Author: Nalchajian Markos

Zaman, Turkey
Oct 22 2004

PM: Genocide Allegations to be Resolved by Historians not Parliaments

During a persuasion tour to Europe ahead of the critical December
17th European Union (EU) leaders summit, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said that the Armenian genocide allegation is not an
issue to be solved through ideological approaches or at the
parliaments.

In a press conference at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) yesterday, a French reporter asked why Erdogan did
not use the term “so-called” when referring to the allegations of
genocide as other Turkish politicians do. Erdogan replied that the
issue is not one that can be solved in parliaments and that it should
be left to historians.

“Those who make the allegations could visit our archives, but they do
not come to check the archives If you don’t do this, you cannot view
the issue objectively.”

The Prime Minister also disclosed that Turkey has opened an air
corridor to Armenia and that Armenians living in Turkey have been
tremendously supportive in Turkey’s EU bid. The issue would not be
turn into a grudge issue, Erdogan added, “We are a country that gives
importance to earning friends. If other countries acted similarly,
then world peace would be won.”

10.22.2004
Foreign News Services
Istanbul

Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
Oct 22 2004

Theatre groups from 30 nations to take part in monodrama festival

By Tahseen Shaghouri

Staff Reporter

Fujairah: Theatrical groups from more than 30 countries are expected
to take part in the Fujairah International Monodrama Festival in its
second year. Monodrama involves a production where just one performer
takes part and presents a story.

Two local plays prepared by the Dibba Al Fujairah Association for
Arts and Theatre will participate in the cultural festival which is
scheduled to be held from December 8 to 20.

`Celebrities from the region and the wider world will be invited to
attend the festival, to join a number of leading figures from
international festivals and other folkloric musical bands,’ said
Mohammad Saeed Al Danhani, a UAE national playwright and president of
the festival.

He said the successful hosting of the first international theatrical
festival in Fujairah last year had helped establish a strong local
theatrical movement supported by the Fujairah Government.

The Dibba Al Fujairah theatrical group was invited to participate in
several international cultural festivals such as festivals in Italy
and Russia.

`We have also been invited to take part in four major monodrama
festivals in the next four months in India, Russia, Germany and
Romania,’ said Al Danhani. The coming festival will feature plays
from Estonia, Armenia, India, Argentina, the UK and Africa.

The participating plays will be performed on several stages
throughout theatres in the emirate to enable as many people as
possible to attend.

Azeri TV reports continuous truce violation on Armenian border

ANS TV, Baku
21 Oct 04

The Azerbaijani military positions in the village of Alibayli in Tovuz
District [northwest Azerbaijan, borders on Armenia] again was
subjected to intensive fire from Armenia’s Shamshadin District for
about three hours last night. Only large-calibre guns were used this
time. No casualties have been reported.

It has been the third attack on the village of Alibayli in three days,
the Tovuz district executive authorities have told the ANS bureau in
Ganca. Bahruz Rustamov, head of the public and political department of
the Tovuz district executive authorities, presumes that the Armenians
have become active because of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
construction and that they have been trying to resume hostilities in
the region.

[Passage omitted: Details of previous truce violation on 20 October]

A1 Plus | 13:12:06 | 20-10-2004 | Official |

DINE URGES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO HELP RETURN “AZATUTUN” TO TV AIRWAVES

RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine today sent a letter to Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, denouncing the “Soviet-style” cancellation of the new
RFE/RL Armenian Service news and analysis program, “Azatutiun” by the
private Armenian television station Kentron. Dine urges President Kocharian
“to denounce this contemptible Soviet-style act, and to help return
“Azatutiun” to the air.”

In his letter, Dine asserts that he is “determined to get “Azatutiun” back
on the air and will make every effort to make that happen, including raising
this issue with the Bush Administration, the U.S. Congress, the Council of
Europe, and non-governmental organizations worldwide.”

“Azatutiun,” a new television program created by and featuring news and
analysis from RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, was abruptly pulled from the
schedule of the local Armenian television station “Kentron” on October 13,
three days after it debuted to rave reviews on Kentron. Although the
television station’s management has made no comment on the decision, it is
widely suspected that Kentron was pressured to suspend further broadcasts of
the program, either by official interests or local media competitors.

The suspension of the “Azatutiun” program has been widely covered in the
Armenian press. On October 14, “Aravot” daily alleged that the head of
Armenian state television and radio, Aleksan Harutiunian, was instrumental
in the ban because he wanted RFE/RL to lease airtime from his channel and
pay for that. Harutiunian, in an interview published by “Aravot” on October
15, denied any involvement in the suspension of “Azatutiun”. In his letter
to President Kocharian, however, Dine states that he has been “personally
informed that this cancellation was the result of pressure from a high-level
Armenian government official.”

RFE/RL’s Armenian Service broadcasts four hours of programming a day to
Armenia, produced in Prague and the service’s Yerevan Bureau and transmitted
to listeners via shortwave, satellite and FM, AM, Cable Radio, UKV and
longwave signals provided by local affiliate stations. Armenian Service
programming is also available via the Internet, at the service’s website
and at

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE

19 October 2004

Official visit of Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian to Italy

Foreign Minister Oskanian arrived in Italy with official visit on 18
October. On the same day minister Oskanian had a meeting with the Foreign
Minister of Italy Franco Frattini.

The foreign ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral and international
issues, taking into consideration the prospects of development of
Armenian-Italian relations concerning various arenas.

The ministers paid special attention to the programs that are of high
priority for the economic development of Armenia and could use Italian
experience in the field of the system of small and medieval enterprises, as
well as development of tourism. For the purpose to encourage Italian
investments parties come to an agreement to improve bilateral legal
framework. Also discussed was the possibility of deepening the relations in
the field of health care, culture and education.

In a course of the political sphere parties paid an attention on the
necessity of frequent mutual visits at the high level. The prospects of
euro-integration of Armenia within the frames of New neighborhood policy of
the EU, as well as the issue of cooperation of the two states in the
international organizations have also been discussed.

The foreign ministers thoroughly discussed the urgent issues of
international policy, developments in the Southern Caucasus, the situation
around the problem of Nagorno-Karabagh and, Armenian-Turkish relations.

On the same day Minister Oskanian visited The Vatican and met the Secretary
of Relations with Foreign States of the Holy See, Giovanni Loyola.

This was the third visit of the Foreign Minister of Armenia to Italy since
the July of 1998, when documents were signed on the encouragement and mutual
protection of capital investments and on consultation between the foreign
services of the two states. The Foreign Minister Oskanian paid his second
visit in the midst of June 2002, during the course of which, an
inter-governmental treaty was signed on the incomes and the escape from
double taxation.

Deputy Foreign Ministers of Italy, Umberto Ranieri and Margherita Boniver,
paid visits to Armenia in June of 2000 and July of 2002.

Ultra-orthodox Jews ‘must stop religious abuse’
Conal Urquhart in Jerusalem

The Observer
Sunday October 17, 2004*

Jerusalem’s Christian community has demanded that Jewish leaders and
the Israeli government take action against what they claim is growing
harassment of their clergy by religious Jews.

Christians say ultra-Orthodox Jewish students spit at them or at the
ground when they pass. There have also been acts of vandalism against
statues of the Virgin Mary.

The harassment came to a head last week when a Jewish student spat
at Armenian Archbishop Nourhan Manougian and ripped off his crucifix,
whereupon the archbishop slapped him. The police questioned both men.

Mainstream Israeli opinion has been revolted by the revelations of
the abuse of Christian clergy. Avraham Poraz, the interior minister,
condemned the trend of spitting at the cross and those wearing it,
saying it was ‘intolerable’ and that he was ‘revolted’ by it. A former
chief rabbi also voiced his outrage.

All the Christian groups complain of harassment, but the Armenians
bear the brunt. Armenian clergymen said that, when they complained
to the interior minister seven months ago, he told them: ‘Most Jews
have a big problem with them as well.’

The 3,000-strong community live in the Armenian quarter and many Jews
walk through it on their way from west Jerusalem to the Wailing Wall
or Western Wall.

Father Pakrad Bourjekian, a spokesman for the Armenian church, said the
attack was an extreme example of the harassment they receive every day.
‘Every day the fanatical Jews turn their face to the wall or spit on
the ground or at us when they see the crucifix,’ he said.

The Christians admit that it is only a minority who carry out the
abuse, but they feel that the issue is being ignored by religious
leaders.

Bishop Aris Shirvanian of the Armenian church said: ‘The majority are
courteous or indifferent. The problem is the very religious. It’s a
question of education. What must these people be learning to behave
like this?’

The old city of Jerusalem is buzzing with rumours that young Armenians
will take revenge for the attack and the daily indignities suffered
by their priests.

Bishop Aris acknowledged that there was a danger of reprisals. ‘We
are trying to control our young people and we are succeeding. But
the question is that there is no one in the Jewish community trying
to control their fanatics,’ he said.

Father Pakrad added: ‘There is no hierarchy. Anyone can become a rabbi,
set up an institution, get funds from abroad and teach what they like.’

Jerusalem has always been a city of conflict. Even the old Christian
churches – the Armenian, Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian and
Catholic – are known for their disputes, which regularly result
in brawls.

In the current dispute, the Muslims, the old city’s biggest group,
are for once not involved. ‘I do not think these Jews would dare spit
at a Muslim sheikh; the whole city would explode. We are only a small
group, so it easy to bully us,’ said Bishop Aris.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

MEDI PUBLISHES A BUSINESS GUIDE BOOK

ArmenPress
Oct 15 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Micro Enterprise Development
Initiative (MEDI), funded by Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship
Development National Center and USAID has published a manual “How to
register a business: a road map for a businessman” the presentation of
which was held today. US ambassador to Armenia John Evans and Armenian
deputy trade and economic development minister Armen Gevorgian were
present at the presentation.

John Evans mentioned that the guide will provide new instruments
to launch a successful business. In the ambassador’s terms, the
publication is a success example of cooperation between US embassy
and the Armenian government. The guide is easy to use and contains
necessary information to start a business in Armenia, he said.

The manual is distributed free of charge in the Yerevan office of
Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship Development National Center and
starting early November in the regional branch offices of the center.

ARMENIAN CLERGYMEN OF IRAQ CALL ON REFRAINING FROM SENDING A SQUAD

Azg/am
15 Oct 04

Archbishop Avag Asaturian, pastor of the Armenian community of Iraq,
called on the President of Armenia and National Assembly to desist
from sending any kind of squads to Iraq, Armenian Mirror Spectator
informs in October 9 article.

“Armenian establishments will become targets terrorist attacks”,
archbishop explains. “We fear that they will attack our churches,
kidnap our children”, clergyman Narek Ishkhanian says.

“We read in the newspapers that Armenian government sends not a squad
but a group of deminers, doctors and drivers, but that’s all the same
for the Arabs who say that friendly Armenia is joining the occupants”,
he says. According to him, 35 pupils of Armenian schools have changed
their national schools for foreign ones to avoid possible attacks in
case the Armenian group arrives in Iraq.

GEORGIAN LEADER HAILS BALTIC STATES’ PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THREE CAUCASUS COUNTRIES

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
14 Oct 04

(Presenter) Our news bulletin is back and we have some news just in. A
meeting between the Georgian and Lithuanian President in Vilnius ended
a few minutes ago. According to Mikheil Saakashvili and Valdas Adamkus,
the parties signed a historical declaration. Three plus three: this
is a new format in which the three Baltic countries will take the
three Caucasian states under their patronage. These countries will
be lobbyists of Georgia and its neighbours in the European Union and
other international organizations.

(Saakashvili, addressing a news briefing) The main direction of
Georgia’s foreign policy is cooperation and search for friends
everywhere. We have found three very important friends here.

At the same time, I would like to say that today we signed a
declaration entitled (switches to English, to a reporter) – I will
say this later in English, so don’t worry about it, (switches back to
Georgian) – the declaration about regional cooperation and assistance
for Euro-Atlantic integration. This means that now we have lobbyists,
we have a lobbyist in NATO and we have a lobbyist in the European
Union. This is very important.

The second point is that we have decided to come up with a joint
initiative to create a format of three plus three – the three Caucasian
states and the three Baltic states. This is a new mechanism of
regional cooperation which will help Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
– and Georgia is the initiator of this idea in the Caucasus – the
three Baltic states will help us in representing our interests in
the European Union. We are now closer to Europe. They will help us
so that our voice can be heard in all European organizations.

(Presenter) We will show a more detailed report on the president’s
visit to Vilnius in our ten o’clock news bulletin this evening.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202 393 3434
Fax: 202 638 4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 8, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

HOUSE, SENATE NEGOTIATORS INCLUDE ARMENIA PNTR IN LARGER TRADE BILL
Both Chambers Set to Vote Next

Washington, DC – One of the Armenian Assembly’s highest legislative
priorities -normalizing trade relations between the United States and
Armenia – took a major step forward today as House and Senate conferees for
a key trade measure agreed to attach legislation extending permanent normal
trade relations (PNTR) to Armenia.

“The Assembly welcomes today action to attach Armenia PNTR to the
Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act and thanks House Ways and
Committee Chairman Bill Thomas for including it in this conference report,”
said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We commend him
and the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) for their leadership and steadfast efforts to deepen the
U.S.-Armenia trade relationship.”

“The ongoing Turkish and Azeri blockades are two strikes against Armenia’s
ability to prosper as a free-market economy, so any U.S. trade benefits,
such as those resulting from the removal of the trade restrictions, are
helpful,” Hovnanian added. “It is our hope Congress will pass this
legislation at its earliest opportunity.”

PNTR, known as “permanent normal trade relations” would remove a nearly
30-year-old provision requiring Armenia and other countries to periodically
obtain presidential approval for continued access to low tariffs. In so
doing, it would signal an upgrade in Armenia’s status as a trading partner
and should lead to additional trade agreements between the United States and
Armenia

Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) first introduced the legislation known as H.R.
528 in February 2003, which passed the House of Representatives later that
year. The Assembly for its part, helped push the measure through by working
to secure the co-sponsorship of more than 100 lawmakers from both sides of
the political aisle.

“The PNTR bill has been an Assembly priority throughout the 108th Congress
and when enacted will be the first Armenia specific legislation passed since
the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act in 1996,” said Assembly Board of Directors
Chairman Anthony Barsamian. “The efforts of the bill’s sponsor Joe
Knollenberg, along with Reps. William Thomas and Frank Pallone, Jr. also
paved its passage. Key support from Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), the
ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee was also
instrumental.”

Last year, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) along with Senators Paul Sarbanes
(D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced S. 1557, which was modeled after
the House version of Armenia PNTR. This measure has the bipartisan support
of over 20 cosponsors.

“The Assembly thanks Senators McConnell, Sarbanes and Boxer for helping
strengthen U.S.-Armenia trade relations,” said Hovnanian. “We also greatly
appreciate Senators McConnell and Sarbanes for raising the issue and
discussing the merits of the bill during a pan-Armenian conference held by
the Assembly, AGBU and Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.”

During that same conference, the Bush Administration made its first public
endorsement of the trade bill. Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, Assistant
Secretary of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, who delivered the
news, said “The U.S. government supports extending Permanent Normal Trade
Relations to Armenia and will support Congressional efforts to graduate
Armenia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the Trade Act.”

Last April, Hovnanian together with former Board of Directors Chairman Peter
Vosbikian sent a letter Congressman Philip M. Crane (R-IL), Chairman of the
House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, calling for the extension of
PNTR to Armenia and stated that the country is an increasingly important
partner for the U.S. and poised to play a pivotal role as a commercial hub.

The Assembly also designed an aggressive campaign that hinged on the support
of the Armenian community. Part of the strategy included a phone banking
session last summer in which the Assembly contacted Armenian-American
constituents across the nation, urging them to call their Members of
Congress and support Armenia PNTR.

The PTNR issue was also at the forefront of every community forum, in cities
and towns across the U.S. Assembly Board Members and staff provided
legislative updates and answered questions regarding the bill and its
benefits for Armenia. They reminded activists, for example, that although
Armenia acceded into the World Trade Organization (WTO), a 144-member
international trade body, in February 2003, the full benefits of accession
would not be realized unless PNTR was granted. (Participation in the
Geneva-based organization will offer Armenia lower trade barriers and
increased opportunity for trade.) The Assembly touted the government of
Armenia’s economic reforms which led to its entry in the WTO.

The next step in the legislative process is for the House-Senate conference
report to go the floors of both Chambers for a final vote. The Armenian
Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization
promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

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