Author: Karapetian Hovik

Tehran Times
Aug 8 2004

Tabriz To Host 12th Int’l Iran-Tabriz Exhibition

TABRIZ (IRNA) — The 12th International Iran-Tabriz Trade Exhibition
is to open in this northwestern province on Wednesday, the
exhibition’s general manager, said.

Some 844 domestic companies and 15 foreign countries from Turkey,
China, Armenia, Russia, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, Italy, France, Sri
Lanka, Spain, Holland, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and
India will be participating in this seven-day exhibition, Habib
Mahuti told IRNA on Saturday.

Leather, home appliances, foodstuff, chinaware, motor oil, paraffin,
various steel products, calculators, automatic doors and computers
will be among the items that will be showcased in the trade fair.

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ARTSAKH’S ARF DASHNAKTSUTIUN PREFERS TO SEE
EDWARD AGHABEKIAN AS MAYOR OF STEPANAKERT

STEPANAKERT, August 5, (Noyan Tapan). At the upcoming local government
elections on August 8 in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, the Central
Committee of Artsakh’s ARF Dashnaktsutiun prefers, out of the 5
candidates, the candidacy of Edward Aghabekian for the post of
Stepanakert mayor. Now he heads the Standing Commission on Social
Issues of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s National Assembly. Zhirayr
Shakhinjanian, a member of ARF Dashnaktsutiun’s Central Committee,
declared this at the August 5 briefing. According to him, the Party
made this choice proceeding from E.Aghabekian’s pre-election program:
in particular, fighting corruption, promoting the rule of law and
social justice. In connection with the CE Secretary General Walter
Schwimmer’s statement that the upcoming elections in Karabakh are
preventing the problem regulation, Dashnaktsutiun Party member
stressed that any intervention in local elections in Artsakh would be
a gross violation of international norms and human rights.
Zh.Shakhinjanian also assured that ARFD will do everything in its
power to secure holding transparent and fair elections in Artsakh.

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT ON TABLE TENNIS HELD IN NKR

STEPANAKERT, August 2 (Noyan Tapan). The international tournament on
table tennis of “the NKR President Cup” is held in Stepanakert
today. According to the NKR Sport Department, sportsmen from Lebanon,
Russia, Georgia and Armenia participate in the tournament.

The Hindu, India
Aug 2 2004

Russia, allies hold anti-terror war games in Central Asia
Moscow, Aug. 2 (PTI): Russia and its allies today began five-days of
anti-terror military war games to foil possible attempts by
terrorists to destabilise the situation in Central Asia.

The first stage of the ‘Rubezh 2004’ joint exercise involving the
armed forces from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO)
of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzistan and Tajikistan began in
Kazakhstan to evolve the procedure of adopting necessary documents
for carrying out anti-terror operations on the territory of one of
the member countries. Armenia and Belarus, which are also members of
the CSTO, are sending their observers.

“This procedure will focus, in particular, on the preparation of
documents for a joint operation to localise and destroy militant
formations in Central Asia, which could attempt to overrun Ferghana
Valley (Uzbekistan) and adjoining areas of neighbouring countries to
establish an Islamic Caliphate ” an unnamed source in the CSTO
Command was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS.

In the second ‘active’ phase the exercise will be held in
Kyrghyzistan from August 4 to 6 with the involvement of over 2,000
troops and assault aircraft drawn from Russia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrghyzistan and Tajikistan.

President Askar Akayev of Kyrghyzistan, the Defence Ministers of
Russia and other CSTO member states will watch the ‘hot’ phase of the
war games at the training ground near the city of Balykchi.

Officials of other CIS states and Shanghai Cooperation Organisations
have also been invited as observers to monitor the war games.

Armenia wants normal trade relations with neighbours – minister

Arminfo, Yerevan
26 Jul 04

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, accompanied by a
delegation, paid an official visit to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi,
on 26 June, Armenian news agencies Noyan Tapan and Arminfo reported on
the same day.

Markaryan met his Georgian counterpart, Zurab Zhvania, to discuss
bilateral and regional cooperation.

The Armenian government’s press service told Arminfo that a recent
stepping up of Armenian-Georgian ties had facilitated a high level of
mutual understanding between the presidents of the two countries and
the two prime ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening not
only bilateral, but multilateral, ties.

Andranik Markaryan told Zurab Zhvania about his plans to discuss with
the Georgian president the question of the Tbilisi-Gyumri-Kars railway
and opening the Abkhaz sector of the Georgian railway and using the
Poti-Caucasus rail-ferry crossing. Markaryan stressed Armenia’s
interest in the work of this crossing and wanted to discuss the
possibility of signing a trilateral Armenian-Georgian-Russian
agreement on cooperation.

He also stressed Yerevan’s interest in developing trade and economic
ties in all directions. “Armenia is ready to create normal relations
without pre-conditions with its neighbours, including Azerbaijan and
Turkey,” Arminfo quoted Makaryan as saying.

Zhvania also noted that Georgia was also interested in the speedy
opening of the Abkhaz section of the railway and negotiations were
continuing with Russia. He said Georgian was ready to work to resolve
the issues raised and said that Georgia was planning to build new
ports, which would be privatized, and would welcome Armenia taking
part in the process.

Markaryan and his delegation also took part in the third session of
the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation which had about 10 points on its agenda, including
cooperation in transport, trade and communications, developing
tourism, legal issues and future development. Markaryan noted
Armenia’s firm interest in further developing both West-East as well
as North-South cooperation, Noyan Tapan agency said.

Arminfo said: “Particular emphasis in the intergovernmental relations
between Armenia and Georgia was placed on implementing the Transport
Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia [TRACECA] project. The commission
members are to turn to the corresponding EU structures with a joint
application for resources to be granted to restore the railway line
between Ayrum and Sadakhlo.”

After the session the two prime ministers signed a document “On the
work of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation”.

Sources: Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan, in Russian 1640 gmt 26 Jul
04

Drams for dollars

Yerkir/am
29 July 2004

The recent mysterious shakes of the Armenian drams and US dollars
exchange rates caused general concerns. Obviously, the whole thing
first of all impacts regular citizens.

However, in addition to commenting the fact, it is also important to
define the steps for solving the situation. Below are the comments on
this issue by economic advisor of Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s
(ARF) Bureau, doctor of economic sciences Ara Nranian.

Q: How do you estimate recent rise of the Armenian drams against US
dollars?

A: Obviously, this phenomenon leaves negative consequences on the
economy of our country. It also impacts many layers of the
society. Armenia’s exporters are also among the sufferers. Media has
much written about how local Armenians funded from abroad have
suffered from this shakes. Generally, most of the population, as well
as our economy experience losses, which we cannot afford.

Q: And what about the 500-600 million dollar transfers that our
citizens annually receive from abroad?

A: Note that such transfers have a long history and, in addition, our
economy has received other inputs like the one from the Lincy
foundation. At that time, the rate of dram was quite high. Also note
that our country’sforeign trade balance has a negative balance of
about half a billion dollars. Moreover, Armenia is a classic sample of
a country with a negative balance. These transfers are what
considerably relieves our social-economic tension.

Q: And how do you explain the recent shakes at the currency markets?

A: I would rather refrain from pointing out a specific reason. I
believe appropriate bodies should react to it. I mean react by
actions, but not just announcements. The present `indifference’
prompts low realization of certain officials of their duty in the life
of country’s economy.

Q: What about possible solutions?

A: I could discuss certain suggestions like increase of the quantity
of drams. However, the recent developments cause much more serious
issues. I am talking about the current policy of `hard dram credit.’
Therecent developments make ambiguous its applicability. And now the
state must have its final sayin this situation, moreover given the
fact that these developments do not match the governmental and central
bank document statements of 2004.

219 LAND LEASE DEALS REGISTERED IN YEREVAN IN JAN-JUNE 2004

YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. 219 land lease deals were registered in
Yerevan in the first half of this year which is 64.6% less than in the
first half of 2003 and 12.7% less than in the second half of 2003,
says the state real estate committee.

The source says 10,110 h were leased in Armenia during the period 99 h
in Yerevan. 9,426 h of agricultural lands, 137 h of settlements, 237 h
of industrial facilities and 11 h of forests were leased in the
regions during the period. The biggest number of land lease deals was
registered in Aragatsotn and Gegarkunik 236 and 200 respectively the
smallest one in Tavoush 21.

‘Armenian genocide’ used in bill

Radanovich urges House GOP to vote.

By Michael Doyle
Bee Washington Bureau
July 22, 2004

WASHINGTON — Armenian-American activists are lobbying furiously to hold on
to a surprise victory they’ve won — albeit temporarily — on Capitol Hill.

With thousands of letters, the activists are urging House Republican leaders
to allow a vote on legislation that uses the phrase “Armenian genocide.”
Written by Mariposa Republican George Radanovich, the resolution so far has
remained stalled.

“The leadership is very aware that we have the votes to pass it,” Democratic
Rep. Adam Schiff of Pasadena said Wednesday, “and they are very concerned
about the Turkish reaction.”

Schiff and Radanovich represent districts with some of the largest
Armenian-American populations in the country. Along with 108 of their House
colleagues, they are pushing this year’s version of what is commonly called
the Armenian genocide resolution.

In a tactical strike that caught GOP leaders off-guard, Schiff last week
restored the genocide issue to center stage. He won House approval late in
the week for an amendment prohibiting Turkey from using U.S. foreign aid to
lobby against the genocide resolution. Schiff’s amendment is mostly
symbolic, as countries already are prohibited from using U.S. funds to
lobby. It also is almost certainly doomed, as Republican leaders have vowed
to kill it when House and Senate negotiators convene to resolve differences
on the foreign-aid bill.

“We understand the political motivation behind the amendment, and for that
reason, we will insist that it be dropped,” House Speaker Dennis Hastert,
House Majority Whip Tom DeLay and House Minority Leader Roy Blunt said in a
joint statement.

“Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in
any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment.”

Nonetheless, the Turkish aid amendment has succeeded in reinvigorating a
debate that had seemed to fall dormant.

“It keeps the issue of the genocide resolution in front of the Congress,
which I think is good, even if the language is stripped out,” Radanovich
said Wednesday.

Several years ago, Radanovich won House approval for a similar measure that
reduced U.S. aid to Turkey by the amount that Turkey spent on lobbying. That
measure, too, was ultimately dropped from the final foreign-aid bill.

Schiff said that his Turkish aid amendment “places the House on record as
recognizing the Armenian genocide.” Still, though that was his intent, his
amendment adopted by voice vote does not specifically use the words
“Armenian genocide.” For that, he and Radanovich are still pushing the
separate resolution.

This year’s nonbinding resolution states the “the lessons of the Holocaust,
the Armenian Genocide, and the genocides in Cambodia and Rwanda, among
others, will be used to help prevent future genocide.” On its face, the
resolution commemorates the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987.

Fundamentally, though, the resolution’s basic purpose is to get the House on
record as using the phrase “Armenian genocide.” That is why it is so
controversial.

“We have no intention of scheduling [it] as reported out of the Judiciary
Committee in April, during the remainder of this Congress,” Hastert and his
two top House lieutenants said in their joint statement.

Four years ago, Hastert said otherwise. Meeting with Armenian-American
leaders in Southern California, in a campaign swing designed to help the GOP
incumbent whom Schiff was challenging, Hastert promised to bring Armenian
genocide legislation up for a vote.

Hastert reneged at the last minute in 2000, citing a Clinton administration
request.

Now, it’s the Bush administration that opposes any legislation referring to
an Armenian genocide. The phrase refers to the period starting in 1915, when
Armenians were killed during the final years of the Ottoman Empire —
Armenian-American activists put the figure at 1.5 million, while Turkish
officials say the number is much lower.

Numerous historians and authors have concluded the slaughter of Armenians
meets the modern definition of genocide.

Armenian National Committee spokeswoman Elizabeth Chouldjian said Wednesday
that at least 10,000 automatically generated letters have been faxed to
Capitol Hill in recent days. The organization has also summoned the support
of leading Armenian-Americans in the swing states that will likely determine
the outcome of the presidential campaign.

Radanovich agreed that his Armenian-American constituents have been “very
good” at pressing their point with GOP leaders, and he predicted a similar
resolution will return next year.

“If the leadership follows through on its threat to not allow a vote, this
issue will not go away,” Schiff said.

The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (202) 383-0006.

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
22 juillet 2004

Les demandeurs d’asile continuent à affluer à Tours;

Alors que six familles de demandeurs d’asile sont actuellement logées
par la Ddass (Direction départementale des affaires sanitaires et
sociales) dans un hôtel de Tours-Nord, l’association Chrétiens
migrants tire à nouveau la sonnette d’alarme sur le sort de ces
immigrés qui n’ont qui plus est pas un sou pour se nourrir.

« On accueille les étrangers d’une façon qui est indigne pour la
France », tempête Jean Desalme, président de Chrétiens migrants. On
se souvient de la polémique qui avait suivi l’arrivée massive de
Kosovars au mois d’avril, et des difficultés rencontrées par les
associations pour loger toutes ces familles démunies.

À l’époque, les associations soulignaient les incohérences du droit
d’asile tel qu’il est appliqué. Dans l’attente de la réponse des
autorités à la demande d’accueil, les étrangers sont autorisés à
rester en France. C’est ici que le hic se situe : l’État laisse alors
aux associations caritatives le soin de se charger d’une situation
qu’il a lui même créé, sans les aider à hauteur de leur tche.

Le problème se pose à nouveau. Leur dossier étant en suspens, six
familles de demandeurs d’asile logent à l’hôtel Liberté (Tours-Nord),
aux frais de la Ddass. 7 Tchétchènes, 7 Arméniens, 4 Ghanéens et 9
Kosovars se partagent six chambres. Oui, mais ils n’ont rien pour se
nourrir, et Chrétiens migrants n’a pas les moyens de subvenir à tous
leurs besoins.

L’occasion pour l’association de souligner à nouveau le « manque
d’adaptation des dispositifs d’accueil à Tours », qui avait fait
l’objet d’un débat dans nos colonnes du 12 mai dernier.

« Soit on accueille bien ces gens en attendant de leur donner une
réponse, soit on les renvoie tout de suite, s’écrie Jean Desalme. Les
demandeurs d’asile vivent très mal d’être assimilés à des SDF. »

Édouard, lui, mis en danger par ses origines arméniennes, s’est exilé
d’Azerbaïdjan puis de Russie. En France depuis 2000, il vient de se
voir signifier le refus de sa demande d’asile politique, et donc,
l’interdiction de rester sur le territoire.

Pour les six familles, l’avenir n’est pas plus rose : entre 5 et 10 %
seulement des requêtes sont acceptées par les autorités publiques.

– Chrétiens migrants (4, allée de Luynes à Tours, derrière le centre
de vie du Sanitas) fait un appel à la générosité publique pour
nourrir ces six familles. Produits alimentaires non périssables et
produits d’hygiène sont les bienvenus.Appeler au 02.47.61.69.56 le 28
juillet, ou les 4 et 11 août.

GRAPHIQUE: Image: L’abattement se lit sur les visages des demandeurs
d’asile. Ils savent qu’entre 90 et 95 % des requêtes sont refusées. À
droite, les jours d’Édouard en France sont comptés.

Armenia hails Turkey’s withdrawal from OSCE chairmanship bid – minister

Arminfo
20 Jul 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is not disposed to consider
Turkey’s withdrawal from the bid for the OSCE chairmanship as
Yerevan’s diplomatic victory, the minister has told Armenian Public
Television.

“I am far from declaring this our victory,” the minister
said. Commenting on the situation, the minister recalled that Turkey
had expressed an intention to chair the OSCE in 2007, and an
appropriate decision was to be taken by the end of this year. In turn,
Armenia clearly outlined its position and stated that the OSCE cannot
be chaired by a country which has no diplomatic relations with an OSCE
member state and is planning to veto it.

Turkey withdrew its candidature explaining it by the country’s
forthcoming elections in 2007, so it would be difficult for the
Turkish foreign minister to combine his post and the post of the OSCE
chairman.

“It is difficult for me to name a genuine reason for Ankara’s
decision, but we accept the reasons given by Turkey, and I do not want
to declare that Armenia forced Turkey to resort to this step. I think,
it would be a wrong interpretation,” the minister said.

For the time being, Yerevan can only express satisfaction with
Turkey’s decision to withdraw its candidature, as it facilitates
work. Otherwise, I am certain that Armenia would come under pressure
from various countries and organizations, including the USA and the
European Union, who would try to prevent the implementation of the
right to veto. Thus, the best decision both for us and to a lesser
degree for Turkey has been taken, the minister said.

Replying to a question about relations with Turkey, the minister said
that there were no reasons for disappointment. “We shall be
consistent, the negotiations will continue, as well as the work with
the EU member-states and the USA in order for any progress to be made
in Armenian-Turkish relations,” the minister said. He recalled that
this important strategic factor was taken into account by everyone,
including Turkey. The minister said that he held a meeting with
Turkish Minister Abdullah Gul in Istanbul on the day when Armenia and
the other two South Caucasus states were included in the Wider Europe
-New Neighbourhood programme.

The minister said that NATO’s expansion, on the one hand, and those
countries’ inclusion in the new European programme, on the other hand,
requires an extra commitment from Turkey, in terms of showing a more
responsible position in the region. “And Turkey can manifest this
responsibility by normalizing relations with Armenia,” Vardan Oskanyan
said. He added that currently they are talking about the opening of
railway communication, which is in the interests of all the parties
and is a component part of TRACECA [Transport Corridor
Europe-Caucasus-Asia] programme.