Author: Talalian Arpi

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 26 2004

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS MEETS RUSSIAN VNESHTORGBANK PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, March 26, 2004. (RIA Novosti) – Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II met with President and chairman of the board of the
Russian Vneshtorgbank (Foreign Trade Bank) Andrei Kostin.

The establishment of a united bank will help to solve Armenian
economic problems, Andrei Kostin said.

Garegin II expressed satisfaction with the development of
Russian-Armenian economic relations, the Catholicos’ chancellery
said. “It will have a positive influence on Russian-Armenian
friendship,” Garegin II added.

Vneshtorgbank signed a contract on the purchase of 70 percent of
Armsberbank shares in Yerevan on March 24, 2004.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 26, 2004, Friday

TWO SIDES OF THE 102ND BASE

SOURCE: Nezavisimoe Voennoe Obozrenie, No 10, March 19 – 25, 2004, p.8
Translated from Russian
by Igor Plugatarev

Several hundred meters divide checkpoints of two military units in
Yerevan outskirts.Closer to the city is the Russian regiment, and the
other one is a communication regiment of the Armenian Armed Forces.
According to the military, both units are elements of the Russian
102nd military base in Armenia. It means that they comprise a single
military structure. And yet, differences are undeniable. Entrance to
the Russian checkpoint is barred by slabs of concrete making entry
more difficult. The Armenian unit does not have this fortification
against terrorists. The Armenians are surprised as well, that Russian
soldiers manning checkpoints always wear heavy bulletproof vests. “Why
bother?” the locals shrug.

Armenia does care for the military. Lieutenant Colonel Vartan
Stepanjan, 43, communication regiment commander (he became an officer
by chance, it happened during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh) claims that
officers of the Armenian army have no reasons to complain. “Status of
our officers is higher than that of an average citizen,” he explained.
“Average salary in Armenia amounts to 15,000 drams while officers are
paid three or four times that. Sometimes, they are even paid six or
seven times that, depending on the position.” The sum is an equivalent
of between $150 and $250, while average teachers for example are paid
$30-50. “Moreover, salaries in the army are always paid on time,”
Stepanjan added.

The two cantonments are divided by a concrete wall topped with barbed
wire. There is a metal door painted green with an inspection hole in
the wall.

“What about the division of functions from the point of view of combat
tasks?” this correspondent inquired. “There is no definite division,”
Stepanjan replied. “Russian servicemen and we accomplish whatever
missions are given us.” “Any problems with the language?” – “No. All
negotiations are restricted to the upper level of command. Everybody
speaks good Russian there. At the same time, almost all our soldiers
speak Russia too because it is taught at schools.” Almost all soldiers
in the regiment are Armenians.

According to Stepanjan, the regiment is a unit of permanent combat
readiness. It provides communications for Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Robert Kocharjan, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisjan, and chief of the
General Staff. Military hardware here is of Soviet vintage or Russian
(that is so throughout the Armenian army). The regiment is between 15%
and 20% men under complement which enables it to deal with the tasks
dished out by the command. The regiment was in charge of
communications of the united command post of the Russian army group in
Armenia in the past. These days, this is the task of the Russian
communication battalion withdrawn from Georgia to Gyumri (former
Leninakan).

The Armenian national army is a carbon copy of the Soviet Army. All
four battle codes are verbatim copies of codes of the Soviet Army.

Everything in old brick barracks is the way it as in the Soviet Army
too.

All soldiers come from the provinces. Under the national legislation,
a conscript cannot be assigned to an unit closer than 50 kilometers
from his home. Soldiers are drafted for two years. They are paid 1,560
drams (approximately $3 or 100 Russian rubles). According to
commanders, their subordinates do not have anything to complain about.
They do not look hungry or frightened indeed.

Neither do soldiers of the Armenian national army complain of cruelty
in the barracks. “I cannot say that we do not have it in the army at
all,” Stepanjan said. “I served in a lot of places and units and I can
tell you that we do not have cruelty in the barracks by 98%. There is
no such thing in my regiment here.” The officer ascribes it to
“commanders’ efforts, our mentality, attitude of the people toward the
army, and our traditions.” There are other problems – AWOLs and drinki
ng – but Stepanjan is philosophical about that. “Soldiers will remain
soldiers,” he said.

In 2003, Stepanjan’s regiment participated in the exercise of eleven
CIS and eight NATO countries. Said Stepanjan, “Watching our guys
handle the military hardware, the Americans wanted to know how they
were and how long they had already served. We informed them that some
servicemen had spent six months in service, others twelve months. The
Americans were impressed by our professionalism.”

The Armenian military does not think too much of the Americans. “They
are poor shooters. Their vaunted assault rifles misfired all too
frequently at shooting ranges. Not so our guys who hit all targets
with their AKMs and K-3s” (an Armenian automatic rifle resembling the
Israeli Uzi – Nezavisimoe Voennoe Obozrenie).

As a matter of fact, the Armenians are convinced that NATO servicemen
participating in that exercise were “mostly CIA and army intelligence.
They came to find out the state of affairs here, to gauge our fighting
spirit, and see what military hardware we operated.”

A1 Plus | 15:28:30 | 25-03-2004 | Social |

“ASPAREZ” CLUB DISCUSSING “A1+”

To discuss the details of the attitude of Shirak District and Gyumri social
activists to “A1+” TV Company rally to be held on April 2 and participation
in it “Asparez” Club of Journalists initiates an open discussion on March 29
inviting Shirak District journalists, the representatives of TV Companies,
Radio Stations, newspapers, social organizations, parties, other social
unions, local government, territorial management, officials and all the
active citizens concerned about democratization blocking in Armenia, and the
problems of speech, press and expression.

—

What is wrong? (Security reportedly beefed up at Armenian nuclear plant)

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
25 Mar 04

Extraordinary security measures have been taken at the Armenian
Nuclear Power Station since last week. The security regime has been
tightened by twenty times.

According to our information, the National Security Service and
special police forces have been involved in these security
measures. We did not manage to get any official source to clarify what
these measures are connected with. But the form of the security
measures testifies that the Armenian Nuclear Power Station is being
protected from an external threat.

Rumours are circulating that the Armenian special services have
received information about a sabotage group infiltrating Armenia with
the aim of carrying out a terrorist act at the nuclear
plant. According to another theory, the Armenian authorities are
preparing for expected opposition actions in this way. If necessary,
they can close the highway from Armavir to Yerevan.

Anyway, all our attempts to get an official comment on this yesterday
were in vain.

Armenia uninformed about cancellation of Prague meeting

Mediamax news agency
25 Mar 04

YEREVAN

Armenia has not received from the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group
an official notification about the cancellation of the meeting between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers with the mediators in
attendance in Prague on 29 March.

Mediamax news agency reports that the press secretary of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry, Gamlet Gasparyan, said this in Yerevan today while
commenting on a statement by the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov, about the cancellation of the meeting at the
request of one of the sides to the conflict.

Gasparyan said that Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan had
received a written invitation from the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to
take part in the Prague meeting.

Prosecutor’s appointment restores justice, says Armenian leader

Mediamax news agency
18 Mar 04

YEREVAN

The appointment of Agvan Ovsepyan as prosecutor-general can, in a way,
be regarded as “the restoration of justice”, Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan said today in Yerevan. The president said this while
introducing Ovsepyan to employees of the Prosecutor-General’s Office
today, Mediamax reports.

Kocharyan explained that Ovsepyan’s resignation following the
terrorist act in the Armenian parliament in October 1999 “was caused
by exclusively political motives”.

Kocharyan described the new prosecutor as a “professional,
tough-minded and stern” politician, noting that he had known him since
1981, as Ovsepyan had worked in Nagornyy Karabakh for many years.

Armenian lawyer to defend murdered officer in Budapest

Noyan Tapan news agency
18 Mar 04

YEREVAN

Nazeli Vardanyan, a defence lawyer and member of the international
union of defence lawyers, will leave for Budapest soon. She will
defend the interests of the murdered Armenian officer, Gurgen
Markaryan, in Budapest both at the investigations stage and in
court. A group of five more lawyers has been set up by Armenia’s Union
of Lawyers to provide the necessary methodological assistance to
Nazeli Vardanyan.

A member of the Armenian Union of Lawyers, Ruben Saakyan, who is also
a member of the support group, told Noyan Tapan that the support group
included other members of the union, Araik Matevosyan and Gagik
Sardaryan and also members of the international union of defence
lawyers, Tigran and Marine Dzhanoyan.

The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia)
March 18, 2004 Thursday Final Edition

Singing won out for exceptionally gifted soprano

by Lloyd Dykk

Isabel Bayrakdarian, one of the freshest voices to have come by in
long while, makes her second visit to Vancouver a little later than
planned. The Vancouver Recital Society originally booked her for Feb.
29 but Bayrakdarian, 29, became ill and the concert was rescheduled
for Friday at the Orpheum.

Speaking from her home base in Toronto, she regrets missing that
first date, because it happened to fall on Rossini’s birthday. She
loves Rossini and was going to make the program exclusive to him. Now
she’s making it a half-Rossini night. The program includes several of
his delightfully witty or sad late songs, which aren’t like his
operas at all.

Bayrakdarian is something exceptional in music. Academically
distinguished, she got a degree in biomedical engineering and was
fielding offers from bio-med companies, also won the Metropolitan
Opera auditions and, at age 14, a national championship in bicycle
racing in Lebanon.

Singing won out and it wasn’t a hard choice, she says. “When you’re
in sync with the flow, you don’t resist it. And I never looked at
sports as a profession. It was more for morale and building
self-confidence.”

Her musical career takes her throughout the world, “but I’ll always
be based in Toronto. If you counted the days that I actually spend in
one place, I wouldn’t be a resident of anywhere,” she says with a
laugh.

Her ravishing lyric soprano is booked through 2008. Her Met debut
last year was an unusual one: William Bolcom’s View from the Bridge.
Recently at the Met she starred in Berlioz’s almost never-done epic,
Benvenuto Cellini. Next year, Mozart’s Don Giovanni. She just sang
Mozart’s Requiem three nights in a row in Minnesota. “It was heaven,
heaven, heaven. For me, it all comes down to Mozart. Susanna [in
Marriage of Figaro] is the core for me.”

Wherever she’s appearing, she tries to find an Armenian church choir
where she just slips in and sings. “I don’t do it for publicity and I
stay anonymous. I figure that’s the only way my prayers will be
heard.”

Her pianist is Serouj Kradjian, soon to become her husband. The
concert’s at 8 p.m.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
10 Mar 04

Armenian leader decisive to solve Karabakh problem

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today that “we
shall bring the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem to an
end”, the Armenian president said at a meeting with Yerevan students,
Mediamax reports.

Kocharyan said that “at least the last 15 years of my life” have been
devoted to solving the Karabakh problem.

According to the president, at least the fact that “during my term in
office, the mediator countries put forward proposals on a solution to
the conflict, which were accepted as a basis for the talks by Armenia
and rejected by Azerbaijan” could serve as an appraisal of the
current Armenian authorities’ policy on the Karabakh issue.

“I think only this fact speaks for itself,” Robert Kocharyan said.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/10/2004
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1) US Addresses Turkish Worries about Iraq Constitution
2) Chamlian School’s Banquet a Night of Success and Hope
3) Kocharian Comes Face-to-face with University Students
4) US Ambassador Meets With ARF Representatives
5) Police Identify Armenian Cemetery Vandals

1) US Addresses Turkish Worries about Iraq Constitution

ANKARA (AFP)–A senior US envoy will meet with Turkish officials to discuss
Ankara’s concerns over the new interim constitution of Iraq, reported Turkish
and US sources.
Ronald Newmann, a member of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in
Iraq,
was asked by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to go to Ankara after Turkey
publicly criticized the interim constitution, signed in Baghdad on Monday, a
Turkish diplomat told AFP.
Turkey has warned that it would pave the way for more instability in the
neighboring country. “The interim law does not satisfy us; it increases our
concerns,” said Turkish government spokesman, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek.
Turkey has repeatedly warned against moves in postwar Iraq that could help
the
Iraqi Kurds enhance self-rule in the north of the country.
Under the interim constitution, Iraqi Kurdistan will retain federal status
and
the rest of Iraq will be given the right to begin forming states.
Turkey fears that increased political influence of Iraqi Kurds could set an
example for their restive cousins in southeast Turkey where a bloody Kurdish
rebellion has only recently been quelled.

2) Chamlian School’s Banquet a Night of Success and Hope

GLENDALE–Over 500 parents, alumni, teachers, and friends of Chamlian Armenian
School gathered on February 28, at the Homenetmen Ararat Chapter center to
fundraise for the school, and mark its many accomplishments. Western Prelate
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, and Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero were among
the guests of honor.
Emcees Nova Hindoyan and Aida Yeghiazarian, kicked off the night with a
silent
auction that raised over $8,000.
In his remarks, Archbiship Mardirossian urged the audience to “complete the
cafeteria project and move on to bigger projects such as establishing a high
school.”
The climax of the evening came, however, as Chamlian principal Vazken
Madenlian announced that a special committee dedicated to the Chamlian High
School project has been formed, and that $250,000 has already been collected
towards the goal.
Guest welcomed the joyous news, and enthusiastically donated $106,000 for the
renovation of the school cafeteria.
Guests danced and celebrated to the music of popular singer Ashod and his
band. “This was a great evening,” one guest said, “not only did we have a lot
of fun, but it was for a great cause.”

3) Kocharian Comes Face-to-face with University Students

YEREVAN (RFE/RL, Yerkir)–University students from throughout Armenia gathered
at Yerevan State University on Wednesday to meet President Robert Kocharian,
and pose questions on issues of concern.
Asked about the process of settling the Karabagh conflict, Kocharian said
during his term in office, Armenia has accepted several proposals put forth by
mediators, while Azerbaijan has rejected them. “I have dedicated 15 years
of my
life to the Karabagh issue, and I will pursue it all the way through,”
Kocharian said.
Referring to Azerbaijan’s unapologetic and even defensive position on the
murder of an Armenian officer by an Azeri counterpart, the president said it
reinforces the fact that Armenophobia has reached its peak in that country.
“We
are, once again, convinced that Karabagh cannot–under any condition–be a
part
of Azerbaijan.”
Asked about opposition claims that Armenia remains gripped by a political
crisis, Kocharian explained that in 2003, Armenia registered record economic
growth, accompanied by improving public services. He cited a 13.9 increase in
GDP, which was the highest in the Commonwealth of Independent States. “To
describe as crisis the situation in a country where economic growth has
reached
13.9 percent and where all the indicators testify to quite interesting
developments, is at least, tantamount to not understanding what a crisis
means.”
It was the Armenian leader’s first visit to the country’s largest university
since last month’s student protests against a controversial government bill on
military service. The bill, which would have allowed the military to draft
graduate and doctoral students, was eventually withdrawn from parliament.
Kocharian acknowledged that the proposed legislation should have undergone a
detailed public debate before being submitted to the National Assembly, and
revealed his support for compulsory military service for all young men,
including his two sons.

4) US Ambassador Meets With ARF Representatives

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–US Ambassador to Armenia John Ordway met with
representatives
of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation at the ARF Simon Vratsian center on
Wednesday, in an effort to understand the party’s position on national and
regional issues, and engage in a two-way exchange.
ARF Armenia Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamian, ARF Bureau member
and
National Assembly vice-speaker Vahan Hovhannisian, and ARF faction leader in
the National Assembly Levon Mkrtchian, met with Ordway, where political and
regional developments in Armenia, as well as the National Assembly and the
opposition dominated discussions.
The ambassador remarked that the meeting was fruitful in understanding the
party’s stance on these issues.
Ambassador Ordway frequently meets with the ARF and other political
parties to
better grasp the positions of political forces, and to also present the US
position on democracy, the market economy, as well as regional security.

5) Police Identify Armenian Cemetery Vandals

KRASNODAR (Armenpress)–Local police have identified the group of youth who
desecrated Armenian gravestones at the Krasnodar Slavonic cemetery on March 2,
reported Yerkramas, a weekly paper published by the Armenian community of the
southern Russian province.
The culprits are eight youth between the ages of 13 and 16. Police said their
parents will have to pay for restoring the damaged tombs.
A similar act of vandalism in 2002 sparked strong condemnation by the
Armenian
government and leading politicians concerned with the escalating ethnic
tensions in the southern Russia.
In April 2002, approximately 50 youths ravaged gravestones and monuments at
the Armenian cemetery in Krasnodar. Though the local police at the time
announced the arrest of three Russian youngsters between the ages of 14 and 17
on suspicion of involvement, all managed to avoid punishment.

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