Author: Tamamian Anna

JOINT ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MILITARY EXERCISE TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER

Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 05:39

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Joint Armenian-Russian military exercise will be
held in Armenia in early September, stated Chief of the General Staff
of the Armed Forces of Armenia, colonel general Mikayel Harutyunyan,
reported Regnum news agency. In his words, serious preparation to the
holding of the exercise has already commenced. The Armenian military
spoke in favor of the holding of the exercise at a very high level,
as it strengthens the defense potential and combat efficiency of units
of the Armed Forces. The Armenian-Russian exercise is held annually.

OSKANYAN TO RETURN WITH A GRANT

A1plus

| 17:51:35 | 13-06-2005 | Official |

RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan who is in China on an official
visit met CPR Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

The discussion went on during the official banquet. The Ministers spoke
about the Armenian-Chinese relations and stated with content that for
the first three months of this year the commercial-economic balance
has risen for 73%. They found the enhancing of cooperation in the
scientific-technical and educational fields extremely important. They
also spoke about the inter-university student exchange and about the
programs giving the Armenian scientists the possibility to realize
investigations in the Chinese universities.

Taking into account the firm political bonds between Armenia and
China, the sides have also discussed the possibilities of efficient
consultation and cooperation in the international structures,
including the UN. Ideas have also been exchanged about the Nagorno
Karabakh and Taiwan conflicts.

At the end of the meeting the Ministers signed an agreement between
the Republic of Armenia and the Chinese People~Rs Republic about the
mutual allotting of lands for the Embassies of both countries. They
also exchanged letters about the Chinese grant of 5 million juans
(800 000 USD) to be given to Armenia as technical support.

Then the RA Foreign Minister visited the new building of the RA
Embassy. On the same day Vardan Oskanyan met the Chinese Prime Minister
Vyen Dsiabao.

Tomorrow, on June 14, Minister Oskanyan will meet Van Xiaru, head of
the Chinese Communist Party International Administration. Furthermore,
the RA Minister will leave Peking for London, where that very day
he will make a speech in the Genocide Memorial event which will take
place in the Great Britain House of Lords.

A1plus

| 01:29:41 | 11-06-2005 | Politics |

DEPENDENCE OBVIOUS

The freedom of speech in Armenia is guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Everyone is entitled to freedom of speech”, Article 24 of the
Constitution says.

Is press free in Armenia? We addressed 100 citizens with this question
June 4-9.

“Press in not free either in Armenia or any other country”, one of
the respondents said. 52% agreed with this opinion. “Is Armenia a
free state? No. Thus press can’t be free either. When we become
an economically independent state our press will be independent of
authorities and oligarchs”, a man said. 28% of those surveyed consider
that press in partly free. “There are several opposition newspapers and
television sometimes raises urgent issues”, one of them said. Only 2 %
said press is free in Armenia.

18% found difficulty in answering. To remind, according the annual
report by Freedom House international organization press in Armenia
was rated as not free.

Acting together but independently – no agreement in how to divide power
By Karine Mangassarian

Yerkir/arm
10 June 05

While the Armenian pro-governmental political leaders are organizing
the Unity Round Dance, the opposition forces are starting the summer
season with another “unity dance” that once again aims at organizing
a revolution in Armenia.

However, the difference between these two “unity” events is that
while in the first case all the participants were dancing the same
dance, in the second case each of the them is trying to dance his
individual dance.

Nevertheless, every time they meet at conventions of this or that party
the opposition leaders do their best to praise each other in their
statements. There is always one conclusion to these statements – let’s
join our efforts to organize a revolution and get rid of the “illegal
government”. These outbursts of unity fade away in the same couloirs
where the conventions are held and the revolutions are discussed.

The situation outside the couloirs is different. Let’s have a look at
several examples. The Armenian opposition forces with the exception
of the radical Azgayin Miabanutyun (National Unity) Party attended
the third convention of Zharangutyun (Heritage) Party.

At this convention, Raffi Hovhannissian was elected president of the
party. Leader of Hanrapetutyun (Republic) Party Aram Zaven Sargsian,
President of National Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikian,
leader of the Armenian Democratic Party Stepan Demirchian and
oppositioner-by-chance Hovhannes Hovhannissian were there to praise
the party and its leaders.

Their statements addressed everything except the question who would
be leading the nation after the revolution. In other words, no one
can tell the people who can replace the current president.

We are sure that those who support the opposition forces are waiting
for them to nominate one leader for the opposition. But we have a
different picture – at public demonstrations recently launched in
different regions of Armenia we can see different political leaders
ready to organize a revolution.

At one demonstration the revolution leader is Aram Karapetian of
New Times Party, at another one it is Stepan Demirchian, at a third
demonstration Artashes Geghamian is ready to head the revolution. By
the way, speaking of the latter, it should be noted that this branch
of radical opposition has somewhat isolated itself from our political
arena and does not attend even the demonstrations organized by its
fellow opposition parties.

Another opposition leader, Aram Zaven Sargsian is so disappointed
with his fellow opposition leaders that he now relies only on the
National Assembly Vice Speaker Artur Baghdasarian considering him the
only democratic force in the existing government. Maybe Sargsian is
looking for someone in the US to sponsor this democracy?

Outbursts of jealousy accompany the opposition’s activities –
the Democratic Party of Armenia has started worrying because Aram
Sargsian has got disappointed with their leader. In other words,
the chaos in the opposition camp is obvious. The roles and positions
have all shifted; the leaders and followers are all mixed; no one is
clear about the time and objectives of the revolution.

And the main reason for this disorganization and seeming unity is
that the opposition forces cannot decide on how to divide power after
a revolution. None of the opposition leaders can ever accept the
thought that he can occupy a position lower than the president. Any
other position would be simply humiliating for any of them.

The Times (London)
June 11, 2005, Saturday

Ghost-spotting time

Jill Crawshaw

A SEPTEMBER expedition in search of the rare Persian leopard is being
organised by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), the
only charity to run a UK wildlife trip to Armenia.

One of the last strongholds of these “invisible ghosts” -so-called
for their ability to live near people but remain unseen -is the
spectacular 250 sq km (100 sq m) Khosrov Reserve in the southeast, a
former royal hunting forest, where numerous leopard caves have been
spotted. Bezoar goats, Armenian moufflon and Syrian bears are among
the other endangered species in the reserve.

The 11-day tour also visits Lake Sevan, at 1,900m (6,200ft) one of
the world’s highest lakes, and a clutch of monasteries including the
4th-century Geghard monastery, built into the side of a mountain. The
landlocked, mountainous republic, which is smaller than Belgium, was
the first country to adopt Christianity -in AD301.

Travellers won’t go hungry on the tour: barbecued meat, bozbash soup,
sheep’s cheese and stuffed peppers feature on menus. And locals are
quick to point out that Sir Winston Churchill always preferred
Armenian to French brandy.

The expedition dates are September 14-24, the cost £845 for internal
transport, accommodation and meals, but not flights, which cost £519.

YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY RECTOR AWARDED NKR ST MESROP MASHTOTS ORDER

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. For his great contribution to formation
of Artsakh State University Yerevan State University Rector Radik
Martirosian was awarded the St Mesrop Mashtots order by the decree of
Nagorno Karabakh President Arkadi Ghukasian. The award was given to
R.Martirosian on the days of the international conference dedicated to
the 1600th anniversary of invention of Armenian alphabet and
foundation of Amaras school held on June 2-5 in Artsakh.

According to the rector, this award is very dear to him as it was
given by the government of already independent and free NKR. “Yerevan
State University closely cooperates with Artsakh State University,
assists to all educational reforms carried out at the higher
school. Henceforward this cooperation will be activized for even
more,” R.Martirosian said.

TURKISH INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS HARASSING
SCIENTISTS TRYING TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. TUSIAD President Omer Sabanci claimed that
tolerating the illegal courses will fuel rumors in Europe that Turkish
secularism is weakening. According to Zaman, TUSIAD Representatives
criticized the government fiercely regarding the EU process in the
Istanbul meeting . Sabanci opposed the restriction of freedoms in the
new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), police brutality in demonstrations, and
harassing academics who discussed the Armenian Issue. TUSIAD, as a
business association, does not accept any alternative but full EU
membership. Discussion over Quranic study courses occurred in an
association advisory council meeting for The Turkish Industrialists
and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) Friday, June 3.

It should be noted that May 25-27, a conference entitled “Armenians in
the period of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire: problems of
scientific responsibility and democracy” at Istanbul University was
cancelled under pressure of the Turkish Government.

IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOK UPON SOUTHERN CAUCASUS AS A UNITED ECONOMIC CIRCLE

A1plus
| 17:57:42 | 03-06-2005 | Official |

Today in the NA hall the session of the Parliamentary Investigations
European Center Macro Economic Investigations working group took place
with the participation of representatives form different courtiers.

NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan voiced hope that the discussions will
contribute to the activization of economic reforms in our country. Or
the economic development of both Armenia and Southern Caucasus Arthur
Baghdasaryan found 3 main issues important: first, the realization of
free competition market and creation of the corresponding legislation
field, second, combat against shadow economy and corruption, and third,
development of small and medium business.

According to him, it is necessary to look upon Southern Caucasus as
a united economic circle and to investigate the perspectives of its
development and integration in the context of regional development.

The speakers making speech on the theme «Potential and Challenges
of Armenia and Other Countries of Southern Caucasus» referred to the
possibilities and problems of the economic development of the region,
as well as to the fields where the necessity of reforms is more urgent.

–Boundary_(ID_nDWMkexk1OqMXW9rri/g3g)–

Diamonds funding Armenian forces
By John Helmer

Mineweb.com
’03-JUN-05 07:39′

MOSCOW (Mineweb.com) — According to a report just issued in Moscow by
the Civil Research Council (CRC), illegal diamond trafficking between
Russia, Armenia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is growing fast,
and is the principal source of funding for the armed forces of the
Armenian-based republic in its long-running conflict with neighbouring
Azerbaijan.

Russian researchers, as well as international monitors of the
Kimberley certification process, believe there are links between
Armenians trading in arms and diamonds in the conflict zones of west
and central Africa, diamond manufacturers in Israel, and Armenians
fighting to defend the Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

With full control over Shogakn, the largest diamond-polishing
enterprise in Armenia, Lev Leviev, the Israeli diamantaire, says he
is not involved in any diamond cutting operations in the conflict
zone between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The rough for his Armenian plant
comes mainly from Africa through Israel, according to his spokesman.

Leviev acquired Shogakn when the state-owned diamond holding of Amenia
was broken up and privatized. According to his spokesman, he invested
about $3 million in new equipment, and currently employs 1,500 cutters
to produce about 30,000 carats per month. Annual turnover, according
to Leviev’s spokesman, is about $150 million, making Shogakn one of
the largest diamond-cutting plants in the world.

The Shogakn management is constantly on the alert to deter and stop
attempts at running smuggled goods through the cutting works, the
source added.

Potential diamond-cutting capacity for Armenia as a whole, where
about 50 enterprises are reported to employ about 5,000 cutters, is
estimated at 2 million carats per annum. In all, diamonds and diamond
jewellery comprise the single largest export earner of Armenia,
worth about $300 million in 2004.

Without citing its sources by name, the CRC report claims that other
Armenian-based firms are supplying rough to cutting enterprises across
the border in Nagorno-Karabakh. Among these operations, the report
names Lory, which employs about 1,000 cutters and is linked to the
Arslanian group of Antwerp; and DCA, controlled by Gagik and Araik
Abramian, who are linked to De Beers in Moscow. According to the CRC
director, Sergei Goriaenov, the Arslanian and Abramian groups are the
biggest of the diamantaires involved in Nagorno-Karabakkh. Diamondtech,
employing 800 cutters, and funded by Rosy Blue of Antwerp, is also
reported to be operating in Armenia proper.

For stones moving to Nagorno-Karabakh, Kimberley certificates are
provided on the Armenian side of the frontier. But according to the CRC
report, the extent of the processing of diamonds in Nagorno-Karabakh,
and the destination of the goods, are still unclear.

The CRC emerged a few weeks ago in Moscow, identifying itself as
independently funded, with special interest in researching the links
between the diamond industry of Russia and terrorist or criminal
groups in the Caucasus.

Top Putin Aide Discusses Russian-Armenian Ties In Yerevan

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
June 1 2005

01/06/2005 09:34

The chief of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s staff met President
Robert Kocharian and other Armenian leaders in Yerevan on Tuesday
for talks which officials said focused on ways of ways of shoring up
economic relations between the two nations.

Kocharian was cited by his press service as telling Dmitry Medvedev
that Russian-Armenian business ties are seeing “dynamic development.”
He said it was made possible by an increase in Russian investments
in the Armenian economy. No other details were reported.

Russia’s share in Armenia’s external trade has steadily declined over
the past decade and stood at a modest 12.5 percent last year. The
overall volume of bilateral trade fell by 13 percent to about $250
million in 2004.

A lack of rail communication between the two countries, which have no
common border, is seen as a key reason for the drop. That communication
was only partly restored with launch last March of a regular rail
ferry service between Russian and Georgian Black Sea ports.

According to official press releases, issues related to the functioning
of the ferry link were on the agenda of Medvedev’s separate meetings
with Kocharian’s chief of staff Artashes Tumanian and Defense
Minister Serzh Sarkisian. The latter is also a co-chairman of the
Russian-Armenian inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation.

According to Kocharian’s office, Tumanian and Medvedev also discussed
practical modalities of revitalizing five Armenian enterprises that
were handed over to Russia in 2003 in payment of Yerevan’s $100 million
debt. Armenian officials are increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s
failure so far make promised multimillion-dollar investments in those
industries. The issue provoked heated debates during a May 17 meeting
in Yerevan of a Russian-Armenian commission on inter-parliamentary
cooperation.

The ongoing construction of a pipeline that will pump Iranian natural
gas into Armenia was also on the agenda of the meeting between the
two top presidential aides. But there was no word on what specifically
the two men discussed. Russia’s state-run Gazprom monopoly is directly
involved in the construction work and had reportedly made sure that the
future pipeline is not extended to third countries, notably Georgia.

Officials said Medvedev, who is one of the most powerful figures in
the Kremlin hierarchy, also discussed the ongoing series of cultural
events held within the framework of the Year of Russia in Armenia
that was officially inaugurated during Putin’s visit to Yerevan last
March. Medvedev is the head of the Russian organizing committee for
those events.