Author: Tashjian Arbi

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
August 5, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA CALLS ON WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS TO
PROTEST AZERBAIJANI THREATS AGAINST ARMENIA

— Senior Azerbaijani Defense Official
Calling for End to Armenia’s Existence

WASHINGTON, DC – In letters sent today to the White House and every
Member of Congress, the Armenian National Committee Of America
(ANCA) called for a forceful, public protest of open threats by a
senior Azerbaijani military official against the continued
existence of the Republic of Armenia.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported yesterday that
the chief spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, Colonel
Ramiz Melikov, stated publicly that, “within the next 25-years
there will exist no state of Armenia in the South Caucasus.” He
added that, “”Modern Armenia is built on historical Azerbaijani
lands. . . I think that in 25-30 years’ times its territory will
again come under Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction.” According to FRE/RL,
Melikov made these remarks to the Baku-based daily newspaper
“Zerkalo.”

In letters to each Congressional office, the ANCA noted that,
“these threats were not made by a professor, a columnist, or a
private Azerbaijani citizen. They were made – on the record in a
major publication – by the chief spokesperson for the Azerbaijani
Ministry of Defense.” In the ANCA letter to the White House,
Executive Director Aram Hamparian wrote that it would be a “grave
error for our government to dismiss these remarks as rhetoric, or
to address them solely through diplomatic channels. Rather, we
expect our government to forcefully and publicly confront the
Azerbaijani government over these patently hateful and
destabilizing threats. Failure to do so would send extremely
dangerous signals to Baku.”

For the full text of the RFE/RL report, visit:

54F-736F-4A52-A74C-A5CFAA15132F.ASP

ArmenPress
Aug 2 2004

37 ENTERPRISES PRIVATIZED THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: Some 1,894 formerly state-run
enterprise have been privatized in Armenia since 1994 when the
process started and 37 have been privatized this year. The overall
amount of privatization proceeds made 111 billion drams, of which 1.3
billion were raised this year.
A government-affiliated department for privatization said 31 of
this year’s enterprises were privatized through direct sale.

Interfax
Aug 2 2004

Armenian budget surplus 1% of GDP in H1

Yerevan. (Interfax) – The budget surplus in Armenia in the first half
of 2004 amounted to 5.96 million dram or 1% of GDP, a source in the
republic’s Finance and Economics Ministry told Interfax.

Budget revenue in January-June this year amounted to 126.766 billion
dram (21.1% of GDP), with expenditure of 120.8 billion dram (20.1% of
GDP).

Armenian GDP in January-June 2004 increased 9.1% year-on-year to
600.04 billion dram.

The republic’s budget for 2004 was confirmed with a deficit of 42.9
billion dram or 2.53% of GDP. Revenue is planned at 274.1 billion
dram, with expenditure of 317 billion dram.
The official exchange rate on July 30 was 519.07 dram to the dollar.

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
July 31 2004

$20 million settlement for Armenian genocide

By Lisa Mascaro
Staff Writer

Heirs of relatives killed in the Armenian Genocide nearly a century
ago reached a $20 million settlement Friday for old life-insurance
claims, a landmark decision hailed as a step in formally recognizing
the atrocity.
The lead plaintiff in the class-action suit is Martin Marootian, an
88-year-old La Canada Flintridge resident, whose family spent years
fighting to collect unpaid benefits on his uncle, who they said was a
victim of the genocide in the summer of 1915.

“We finally got to the end of the line,” Marootian said. “I’m glad
this thing is finally over. It’s been a long trip for me.”

Attorneys claimed a historic victory, saying the settlement
acknowledges the genocide — when 1.5 million Armenians in the
Turkish Ottoman Empire were killed. Turkey denies a genocide
occurred, and maintains that Armenians were killed in civil unrest
during the collapse of the empire.

Attorney Brian S. Kabateck, joined by co-counsel Mark Geragos outside
U.S. District Court, said the “case isn’t about money. The case is
about bringing attention about the genocide.”

“We’re delighted not just because we’re two sons, grandsons, of the
Armenian Genocide, but because this is a first significant step,”
said Geragos, who like Kabateck is of Armenian descent.

The class of plaintiffs includes 2,300 Armenians who had policies
with New York Life Insurance Co., but whose families failed to
collect benefits after their loved ones died.

New York Life sold about 8,000 policies in the Ottoman Empire
beginning in the 1880s, with less than half of those bought by
Armenians. It stopped selling insurance there in 1915.

The company said it located about one-third of the policyholders’
descendants to pay benefits. The rest of the policies languished
because the remaining heirs could not be found, the firm said.

Attorneys will now begin publicizing the settlement across the United
States and other countries, and beneficiaries will have six months to
file notice. For information, go to

The suit never accused New York Life as being complicitous in the
genocide, and only sought to win benefits for those who never
received them.

An attorney for New York Life said the company was satisfied with the
settlement and hoped to reach those owed benefits.

“It’s fair, adequate and reasonable,” said New York Life’s attorney,
John Carroll Holmes. “New York Life behaved very nobly in the face of
the atrocities and paid all the claims that came forward.”

U.S. District Court Christina A. Snyder granted preliminary approval
to the settlement in February before signing off the final agreement
Friday.

Filed in 1999, the class-action case developed as Marootian, who was
born in New York in 1915, and his family had struggled to get
benefits on his uncle.

Under the settlement, $11 million will go toward families; $3 million
to nine Armenian charities, primarily on the East Coast and in
Southern California; $4 million in legal fees; and $2 million for
administrative costs.

Any money not awarded to the families, attorneys or for
administrative costs will go to the charities.

As lead plaintiff, Marootian was awarded $250,000, which the judge
said was fair after “having been at this much of his adult life.”

The attorneys pressed for the large award for Marootian because of
the time and effort he put into the case, as well as the criticism he
endured by some in the Armenian community who mistakenly thought the
$20 million settlement was for reparations for the genocide — rather
than outstanding insurance claims — and complained that the sum was
too small, Kabateck said.

Among the nine charities are the Glendale-based Armenian Educational
Foundation and Burbank-based Armenian Church of North America Western
Diocese.

ARKA News Agency
July 30 2004

The Head of WB Yerevan Office Highly estimates four-year cooperation
with RA Government

In August E-Armenia Foundation to start educational campaign on
electronic system of territorial management in communities

President of Republic of Komi Vladimir Torlopov arrives in Armenia

State Labor Inspection to be established in Armenia

President of Iran to come to Armenia with official visit on September
8-9

*********************************************************************

THE HEAD OF WB YEREVAN OFFICE HIGHLY ESTIMATES FOUR-YEAR COOPERATION
WITH RA GOVERNMENT

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. The Head of WB Yerevan Office Roger
Robinson highly estimates four-year cooperation with RA Government,
RA Government told ARKA. During the meeting with RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian Robinson stated that it is one of the best
examples of cooperation of WB with the government of foreign country.
It was also noted that credit on assistance to poverty reduction will
be represented to WB Directors Board on November 18, 2004 and till
then the parties will continue estimation works and negotiations. The
parties also discussed process of realization of strategic program on
poverty reduction, reforms in different spheres and joint works in
given direction. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

IN AUGUST E-ARMENIA FOUNDATION TO START EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM OF TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT IN COMMUNITIES

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. In August E-Armenia Foundation together
with UNDP will start educational campaign on electronic system of
territorial management in communities, E-Armenia Foundation told
ARKA. The program will include courses for teachers of schools,
involved in Project Harmony program, also conduct meetings and
discussions with representatives of communities. By means of local
television, radio and printed media and Internet the parties will
conduct special campaign on increase of familiarization of citizens
on e-government.
The program will end in December 2004. In the frames of the program
the organizer opened an Internet site
Project Harmony Office operates in Armenia since 2000.
E-Armenia Foundation realized program Armenian Development Gateway in
Armenia. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

PRESIDENT OF REPUBLIC OF KOMI VLADIMIR TORLOPOV ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. President of Republic of Komi Vladimir
Torlopov arrived today in Armenia on the invitation of RA PM Andranik
Margarian, RA Government press office told ARKA. Torlopov will meet
with the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, Catholicos of All Armenia Garegin II, Security
Council Secretary, Minister of Defense Serge Sargsian, RA NA Vice
Speaker Tigran Torosian. Torlopov will also visit memorial of
Armenian Genocide victims, culture objects and other sites. L.D.
–0–

*********************************************************************

STATE LABOR INSPECTION TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. According to RA Government decision, RA
State Labor Inspection will be established at the RA Ministry of
Labor and Social Issues. According to the RA Government Press Service
and Public Relations Department, the Inspection will carry out state
control of retaining the Labor code and other legislative normative
acts in labor sphere. L.V. –0–

*********************************************************************

PRESIDENT OF IRAN TO COME TO ARMENIA WITH OFFICIAL VISIT ON SEPTEMBER
8-9

YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. The President of Iran Mohammad Khatami will
come to Armenia with official visit on September 8-9, 2004, according
to RA Government Press Service and Public Relations Department
The details of the forthcoming visit were discussed in course of the
visit of Artashes Tumanyan, Head of RA President’s administration and
Co-chairman of Armenian-Iran intergovernmental commission on economic
relations to Iran on June 21-23. L.V.–0–

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF GEORGIA SALOME ZURABISHVILI VISITS HOLY
ETCHMIADZIN

ETCHMIADZIN, July 26 (Noyan Tapan). Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Georgia Salome Zurabishvili visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
on July 22.

Bishop Paren Avetikian, Head of the Monastic Council, manager on
administrative and organization issues of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, received her and conveyed the best wishes of Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II. Greeting the Georgian guest, the Bishop
touched upon the warm and brotherly relations both between the
countries and churches. Salome Zurabishvili expressed her gratitude to
the Holy Father for his reception. She also presented the internal
situation in Georgia and the regional problems. According to the
Information System of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Georgia accompanied by Bishop Avetikian visited
the Cathedral and the museum at the end of the meeting. Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Georgy
Khosroev and other officials were also present at the meeting.

THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]
Internet site:

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE – TURKEY

23 July 2004

IPA concerned about dangers threatening publishers in lead up to
consideration of Turkey’s membership in the EU

SOURCE: International Publishers’ Association (IPA), Geneva

**Updates IFEX alert of 15 June 2004**

(IPA/IFEX) – The following is a 19 July 2004 IPA press release:

NGOs meet Commissioner Verheugen on Turkey

The International Publishers Association (IPA) is deeply concerned
about the dangers that threaten Turkish publishers when pursuing their
profession. “We call upon the Turkish authorities to implement the
many reforms that were passed. Implementation is key and must not
surrender to bureaucratic conservatism or any other hurdle,” says
Ana-Maria Cabanellas, President of the IPA.

On 15 July 2004, eight international NGOs met with Enlargement
Commissioner Günter Verheugen in Brussels to discuss the progress made
by Turkey in the field of Human Rights.

The Commission will issue a recommendation this September on whether
EU member states should start membership negotiations with Turkey in
December 2004 or not. It is indeed in December that Heads of States
and Governments will decide on this. They have already indicated that
they would follow the recommendation issued by the Commission.

The IPA recalled that last year 43 books were banned and 37 writers
and 17 publishers were put on trial. To date in 2004, at least 15
books have been banned in Turkey.

While welcoming the legislative and constitutional changes in Turkey,
the IPA expressed its three main concerns: 1. the legal impediments to
the practice of the right to freedom of expression in Turkey; 2. the
current tendency of Turkish Security Courts to harass writers,
journalists and publishers by putting them on trial more and more
often, fining them or just postponing their trials indefinitely;
3. the lack of implementation of legal reforms regarding freedom of
expression.

Lars Grahn, Chairman of IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee, says, “The
six following taboos are obvious hurdles to freedom of expression and
to publishing in Turkey: Position of the Military, Kurdish Question,
Armenian Genocide, Kemalism, Women’s Liberation and Islamic
Law. Treating writers, journalists and publishers as potential
terrorists or criminals and judging them in the same courts as drug
traffickers and/or real terrorists is unacceptable.”

For further information, contact IPA, 3, avenue de Miremont, Ch-1206,
Geneva, Switzerland, tel: +41 22 346 30 18, fax: +41 22 347 57 17,
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Internet:

The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of IPA. In citing this material for broadcast or
publication, please credit IPA.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 23 2004

CONDOLEEZZA RICE: `USA CONSIDERS AZERBAIJAN CLOSE FRIEND AND ALLY’
[July 23, 2004, 22:15:35]

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov who is
staying with a working visit in Washington on the invitation of the
US State Secretary Colin Powell, on July 22 and 23 has carried out a
number of meetings in the capital of US.

As the correspondent of AzerTAj informs, during the discussions which
have been carried out with the assistant of the State Secretary on
Europe and Eurasia affairs Elizabeth Jones, the assistant on
military-political affairs Lincoln Bloomfield, the assistant on
democracy, human rights and work by Michael Cossack, the Ambassador
Plenipotentiary on international religious freedom John Hanford, Mr.
Elmar Mammadyarov has in detail informed about carried out in
Azerbaijan political and economic reforms, integration of our country
into the NATO and other European structures, the steps undertaken by
the government in the direction of improvement of situation,
connected with human rights. The sides have carried out exchange of
opinions on a wide spectrum of relations between the USA and
Azerbaijan.

At the meeting with the American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
and the adviser on diplomacy of the Caspian basin Steven Mann,
discussed were ways of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict and power projects carried out in our region.

Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov also has met assistant to the US President on
national security affairs Condoleezza Rice. Madam Rice has thanked
the Azerbaijan side for the support rendered to struggle against
global terror. Having expressed satisfaction with development of
connections between our countries, Ms. Rice has told: `The United
States considers Azerbaijan its `close friend and ally’.

Elmar Mammadyarov has told about situation in the complex geo-politic
region in which Azerbaijan is located, about reforms carried out in
our country. The Minister has noted, that the relations between
Azerbaijan and the USA continue to remain at the level of strategic
partnership.

The sides also have had exchange of views on development and
transportation of power resources of the Caspian basin, programs of
the US assistance in region of Southern Caucasus, relations of
Azerbaijan with the next states. The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict was one of themes of negotiations. Condoleezza Rice
has emphasized, that the US are interested in the immediate peace
settlement of the problem and as the intermediary in the given area
would support efforts on search of ways of settlement of the
conflict.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has met also Congressmen –
James Gibbon and chairman of subcommittee on external operations of
the House of Representatives by James Coble. On discussions with
American legislators, Elmar Mammadyarov has emphasized, that the
decision of the Congress on granting in 2005 fiscal year of the
military aid to Azerbaijan and Armenia in the identical size has not
been unequivocally perceived in the country. He has stated: `While
from first day of antiterrorist struggle Azerbaijan shows real
support to the US, the Congress’s similar decisions directs the
public of our country false political message. In reply to it, the
Congressmen have noted, that they would try to bring to the notice of
their colleagues the position of Azerbaijan in the said question.

Elmar Mammadyarov also met the board of editors of the newspaper
`Washington Times’, has answered their numerous questions.

The American-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce has held a reception in
honor of Minister of Foreign Affairs of our country. On reception,
there were representatives of a diplomatic corps in Washington, the
governmental structures of the US, the non-governmental
organizations.

On July 24, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov is to come back to Baku.

Le Figaro, France
21 juillet 2004

TURQUIE Le premier ministre, reçu hier à l’Elysée par Jacques Chirac,
a plaidé pour l’adhésion de son pays à l’Union européenne

Chirac demande à Erdogan un dernier effort

Luc de Barochez
[21 juillet 2004]

La France a délivré hier un double message d’encouragement et de
patience à la Turquie : Ankara est bien engagée sur la voie de
l’adhésion à l’Union européenne (UE), mais le chemin sera long.
L’ouverture des négociations, qui sera en principe décidée en
décembre à Bruxelles par les chefs d’État et de gouvernement de l’UE,
dépend encore des derniers efforts à accomplir par la Turquie pour
adapter sa législation aux critères européens.

Jacques Chirac a reçu le premier ministre turc, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
autour d’un déjeuner à l’Élysée. Lors d’un tête-à-tête avec son hôte,
le président de la République a renouvelé son soutien à la
candidature turque à l’UE. «Il a rappelé que l’intégration de la
Turquie dans l’Union européenne était souhaitable dès qu’elle serait
possible», a rapporté l’Élysée.

Pour en arriver là, Jacques Chirac a demandé au chef du gouvernement
turc de «poursuivre et intensifier la mise en oeuvre des réformes
démocratiques et économiques». La Commission européenne doit remettre
début octobre son rapport indiquant si la Turquie a adapté sa
législation aux critères européens. Lors de leur dernier sommet le
mois dernier à Bruxelles, les chefs d’État et de gouvernement de l’UE
avaient demandé à Ankara des progrès supplémentaires concernant le
respect des droits de l’homme et la réforme de la justice. C’est au
vu des réformes effectivement appliquées qu’ils prendront leur
décision en décembre.

Erdogan s’est d’ores et déjà déclaré assuré du soutien de la France à
l’issue des entretiens qu’il a eus hier et avant-hier avec les plus
hautes autorités de l’État. «Nous avons eu un entretien très
positif», a déclaré le chef du gouvernement turc en sortant de
l’Élysée. Il a assuré, lors d’une conférence de presse, que la
Turquie avait «fait tout ce qui était nécessaire» pour respecter les
critères législatifs, administratifs et judiciaires de l’UE. «Nous
avons réalisé, en gros, l’essentiel des critères», fixés par l’Union,
a-t-il dit. Il a reconnu qu’il restait «encore quelques changements à
apporter au Code pénal turc». D’après lui, ce sera chose faite «dès
la fin des vacances parlementaires» à Ankara.

Conscient des réticences dans la classe politique et l’opinion
publique française, Erdogan a minimisé la portée de la décision que
doit prendre le Conseil européen. «En décembre, il ne s’agira pas de
décider de l’adhésion de la Turquie, mais seulement de l’ouverture du
processus de négociation», a-t-il dit. Le premier ministre turc a
exclu que l’UE pose des conditions à l’ouverture des négociations
autres que les critères généraux, dits «de Copenhague», déjà
appliqués pour l’entrée en mai de dix nouveaux pays dans l’Union. Ni
la reconnaissance du génocide arménien, ni la fin de l’occupation
militaire du nord de Chypre ne figurent parmi les revendications de
l’UE pour le lancement des pourparlers. En ce qui concerne le
génocide, «laissons cela aux mains des historiens», a lancé Erdogan.
Quant à Chypre, la Turquie a fait «tout son possible pour être
constructive», a-t-il affirmé en imputant à la seule partie chypriote
grecque l’échec des tentatives récentes de réunification de l’île.

Pour gagner les chefs d’entreprise français à la cause de l’adhésion
turque, Erdogan a eu hier matin un entretien au Medef. Les
négociations pour l’achat d’avions moyen et long courriers Airbus par
la compagnie nationale turque Turkish Airlines «sont en cours de
finalisation», selon les autorités françaises. Turkish Airlines se
prépare à acheter une quarantaine d’avions de ligne pour renouveler
sa flotte vieillissante. Airbus est en concurrence avec l’américain
Boeing. Le contrat de 1,6 milliard d’euros devrait en principe être
partagé entre les deux avionneurs. La signature de la lettre
d’intention serait imminente, ce qui mettrait les Européens dans les
meilleures dispositions.

Candidate officielle depuis 1999, la Turquie a obtenu, lors de la
visite d’Erdogan à Paris, la quasi-assurance qu’elle pourra commencer
les négociations d’adhésion dès l’an prochain. Mais, une fois
ouvertes, elles s’annoncent très difficiles. «Il faut dire la vérité.
Ce n’est pas demain que la Turquie va entrer dans l’UE, a expliqué le
ministre des Affaires étrangères, Michel Barnier, hier sur Europe 1.
Le chemin est encore long.»

Erdogan en a déduit que les pourparlers dureront «cinq à dix ans».
Pour Ankara, qui s’est vu offrir dès 1963 la perspective d’une entrée
dans la Communauté, ce n’est plus qu’une dernière ligne droite.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: ARMENIA INTERESTED IN STABILITY IN GEORGIA

21.07.2004 18:20

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia interested in stability in Georgia, Armenian Prime
Minster Andranik Margarian stated today at the meeting with Georgian Foreign
Minister Salome Zubarashvili, who is on visit in Yerevan at present. Head of
the Armenian government said he is satisfied with the level of bilateral
relations. During the meeting the parties also touched upon the problems of
numerous Armenian Diaspora in Georgia. A. Margarian expressed hope that the
Georgian leadership will pay special attention to the resolving of
social-economic and cultural-educational problems of Armenians residing in
Samtshke-Javakheti region of Georgia.