is. It is possible that this a sincere worry because
this is an important problem and I think that it worries and
interests the members of parliament,’ says the foreign minister,
remembering that they take into consideration the map of 1939 because
it is the only comprehensive map. `In fact, yes, because it is the
only map that is more comprehensive and was accepted by both Armenia
and Georgia, the leadership of the time. The other maps are not
comprehensive and precise. But the map of 1939 was accepted as basic.
Nevertheless, we should take into account the reality: the Georgians
have trespassed on our land, and in some parts we trespassed on the
Georgian territory. Today we have to find the golden middle, to find
a pragmatic solution without territorial losses for any of the
sides,’ stated Vardan Oskanyan.

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO BE PUT INTO OPERATION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Regnum, Russia
Oct 26 2006

Iranian gas will be supplied to Armenia via Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
ahead of schedule, the High-voltage Electric Lines Company director
Saak Abramyan, whose company ordered construction of the pipeline’s
Armenian section, stated to a REGNUM correspondent. According to him,
it is supposed that the pipeline’s operation will start on December
20, 2006 instead of January 1, 2007.

Also, Saak Abramyan informed that construction works at 38-km section
of 40-km Megri-Kajaran section had already been finished.

Construction of the 40-km section is assessed to cost $35mln; 80% of
the sum will be loaned to Armenian side by Iranian development bank;
the rest will be grated from own resources.

It is worth reminding; according to Armenian-Iranian agreement, the
section’s construction, which will guarantee penetration of Iranian
gas deep into the Armenian territory, should be finished till 1
January 2007. It will enable connection of Armenian and Iranian gas
distributing systems and to arrange coordinated functioning. The
system’s preliminary carrying capacity will slightly be inferior to
amounts, recorded in main Armenian-Iranian agreement. According to
the latter (signed in May 2004), amount of Iranian gas, supplied
into Armenia will total 1.1bln of cubic meters at initial stage;
since 2019 it will total 2.3bln of cubic meters. The agreement was
concluded for 20 years. In order to reach the planned figures, the
Armenian side will additionally lay 197 km of pipe, which will pass
through Kajaran, Sisian, Jermuk, and Ararat settlements.

Also, it is worth stressing; later in June, the Gazprom Company
Deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov stated that the company was going to
purchase the Iran-Armenian gas pipeline. According to him, the gas
pipeline’s putting into operation will enable guaranteeing Armenian
gas supply’s reliability. "There are problems concerning gas transit
into Armenia via Georgia because Georgia permits itself unsanctioned
gas extraction," Ryazanov said.

LIBRARY READIES FOR CHRISTMAS
By Anna Bakalis, [email protected]

Ventura County Star , CA
Oct 26 2006

Volunteers trim trees representing various countries and cultures

What does Vatican City, Japan and Santa Claus all have in common?

Over the next few days, a tree is being decorated in each of their
honor at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi
Valley.

The 13th annual "Christmas Around the World" exhibit will open to
the public Nov. 15 and be on display through Jan. 7, continuing a
tradition meant to teach how different cultures celebrate the holidays.

On Wednesday, several community groups, museum staff members and
volunteers were decorating some of the 37 trees on the lower level
of the Air Force One Pavilion. The room, closed now to the public,
is also the future home of the Discovery Center, an interactive
children’s exhibit to open next year.

"I think this one is my favorite," said volunteer Glenda Muller,
standing near the Russia tree, fully decorated with handmade beaded
eggs. Muller has volunteered with the library for seven years, and
helping with the tree exhibit is a highlight for her.

Soon, placards will be put up to explain how each country celebrates
the holidays. But for now, volunteers such as Muller are having fun
trimming the plastic trees, just unpacked from last year. Pieces of
plastic trees lay on the floor, as did plastic wrap that held more
delicate ornaments.

In 1993, the first Christmas tree exhibit had 26 trees, each one
representative of a country that Reagan visited while in office. Now
there are 11 more in the exhibit, including several Central American
countries, and a few themed trees, such as a Santa Claus tree. And
outside the exhibit room, a 17-foot-tall Christmas tree will be on
display in the corner of the Air Force One Pavilion. At the entrance
to the museum, a White House tree will be on display.

Menorahs given to Reagan while in the White House will also be on
display in the rotunda.

New this year is a fireplace near the U.S. tree where visitors can
have a picture taken they can later purchase in the museum store.

Also, for the first time, the library will offer booklets that include
descriptions of all the trees on display, describing each country
and their traditions.

The book will be available in the Museum Store for purchase.

Altogether, more than 100 people will help in putting up the exhibit,
which will include toy soldiers, trains, some snow. Christmas music
will filter through the exhibit.

"We do this every year," said Lilo Holzer, who was putting the
finishing decorations on a tree.

Holzer and other members of the Swiss Matterhorn Club, who usually
decorate a Swiss tree, this year are hanging long, shiny icicles on
the Iceland tree.

The Armenia Relief Society decorates a tree every year. The tradition
in Armenia is to make ornaments using straw. But for longevity’s sake,
the group hand made intricate and delicate ornaments out of white
drinking straws.

The icing will come on Nov. 6, when the snowflakes are placed around
the room and on the trees, finishing the winter landscape.

"This is a part of the holiday journey," said Carol Cohea, a staff
member who helped coordinate the volunteers. "It’s a tradition for
families to visit when they’re back in town."

ITB TO PARTICIPATE IN KfW’S CREDIT PROGRAM

Armenpress
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s ITB international Trade
Bank will participate in the KfW bank’s "Development of Stable Market
of Apartment Financing" credit program.

According to the Executive Director of the ITB international trade bank
Ara Kitbalian, "KfW program will give new impetus to the development
of mortgage market in Armenia and at the same time will promote the
improvement of credit conditions," said he adding that the program
will give an opportunity to increase the qualitative level of credit
process.

"Development of Stable Market of Apartment Financing" credit program
costs 12 million euros. For the implementation of the first round of
the program 6 million euros will be provided.

Chahe Keuroghelian promises to listen to his voters

20.10.2006 17:35
Alisa Gevorgyan
"Radiolur"

In 2007 Armenians will be engaged in active electoral process not
only in Armenia but also in distant California, since our compatriot
Chahe Keuroghelian is going to run for Glendale Mayor.

He told "Radiolur" that there is essential difference between
pre-election promises in Armenia and the United States. In Armenia
future officials promise prosperous life to the voters, while Chahe
Keuroghelian promises his Glendale voters something very rare –
to listen to them.

Born and grown up in Beirut, Chahe Keuroghelian moved to the US in
1991 at the age of 21. After graduating from the university he started
working in an Armenian school as a teacher of journalism and American
history. Later he got engaged in politics. For two years he has been
engaged in organizing election campaigns.

Having a broad circle of interests, once out compatriot got interested
in the work of the Public Relations Department of the Glendale Police,
which is comprised of not only revelation of crimes and execution
of punishment, but also taking diverse measures for prevention
of felonies. Thuus, an application was submitted, and after some
training and several exams Chahe Keuroghelian became an employee of
the above-mentioned departmenet.

Simultaneously he was continuing his education in the Department of
political science and Political Administration.

"This lasted for one year. Later, familiarizing with may capacities
and emphasizing the importance of my knowledge of five languages, the
Chief of Police transferred me to his Department, where I was working
under his direct control. I was entrusted the position of Head of
the Press and Public Relations Department," Chahe Keuroghelian noted.

Mr. Keuroghelian occupied this position for 13 years. In 2001
he resigned from the position and after taking law courses, he
established a legal advisory office and started his own business. In
2005 he suggested his candidacy for membership in the Glendale City
Hall Council and with the minimum budget among all 15 candidates he
received a surprisingly great number of votes.

"Inspired and encouraged with this success and giving in to the request
of numerous representatives of the Armenian community I decided to run
in the elections for Glendale Mayor in 2007," Chahe Keuroghelian said.

It should be noted that Chahe Keuroghelian is not the only Armenian
running for Mayor. However, unlike Mr. Keuroghelian, the other
candidate is a member of a party and member of the current City Hall
Council. However, Chahe Keuroghelian is not concerned about the fact,
since the party label is not particularly welcomed in Glendale.

"I’m not a member of any party and it gives me a greater advantage to
speak for the defense of rights of the whole people, present programs
to serve not only local Armenians but also the whole population
of Glendale. Naturally, there is nothing condemnable here, but his
approaches will be that of his party. And his programs will not serve
the whole population of the city," Chahe Keuroghelian noted.

80 thousand out of the total of 209 thousand of Glendale population
are Armenians, but Chahe Keuroghelian’s pre-election promises are
not addressed only his compatriots. The promises are as follows:
"I do not promise to work wonders, but my whole professional career
evidences that I’ve always kept my promises. And if I promised
something I always made it true. Naturally, it will continue this
way in case I’m elected Mayor of Glendale."

Like everywhere, one of the most complex problems of Glendale voters
is to be heard by authorities. Therefore, the most attractive of Chahe
Keuroghelian’ s promises is the following: "Our elected representatives
have great difficulties with listening. They tend to speak rather than
listen. I have no problem with speaking, but I promise to listen too."

United Press International
Oct 20 2006

Turks asked to boycott French media
Oct. 20, 2006 at 11:40AM

Turkey’s TV and broadcast watchdog has asked the country to boycott
French media until France drops its Armenian genocide bill.

That’s in response to the French National Assembly’s approval of
a bill earlier this month, making it a crime to deny that the mass
killings of Armenians during World War I, in the last days of the
6-century-old Ottoman empire, were genocide. The bill now goes to
the French Senate. Turkey, which has been blamed for the killings,
has always strongly opposed the genocide designation.

In the latest move, the boycott appeal came from Turkey’s Radio and
Television Higher Board, reports the Zaman newspaper. The board said
its members had unanimously agreed that Turkish television and radio
stations should avoid airing French-made programs until the genocide
bill is withdrawn.

The Zaman reported that French films, TV shows and music account for
about 10 percent of the content on Turkish radio and television.

Separately, the report said the Turkish consumers union plans to
publicize one French company or brand every week, encouraging citizens
to boycott it.

Armenian Patriarch seeks equal citizenship rights in letter to Turkish leaders

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
19 Oct 06

Istanbul, 19 October: Mesrob II, the Patriarch of the Armenians
in Turkey, has argued that the foundations bill is not compatible
with the principle of constitutional equality and legal techniques,
and expressed thought that it will not solve their problems if it is
legalized in its current shape.

Mesrob II sent letters to Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

In the letters, the Armenian Patriarch said that he could not have the
opportunity to express his views to the government before the bill was
passed from the concerned commission and submitted to the parliament.

"We have no other demand than equal citizenship. We are sorry because
we were considered as foreigners as our rights were evaluated in
accordance with the law of reciprocity, and we were not asked to
express our views. We are the citizens of this country, and therefore
we think that it is natural for us to ask the parliament to deal with
and solve our problems," he added.

AZERBAIJAN: RUSSIA TO BLAME FOR DELAYED GAS DELIVERIES TO GEORGIA?
Rovshan Ismayilov

EurasiaNet, NY
Oct 19 2006

Azerbaijan will not be able to supply Georgia this year with the
additional gas supplies that the Georgian government is seeking in
order to forestall the possibility of an energy crisis. Some experts
in Baku believe that Russia’s ongoing diplomatic row with Georgia is
influencing Azerbaijani policy decisions.

Wanting to build its strategic reserves for what could prove a tense
winter, Georgia sought to secure an additional 300 million cubic meters
of gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field by the end of 2006, Georgian
Energy Minister Nika Gelauri told a September 30 news conference in
Tbilisi. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Talks held
October 10-11 in Baku appeared to yield positive results. But just days
later, Azerbaijani officials revised their position, saying they could
not guarantee the desired gas deliveries within Georgia’s timeframe.

"Azerbaijan might need the gas for itself," the Trend news agency
reported Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natik Aliyev as saying. "We
cannot give a concrete promise yet because we do not know yet what
Azerbaijan’s energy balance will be next year." Azerbaijan itself
imports between 4.0 billion and 4.5 billion cubic meters a year from
Gazprom, the Russian state-controlled conglomerate that also supplies
the bulk of Georgia’s gas.

It is Georgia’s energy dependency on Russia that has President
Mikheil Saakashvili’s administration worried in Tbilisi. A spy
scandal, in which Georgia arrested Russian military officers, has
placed Georgian-Russian relations in a deep freeze. In retaliation
for the Georgian action, Russia has implemented punitive measures,
including the closure of transport corridors and the suspension of
postal service. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Even before the spy scandal, Russia imposed economic sanctions against
Georgia, most notably a ban on wine imports. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive]. Some experts believe that the Kremlin
may in the coming months use its energy influence over Georgia as an
additional instrument of retaliation against Tbilisi.

Such concerns are rooted in the experience of January of this
year, when pipelines running through Russian territory to Georgia
inexplicably exploded, plunging the Caucasus country into an energy
crisis. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The Shah Deniz gas field, with estimated reserves of 400 billion cubic
meters (bcm), was to have provided the means for Azerbaijan to meet
Georgia’s demand. Gas from the field was originally expected to flow
via the new Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline by the end of October.

However, that opening was postponed after Turkey announced that its
part of the pipeline would not be operational until the end of 2006
at the earliest.

Georgia is supposed to receive 5 percent of the gas shipped to Turkey
as a transit fee, plus the right to purchase an additional 5 percent
of exports at a preferential price — $55 per thousand cubic meters.

The 300 mcm of gas Tbilisi wanted to purchase would be in addition
to these supplies.

While Aliyev evaded giving a reason for the delay, some experts in
Baku contend that the decision is political. "There are no technical
problems which may cause a delay," asserted Ilham Shaban, an energy
expert and editor of the Turan Energy Bulletin. "The pipeline running
from Baku into Georgian territory is complete and ready for operation."

Shaban contends that Azerbaijan may have unofficially asked British
Petroleum, which leads the gas development and pipeline consortium, to
postpone production until the end of 2006 in order to avoid offending
Russia on this issue. At the same time, he added, the British energy
company appears to be cognizant of problems recently encountered by
other foreign oil companies in Russian oil exploration, and may wish
to do nothing that might rankle the Kremlin. "It means that, most
likely, we’re facing Russia’s energy blackmail again," Shaban said.

The Azerbaijani government, however, denies that any hidden political
motive exists for its decision. "Cooperation between Baku and
Tbilisi was not affected by Russia’s position on Georgia. We [the
Azerbaijani government] are not experiencing any pressure from Russia,"
a source within the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told EurasiaNet. The
differences between Russia and Georgia were discussed during an
October 6 meeting in Moscow between the Azerbaijani and Russian
Foreign Ministers, "and both sides expressed their understanding that
the conflict should be solved as soon as possible," the source said.

Energy Minister Aliyev has confirmed that Azerbaijan is prepared
to provide transit to Georgia for Iranian gas supplies, but Shaban
states that the country’s pipelines cannot transport more than 2 mcm of
Iranian gas to Georgia per day, roughly 30 percent of Georgia’s needs.

Ilgar Mammadov, a Baku-based political analyst, believes that other
factors aside from Russia could have influenced the government’s
announcement. An increase in Gazprom gas prices could mean an increase
in transit fees for gas to Azerbaijani foe Armenia, a situation which
could raise tensions between Moscow and Yerevan to Baku’s satisfaction,
he suggested. "[D]ispleasure is growing within the government with the
fact that Azerbaijan is making economic concessions to Georgia all the
time," Mammadov added. After Azerbaijan made "serious concessions" to
Georgia on transit tariffs for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline,
the Georgian government initially asked for compensation for the
financial losses the Georgian port of Batumi would incur once the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway project with Azerbaijan and
Turkey is complete, he noted.

Georgia later withdrew its demand, according to officials, but
Mammadov contends that the request still rankles. Azerbaijan has
granted credit to Georgia for the construction of a 29-kilometer
railroad from Akhalkalaki, the main town in the predominantly ethnic
Armenian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, to Georgia’s border with Turkey,
and to repair a 160-kilometer railroad from Akhalkalaki to the border
with Azerbaijan. "I think that this situation has begun to irritate
[President] Ilham Aliyev’s administration," Mammadov commented.

Turan energy expert Shaban contends that the problem may just be a
question of over-sized expectations. "Saakashvili often stated that
the launching of gas production from Shah Deniz will solve Georgia’s
all energy problems," Shaban said. "He made a mistake as we can see
now: Georgia is still dependant on Russia’s gas."

Editor’s Note: Rovshan Ismayilov is a freelance journalist based
in Baku.

LES DEPUTES TURCS SE DECHAîNENT CONTRE PARIS
Thierry Oberle

Le Figaro, France
18 octobre 2006

LE TON monte en Turquie autour du vote des deputes francais sur le
genocide armenien. " L’adoption de cette proposition de loi a porte
un coup sevère aux relations turco-francaises " , a repete hier le
ministre des Affaires etrangères Abdullah Gul devant le Parlement
turc. Le chef de la diplomatie turque a averti qu’en cas d’application,
les liens bilateraux seront " i rreparablement endommages dans les
domaines economique, politique et de la securite ". " On nous demande,
d’un côte, d’elargir la liberte d’expression chez nous, mais de l’autre
côte, la France adopte une proposition qui bafoue cette liberte ",
a-t-il ajoute. Reunis en seance speciale, les parlementaires ont
enfonce le clou.

Des membres de l’opposition ont demande au gouvernement de depasser
le stade des simples menaces et d’engager dès a present des mesures
de retorsion. Ils ont denonce le " laxisme " de l’equipe dirigee
par l’islamo-conservateur Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Car ce dernier a
promis de mettre en oeuvre une serie de represailles economiques et
politiques sur lesquelles il est jusqu’a present reste muet. " Le
gouvernement reste timide sur les represailles " contre la France,
a ainsi estime Onur Oymen, du Parti republicain du peuple (CHP,
social-democrate). Ces critiques pourraient se reveler genantes pour
le Parti de la justice et du developpement (AKP-majoritaire) alors
que la Turquie entre, l’annee prochaine, en campagne electorale.

Entretenu par les medias, un climat antifrancais continue a se
developper a travers le pays. Les associations de consommateurs
demandent aux Turcs de boycotter les marques francaises. L’impact
reel de ces appels semble pour l’instant plutôt limite. D’autant plus
que les milieux d’affaires invitent a la moderation afin de ne pas
nuire aux interets des 65 000 personnes employees par les entreprises
francaises implantees sur le sol turc, dont certaines sont liees a de
puissants interets etatiques. Phase delicate Finance par des fonds de
pension de l’armee turque, le conglomerat Oyak est associe notamment
a Renault, Axa et Total. Ils font egalement remarquer qu’un boycott
officiel serait contraire aux normes europeennes. Ankara pourrait
difficilement adherer a un tel principe alors que ses negociations
d’adhesion a l’Union europeenne sont entrees dans une phase delicate
en raison du refus de la Turquie d’ouvrir ses ports aux navires
chypriotes. La mise a l’ecart des societes francaises des marches
publics est en revanche envisagee. Une situation jugee " inquietante
" par le chef du patronat francais Laurence Parisot (lire page 19) .

Un premier test devait se derouler hier a l’occasion de la reunion du
comite de gestion de l’organisme officiel pour les achats d’armement.

Le comite devait sceller le sort d’Eurocopter en lice pour un contrat
de 52 helicoptères militaires et civils, L’absence du premier ministre
turc, hospitalise hier matin pour un leger malaise provoque par une
crise d’hypoglycemie, a donne un repit a la firme marseillaise.

–Boundary_(ID_gpVKHTOeMRXCtPl7wD+Q GA)–

VATICAN: POPE’S VISIT TO TURKEY OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED

AKI, Italy
Oct 16 2006

Vatican City, 16 Oct. (AKI) – The Vatican officially confirmed
on Monday Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to Turkey, his first to an
Muslim-majority country since becoming pontiff in April last year.

The pope will travel to Ankara on 28 November on a four-day trip
during which he will be visiting the western coastal city of Izmir,
Ephesus and Istanbul, the Vatican announced. The Vatican said in a
statement Monday that the programme of the papal visit will announced
at a later date.

However, as the official guest of Turkey’s president Ahmet Necdet
Sezer, the pontiff is expected to visit the Anitkabir, the mausoloeum
of the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk. He will also meet
Sezer at the presidential palace, Cankaya Kosk, in Ankara.

Benedict XVI is also widely expected to visit a shrine at Ephesus,
near the western coastal city of Izmir, where many Christians and
Muslims believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, once lived.

The pope should also reportedly celebrate on 30 November in
Istanbul the feast of Saint Andrew with the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople Bartholomew I and the Armenian patriarch, Mesrob II –
the two leaders of Turkey’s tiny Christian community.