Author: Kharatian Ani

WHAT ABOUT DAVID HAROUTYUNYAN?

A1+
[03:13 pm] 03 November, 2006

Under the decision of the RA Government, RA Minister of Transport
and Communication Andranik Manoukyan has the control of the 10%
of the shares of "ArmenTel" since yesterday.

How does NA deputy Arshak Sadoyan comment on the fact?

"If the Government has made that decision, who has had the control over
the 10% of the shares by now if not the Ministry of Transport? Should
they have given the control to the Minister of Justice? ", the deputy
answered with irony.

According to Arshak Sadoyan, now when the sale of the 90% of the
shares of "ArmenTel" is concerned, the control over the 10% is really
important.

4.3% OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2006 DONE IN EARTHQUAKE ZONE

Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006,
construction of 17 bln 51.8 mln drams (about 39.6 mln USD) was
carried out in Armenia’s earthquake zone at the expense of all
sources of finance for the construction, repair and reconstruction
of residential buildings, social and production facilities. This
made 4.3% of the total volume of construction in Armenia and 9.2%
of construction of production facilities in the country. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, in the indicated period 66
new residential buildings of the total area of 12 thousand 191 sq.m
were delivered for use in cities and villages hit by the earthquake,
which is 4.6% of the total area delivered for use in Armenia. 2 new
comprehensive schools for 300 pupils were put into operation with
a World Bank loan in the earthquake zone, including a school for 50
pupils in Tashir region, and one for 250 pupils in Tavush region.

FRANCE’S ARMENIAN GHOSTS

Middle East Online, UK
Nov 3 2006

Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler question the French legislation
of punishment of the expression of denial. That is, why France
would address Turkey on Armenians when they have delayed addressing
themselves about Algerians, or European complicity in the holocaust.

What pushes this legislation as Turkey hopes to join Europe’s Union?

Moral ghosts of the Holocaust still haunt Europe. Now in new guise,
moral ghosts are playing havoc with France’s capacity for moral
discernment. Draped under the absolutist mantle of virtue, France’s
legislators have lost their moral compass. The nation which charted
the first Human Rights Act has done a perplexing turn-about in order
to confront these other ghosts, others’ ghosts.

Is the French National Assembly’s sweeping law which would punish
any expression of denial that Turkey committed ‘genocide’ against
Armenians evidence of France’s own malaise, a reluctance to grapple
morally with admission of its own ghosts, and politically with the
admission of Turkey into Europe?

Over recent years Europe has expanded its boundaries so that Auschwitz
is now fully integrated into its midst. Europe is defining a new
moral identity for itself. Does France see itself part of that new
moral self-definition, or is France seeking to expand Europe’s moral
boundaries while contracting those boundaries in geo-political terms?

Europe is remembering too much, and too little. Too little, since
all Europeans have yet fully to confront their Holocaust ghosts;
too much, in that when they grapple with those ghosts they often
embrace collective expiation of guilt, re-defined by the late French
philosopher Jacques Derrida as "dissolution of guilt…If one starts
to accuse oneself by begging forgiveness of all crimes of the past
against humanity, there would not be a single innocent left on earth."

After attempting to bury memories by long choosing not to remember
60 years on, Europe does commemorate the Holocaust, acknowledges
a shared guilt. But commemoration has not stilled the ghosts. They
creep further on — crossing historical and geographical boundaries
to tackle national memories of colonialism and slavery. The moral
pressure of the ghosts also induced Europeans to confront contemporary
moral challenges in Bosnia and Kosovo, while 9/11 compelled them to
relate to ‘the other’ in their midst.

What then drove this French insistence on a purist cross-border law
with regard to Turkey’s ghosts — an attempt perhaps to gain comfort
by turning away from confronting their own sins?

This imperative of grappling with ‘the other’ within their midst
complicates European attitudes on how to relate to ‘the other’ beyond
their realm, the other who would like to become part of their realm.

This is especially true of relations between some Europeans and Turks
— as Turkey negotiates to become a full part of Europe, negotiates
to stop being "the other’.

Could the enacting of a genocide-denial law committed by a country
which is not yet included in their midst be intended to help Europeans
avoid an historical grappling with ‘a European crime’ — if Europe be
enlarged to Turkey? Let rather Turkey remain beyond Europe, let its
‘genocide’ remain beyond Europe.

But if the French purpose was both to keep Turkey out of Europe
politically and Turkey’s tainted past out of Europe historically, it is
backfiring. Turkey’s ghost is doubling up as France’s Armenian ghosts.

Europe is at a crossroads between its past and its future orientation
— both political and moral. The French law seeks to put an indelible
stamp on the choices which define Europe, the basis on which Europe
ought to constitute itself.

With respect to Holocaust guilt, Derrida wrote: "If everyone is
considered guilty there will be no-one left to judge what then cannot
be adequately judged; if there is no-one to judge, then there is no
need for soul-search." France’s insistence on a legalistic measure
to tackle the "Armenian genocide" takes the Derrida stricture to an
illogical conclusion.

The law is patently not the same as legislation against Holocaust
denial — as many European nations have done. Holocaust deniers still
try to ply their wares, their anti-Semitism meant to thrive on that
denial. Denial of the Armenian genocide is, however, a non-issue
in this respect: No-one in France, nor in Europe, nor indeed within
Turkey, uses denial to foment hatred.

Morally, it’s perfectly acceptable for France to prod Turkey to
confront its ghosts, as many Turks themselves demand of their
country. But beyond suspect political motives, is this legal rush
merely an attempt by some in France to cover-up refusal to confront
their national ghosts — from France’s colonial past?

Hardly surprisingly, aghast Turkish critics of the French action now
pursue a counter-challenge: What about your Algerian ghosts? France
is coming to terms with those ghosts, but "slowly" and "belatedly"
are the operative words. It took the film Indigenes by French-born
filmmaker Rachid Bouchareb about the role of Algerian conscripts in
World War II to gain those French veterans belated recognition.

As France attempts to impose a soul-search on others there is another
unexpected result: France, already under demand that it address its
own ghosts, is under pressure at home to reflect on the demand it
has made of Turkey. The ultimate injunction would seem to be "Judge
not the moral ghosts of ‘the other’!"’

Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler are Jerusalem-based reporters
and documentary filmmakers.

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DIGGING FOR LOST TREASURE IN DARBANDYKHAN
By Lara Fatah

Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq
Oct 30 2006

An Italian team of archeologists travel to the Berkl area near
Darbandykhan to lay the groundwork for an extensive excavation of a
Sassanian monument, due to take place in the Spring.

Once upon a time, or as the Kurds would say, habu nabu, there was an
Armenian King, Nerses, that ruled the Sassanian Empire (226-651 AD),
which included Kurdistan within its borders. Standing high on a hill
in the Berkl area near Darbandykhan is one of the only known remaining
Sassanian monuments, and it is a monument to King Nerses.

The location of the monument has been known since the turn of the
last century, but due to the unrest that followed in the region, it
was not until the present day that the site could be professionally
excavated. In conjunction with the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG), an Italian team of archeologists from the Instituto Italiano
per l’Africa e l’Oriente, is currently carrying out a short research
dig at the site, in order to prepare for the full excavation they
intend to do in the spring.

Examining the actual monument has not been easy, because not only are
there later constructions on top of it, an earlier excavation that
removed some of the inscribed stones of the monument, had caused
other stones to become scattered. The Italian team also fears that
some of the bricks may have been looted over the past 10-15 years.

"We have known for a few years what the general gist of what is
inscribed on the two main walls, but fully excavating the site, will
allow us to understand the inscription and how it fits into what we
already know," says Barbara Faticoni, one of the archeologists.

"This is the second most important known inscription from the Sassanian
period, so it is very important that we now have the chance to study
it in depth," she adds.

Faticoni is looking to when the team returns in the spring to complete
their work and is excited to learn more about the actual structure
of the monument; "Because there are so few surviving examples of
Sassanian architecture, I’m looking forward to determining how the
monument actually looked, it’s important for us to learn these things,
we will hopefully be able to reconstruct some of the monument too,"
she enthuses.

Faticoni is obviously passionate about the site as she confidently
strides around its perimeter in her dusty work clothes and her
sun-kissed face. She is a stark contrast with the three young Kurdish
girls the Italians are training, who in their clean and pressed
jeans with large sombrero-esque hats perched on their heads hover
uncertainly on the perifieries of the site.

"I think they are a little scared of doing something wrong and I’m
not sure they realized we would actually involve them in the process,
but it is the best way for them to learn," says Faticoni.

Working with Faticoni on the dig is Fabrizio Sinisi, the linguistic
expert, who says that the only real problem that they have encountered
is a language barrier.

"Communicating with the Kurdish workers has been fun at times, but
even that is not too big a problem because we are used to working
in foreign countries," he says. Sinisi also says that while the
monument may look impressive sitting on its hill in the countryside
around Darbandykhan, its distance from the town has given them a
few logistical problems. Although the team was winding down its
research dig and refilling all the trenches that they had dug, they
were enthusiastically anticipating their return when they will not
only complete the excavation but open an Italian cultural center in
Erbil and start teaching at the University of Salahaddin.

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KOCHARYAN URGES PUTIN TO USE BILATERAL CONTACTS IN FUTURE

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Oct 30 2006

MOSCOW, October 30 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to work out mechanisms
on using contacts between the two countries during Year of Armenia
to Russia.

Kocharyan said, "During Year of Armenia to Russia we implemented
everything. In addition, we’ve been made interesting proposals from
regions. We’d like these contacts to be effective in the future. It
would be pity if they did not yield concrete results."

President Putin said Year of Armenia to Russia was successful. "In
general, we maintain humanitarian contacts at the highest level,"
he said.

ARF MEETS WITH FRANCOIS HOLLAND

Yerkir, Armenia
Oct 30 2006

Editorial

An Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Western
Europe delegation headed by Ara Grigorian met on October 17 with
French Socialist Party First Secretary Francois Holland.

The ARF representatives reaffirmed that the French socialists’ role
was pivotal in the French Parliament, which on October 12 passed
a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. Holland,
in turn, reiterated his party’s position to continue the support for
the bill in the Senate. He also said that the bill is in line with
the January 21, 2001 law recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

The ARF is happy that for decades, the Socialist Party has been
supporting the rightful demands of the Armenian people. We believe
that the Socialist Party’s presidential candidate will keep the
party’s vows. This is why the ARF has committed to publicly endorse
the Socialist candidate. With this prospect in mind, Francois Holland
accepted our proposal to organize a rally in the Paris region during
which the Socialist candidate will speak on the Armenian case.

Finally, according to an agreement, the first secretary of the
Socialist Party is set to visit Armenia on March 2007 on the invitation
of the ARF Bureau.

At the end of the meeting, Ara Grigorian, on behalf of the ARF,
thanked Francois Holland for his firm stand and suggested regular
meetings be held; Holland, naturally, agreed.

GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR THANKED ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FOR BALANCED POSITION IN GEORGIAN-RUSSIAN CONFRONTATION

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 30 2006

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan met with Georgian
Ambassador to Armenia Revaz Gachechiladze, Monday.

The Armenian parliamentary press-service told ArmInfo that during the
meeting the Ambassador thanked the Armenian Speaker for the balanced
and acceptable for the international community position in the
Georgian-Russian confrontation. Tigran Torosyan expressed hope that
the contradictions between the two countries will soon be overcome,
and noted that, with its balanced position, Armenia is willing to
contribute to the settlement of the problem. He said that Armenia
advocates peace and prosperity in the region and will do its best
for it.

Tigran Torosyan and Revaz Gachechiladze discussed the report devoted to
the creation of a pact of stability in South Caucasus to be presented
in San-Marino on November 17. They also touched upon the possible
development of the Armenian-Georgian inter-parliamentary relations.

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 28 2006

No Grounds to Remove France from OSCE Minsk Group, French Ambassador
Assures

Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismayilova

28.10.2006

Trend’s exclusive interview with the Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan, Bernard due
Chaffout

Question: in the beginning of 2007 the Presidents of Azerbaijan and
France will pay mutual visits. What are your expectations from the
French President’s First Visit to Baku? What major issues will be
discussed during the visit?

Answer: For the time being it is too premature to speak about the
topics of mutual visits, which will be paid in January 2007, or more
probably in March. Taking into consideration that the heads of the
states themselves will select the topics for discussion, including
the actual issues of the world policy, it would be a bit incorrect to
answer this question on their behalf.
Nevertheless, I am sure that along with the bilateral
relationships, it will be very interesting for French President
Jacques Chirac to know President Ilham Aiyev’s ideas on the issues of
the world’s concern. Undoubtedly, the French President’s first visit
to Azerbaijan will give impetus to the bilateral cooperation and
friendship.

Question: France holds one of the leading positions in terms of
investments into Azerbaijan. Are you satisfied with the current
economic relationships between the two countries?

Answer: Indeed, economic relations between the two countries are on
an excellent level and in 2005 the turnover of goods reached EUR
500mln. There is still potential for further development of
relationships in some sphere, including food industry, production of
drinkable water, public services (automobile roads, parking, and
water), and electricity distribution network. French companies lead
worldwide and can share with Azerbaijan experience and knowledge.

Question: A French company, Total, came out with an initiative on the
construction of a new terminal in the Azerbaijani section of the
Caspian for the oil admission through the Baku-Ceyhan. Is the idea
still actual?

Answer: An idea by Total on the constriction of a new terminal in the
Azerbaijani section of the Caspian for the oil admission through the
Baku-Ceyhan is still actual.

Question: The adoption of a legislation penalizing for denial from
the so-called `Armenian genocide’ at the French Parliament caused
resonance worldwide, including Azerbaijan. They frequently sound
statements on the toughening of bilateral relationships, as well as
removal of France from the co-chairmanship at the OSCE Minsk Group.
What are your views on outlet from the situation?

Answer: The adoption of a legislation penalizing denial of the
`Armenian genocide’ at the French Parliament, does not mean that the
law will enact into law even today. The legislation should pass long
and by-stage procedure: first the Senate should include it into the
agenda, then the Senate is to adopt the law on identical text
(content), submitted by the Assembly.
Taking into consideration the friendly attitude of the Senate
Chairman, Christian Ponsle, towards Azerbaijan, I would doubt it. In
case there is any difference between the contents, which would be
voted at the National Assembly and the Senate, there will be hearings
to achieve a common text (content) and the law will have to get an
approval of the President, who can return the document to the
parliament for re-consideration. Unless the document passes the
barriers until April 2007, the proposal will be regarded as
inefficient. Moreover, the legislation will be considered at the
Constitution Board, which can regard the document as contradictory to
the principles of freedom of idea and speech specified by the
Constitution of France.
In any case it is not dealt with the government which comes out
against the law and considers the document to be inconsiderable and
inappropriate. It is dealt with the forwarding a proposal on the bill
at the parliament.
The government and the President are involved in the foreign policy
of France. The co-chairmanship of France at the OSCE Minsk Group is
not under disposal of the parliament, but the government, in
particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Thus, there is no ground
to remove France from the composition of the Minsk Group, where for
many years it has taken neutral and objective position on the
peaceable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. There is no
ground to discuss the co-chairmanship of France at the Minsk Group.
With respect to the bilateral relationships between two countries
I’d say that in this stage there is no ground to affect on the
approval of a bill at the National assembly on the first reading. The
Azerbaijani Minister for culture and Tourism has recently paid a very
successful visit to France on the occasion of the Azerbaijani Week,
held within the framework of the 60th anniversary of UNESCO. On the
other hand, we are establishing very fruitful and reliable
cooperation with the Ministry of Emergencies in the sphere of civil
defense.

Question: How could France, as a member of the European Union, assist
in Azerbaijan’s integration onto the region?

Answer: France as a member of the European Union can take an active
part in Azerbaijan’s further integration into the organization and is
prepared to do so, if Azerbaijan desires it. France can concretely
prepare Azerbaijan within specific cooperation frameworks in the
political, social and economic sectors, in the form of technical
assistance mission, training, exchange of experience and information
for upgrade of the state of Azerbaijan and bringing Baku closer to
the European experience, as well as future integration of the country
in to the European Union.
For instance, I guess France could be useful for Azerbaijan in
reforming the health system, upgrade of civil defense system,
management over crisis and natural calamities, organization of rules
for public tender markets, organization of public expenses training
of , high ranking state officers, protection of rights of women and
children, social protection system, etc. Thus, France’s experience
could bring real benefit in every sector of Azerbaijan

COOPERATION WITH JAPAN IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. Armenia attaches importance to the
development of cooperation with Japan, RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan stated at his meeting with the newly appointed Japanese
Ambassador to Armenia Yasuo Saito (residence in Moscow).

"Armenia’s authorities attach importance to consistent development of
relations with Japan – one of the Asian-Pacific region, considering
its contribution to stability in the world assistance the developing
countries," Margaryan said.

He congratulated Ambassador Yasuo Saito on his appointment, assuring
him that the Armenian Government will support all his initiatives
toward Armenian-Japanese cooperation.

Margaryan added that since Armenia and Japan established diplomatic
relations in 1992, Japanese Ambassadors have exerted great efforts
toward the consolidation of friendly relations and development of
bilateral political, economic and cultural cooperation.

Margaryan said that Armenia is grateful for Japanese aid both at the
official level and by means of international financial organizations.

Margaryan gave assurances that join technical projects and grant
programs in the cultural and educational spheres, as well as soft
credit programs in such spheres as agriculture, small and medium
business, community infrastructure, energy, healthcare are aimed at
facilitating economic reforms in Armenia.

The RA Premier singled out the agreement on the allocation of a
$150mln soft credit for modernization and renovation of the Yerevan
TPP, welcoming the Japanese Government’s intention to implement two
new grant programs in rural communities.

Margaryan also pointed out that the development of Armenia’s rural
areas, especially the borderland, is one of the priorities of
Armenia’s economic policy, because the poverty level is relatively
high in those regions.

Margaryan pointed out good preconditions for the development of
bilateral cooperation, pointing out that during a visit paid to Japan
by an Armenian delegation headed by him in 2005 the sides signed an
intergovernmental agreement on technical cooperation. An Armenian
pavilion was also opened at the "EXPO 2005"exhibition in Aichi.

In his turn, Ambassador Saito pointed out limited natural resources
and serious intellectual potential as a common feature of both
countries. He said that effective use of this potential can result
in great achievements.

The sides also pointed out the importance of cooperation in the
international arena.

GOVERNMENT SIGNALS RUSSIAN CONTROL OF IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 25 2006

Prime Minister Andranik Markarian on Wednesday effectively confirmed
reports that Russian energy companies are set to gain a controlling
stake in a key pipeline which is due to start pumping Iranian natural
gas to Armenia next year.

Markarian indicated that his government will likely sell the first
Armenian section of the under-construction pipeline to ArmRosGazprom
(ARG), the Russian-Armenian joint venture that owns Armenia’s gas
distribution network.

The 40 kilometer section was reportedly covered by a controversial
April agreement that allowed Armenia to temporarily avoid a surge
in the price of gas imported from Russia in return for handing over
more energy assets to Gazprom, the state-run Russian monopoly. The
most important of them is the incomplete but modern Fifth Unit of
the country’s largest thermal power plant located in the central town
of Hrazdan.

Gazprom initially confirmed but later refuted reports that it will
also get hold of the Armenian pipeline from Iran as part of the deal.

Officials in Yerevan also denied that.

However, the Yerevan daily "Haykakan Zhamanak" reported last week
that the Russians will after all win control of the pipeline through
the ARG operator, in which Gazprom and the Russian-owned group ITERA
hold 45 percent and 10 percent shares respectively. The remaining 45
percent belongs to the Armenian government. The paper cited a Russian
document which presented the takeover as a fait accompli that will
be formalized by January 1.

Markarian appeared to confirm the information as he spoke to
reporters after his cabinet’s regular question-and-answer session
in parliament. "We are not talking about the sale [of the pipeline]
as such," he said. "It’s just that Armenia may invest in the charter
capital [of ARG] or we will jointly make investments because it would
be illogical to have two gas distribution networks in Armenia."

Markarian added that Moscow and Yerevan hope to reach agreement on
the issue by the time the pipeline comes on stream later this year
or early next.

Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian, who has been actively involved
in Russian-Armenian energy dealings, also strongly hinted at the
pipeline’s imminent transfer under ARG control. He said he will ask
the ARG chief executive, Karen Karapetian, to publicly "explain the
situation in great detail."

The pipeline from Iran was supposed to end Armenia’s strong dependence
on Russian gas and other energy resources. Critics say that by putting
it under de facto Russian control the Armenian government would only
deepen that dependence. Moscow is thought to have already made sure
that the pipeline’s diameter is not large enough to re-export Iranian
gas to Georgia and other countries.