Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

Assassination attempt on Armenian businessman

Mediamax news agency
26 May 04

Yerevan, 26 May: An assassination attempt was made on the businessman,
president and director general of the company Armenia-Lada, Rafael
Shakhmuradyan in Yerevan, on the night of 24th to 25th May, the
Yerevan newspaper Ayots Ashkhar reported today.

Quoting sources in the law-enforcement bodies, the newspaper noted
that the assassination attempt was committed on the Bagramyan avenue,
close to Friendship Square. A weapon in a Niva vehicle opened fire
on the Nissan-Patrol which Rafael Shakhmuradyan was driving.

Ayots Ashkhar reported that Rafael Shakhmuradyan was severely wounded
and is in hospital. The gang disappeared from the scene of the crime.

The company Armenia-Lada is the largest importer of the vehicles
produced in Russia. The company Karkomavto, which also belongs to
Shakkhmuradyan, is a Peugeot and Nissan dealer in Armenia.

Beast on the Moon, Hit Play About Armenian Survivors, To Make NYC Debut in 2005
By Kenneth Jones

Playbill.com, NY
May 25 2004

Beast on the Moon, the well-reviewed regional and international play
about an Armenian couple forging a romance in America while being
haunted by the 1915 genocide that rocked their country, will get its
Off Broadway debut in spring 2005.

American playwright Richard Kalinoski’s play debuted in 1995 at
the Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of
Louisville. The intimate four-actor show later blossomed in American
regional theatres, from Los Angeles to Boston, and has since appeared
in 15 different countries winning over 30 awards (including five
Moliere Awards in Paris and five Ace Awards in Buenos Aires, taking
the award for Best Play in both cities).

Larry Moss, who directed The Syringa Tree to North American success,
will direct Beast on the Moon in New York City. Casting is ongoing.

Playwright Kalinoski is a college professor at the University of
Wisconsin, Osh Kosh, where he teaches in the Theatre Arts department.

David Grillo, an actor who appeared in a 1999 Boston production of
the play, is to be lead producer for the commercial Off-Broadway
stand. Roy Gabay will serve as general manager.

The title, Beast on the Moon, refers to an ominous lunar eclipse.

“So much appeals to me about Beast that it is hard to find a
place to begin,” producer Grillo told Playbill On Line. “It is
an extraordinarily challenging drama with a surprising number of
well-earned laughs. The play takes its audiences through an emotional
cataclysm and delivers them, at its finish, to joyful redemption.
I don’t like plays that ask me to jump through emotional hoops and
then leave me beaten up by the side of the road. Beast is redemptive.
The journey is hard, but one for which the audience is enormously
grateful. Also very important for me right now is that Beast on the
Moon is a play about Muslim/Christian relations that stresses healing.”

Beast on the Moon is a four-actor romance about two survivors –
Aram and Seta, a young man and his mail order bride – who settle
in Milwaukee between the World Wars (spanning 12 years) and seek to
start a family in the wake of the genocide of their past. They end
up taking an orphan under their wing. A narrator provides context.

The play received the 1996 Osborn Award from the American Theatre
Critics Association, recognizing an emerging playwright.

Rehearsals begin in January 2005 toward previews in February and a
March opening. A theatre has not been announced.

Producer Grillo has two degrees from the University of California at
Berkeley, in Economics and Dramatic Arts, plus a masters in fine arts
in acting from the Yale School of Drama.

In 2003, Grillo acquired the rights to produce the play in New York,
after 10 months of negotiations. This is the first time the
playwright has granted the New York rights.

Honors and awards

Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA
May 24 2004

John A. Swanson, founder of the Southpointe software firm Ansys Inc.,
is the winner of this year’s John Fritz Medal awarded by the American
Association of Engineering Societies.

The medal, established in 1902, is considered one of the highest
awards in the engineering profession. Previous winners include Orville
Wright, Alexander Graham Bell and George Westinghouse. Swanson earned a
doctorate in applied mechanics at the University of Pittsburgh in 1966.

A University of Pittsburgh mathematics student, Sevak Lazarian,
placed 12th out of more than 3,600 undergraduates from 479 colleges
and universities and won $1,000 in the latest William Lowell Putnam
Mathematics Competition.

The annual competition is the most prestigious math contest for
undergraduates; on the first Saturday each December, students take
a six-hour test.

Originally from Yerevan, Armenia, Lazarian attended Moscow Institute
of Physics and Technology before coming to Pitt in 2001. He has
been accepted into the graduate math program at the University of
California, Berkeley.

Another Pitt student, Dorian Croitoru, received an honorable mention.
He plans to pursue his graduate studies at Pitt.

Russian defence minister to visit Armenia
By Alexander Konovalov

Itar-Tass, Russia
May 20 2004

MOSCOW, May 20 — Russian Acting Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov will
leave for Armenia on Thursday for a two-day working visit.

After arriving in Yerevan, the minister will have talks with his
counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan to discuss prospects for development of the
military and technical military cooperation between Russia and Armenia,
including deliveries of Russian military machinery and weapons and
forming of a Russian-Armenian regional military unit similar to that
being formed by Moscow and Minsk, a Russian Defence Ministry source
told Itar-Tass.

The two ministers will also discuss international and regional
security issues, including the situation in Iraq, the Middle East,
Afghanistan and the Caucasus.

Ivanov will participate in the meeting of the CIS defence minister
council on May 21.

There are 20 issues on the meeting agenda, including development of
the CIS united air-defence system, joint exercises and cooperation
to prevent proliferation of mass destruction weapons.

The same day, the Russian minister will have a series of bilateral
meetings with CIS counterparts.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is expected to receive the meeting
participants.

Russian, Armenian leaders upbeat on bilateral cooperation

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
14 May 04

Novo-Ogarevo, 14 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan believes
that the “major Russian-Armenian deal to write off debts in exchange
for property” has made it possible to develop not only military and
technical cooperation but also economic collaboration on the whole. He
said this today at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Very interesting events are taking place at present in the economic
sphere, for instance, a major Russian bank, Vneshtorgbank, has launched
its work in Armenia. A very interesting contract in the chemical
sphere has been signed: the chemical industry is being developed on
a major scale in Armenia with the help of Russian investments. There
are many examples of Russian businessmen’s active participation in
construction and other spheres,” the Armenian leader said.

According to Kocharyan, ” a major deal on writing off debts in exchange
for property has served as the starting point”. “We used to discuss
the military and technical components of cooperation all the time
before and outline what sectors of economy were lagging behind,” the
Armenian president said. “I can say with full confidence that there has
begun very synchronized progress regarding all the positions,” he said.

[In an earlier report at 0928 gmt the agency said that Putin was
satisfied with the development of cooperation with Armenia, but at
the same time he believed that there was a great potential for future
developments. “Moscow and Yerevan have many opportunities to work
even better and more efficiently,” the agency quoted Putin as saying.

The agency said in a separate report at 0938 gmt that Putin expressed
his hope the current visit would be useful for both sides. “I don’t
only hope, I am confident that your current working visit will be
beneficial for our collaboration and will help us to intensify our
links,” the agency quoted Putin as saying at the talks with Kocharyan.]

THE MESSAGE OF NKR PRESIDENT

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
May 10, 2004

May 9 is a great holiday for our country. This day has always been dear
to our nation. Not very long ago on May 9 we celebrated the victory of
our common homeland against fascist Germany in the Great Patriotic War,
a war where every second soldier from Artsakh was killed. However,
12 years ago May 9 acquired a special meaning for us becoming fatal
for the Armenians of Artsakh. On this day Shoushi was liberated again
becoming Armenian, as it should be. Shoushi was liberated by the NKR
Defence Army which surprised the world with its valor and military
efficiency, and on this day it also celebrates the day of its creation
on May 9. By the liberation of Shoushi the â^À^ÜRoad of Lifeâ^À^Ý
to Armenia was opened saving the people of Artsakh from the danger
of physical extermination. This is the essence of the liberation of
Shoushi. It is very symbolic that we celebrate these three holidays
on the same day. This coincidence incarnates the succession of
generations. The glorious military traditions of the grandfathers and
fathers, who worked miracles of courage and valor during World War II,
were duly continued by the new generation of the people of Artsakh,
who obtained and defended the freedom and independence of Artsakh in
the battles with the enemy exceeding them in number and arms. Glory
to the martyrs for the happy future of Artsakh. The duty of us the
living is not to let the blood shed by them be in vain. Glory to our
veterans of war. The government of the republic will continue to keep
in the center of attention their needs and cares. The NKR Defence
Army formed in the furnace of the struggle for independence continues
to be the most reliable guarantor of the security of the Republic of
Nagorni Karabakh and its people. Today when in Azerbaijan they try to
hinder the course of history cherishing revanchist hopes to solve the
problem of Karabakh by force, we have no right to weaken the military
building, we must equip the army with modern weapons, maintain the
rates of improvement of military skills. At the same time once again
I declare with full responsibility that the NKR Defence Army is the
army of peace. Its priority was and remains the defence of Nagorni
Karabakh and its population from external aggression. Be sure that our
army is ready to counterattack the enemy at any moment if it dares to
disturb our peaceful life and encroach upon our independence. Dear
fellow countrymen, the May holidays overlap with another important
event; 10 years ago in the area of the Karabakh conflict Azerbaijan,
Nagorni Karabakh and Armenia signed the agreement on cease-fire. At
that time Azerbaijan had to recognize Nagorni Karabakh as a conflict
party and signed the cease-fire with Karabakh due to the success
of our army. And if the cease-fire is maintained up today, the
main role in this belongs to the power of the NKR army defending
our homeland. Therefore, our army is one of the active guarantees
for the maintenance of the peaceful process of the regulation of the
conflict. I want to assure you that the NKR government is as formerly
loyal to peaceful regulation of the Karabakh conflict. Dear people of
Artsakh, I congratulate you on our Victory. I wish all of us peace,
well-being and happiness.

AA.

CIS security chief in Kazakhstan urges “uniform standards” for armed forces

Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty
12 May 04

Astana, 12 May: Service in the CSTO Collective Security Treaty
Organization; members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Russia member states’ armed forces should be based
on uniform standards, the secretary-general of the CSTO, Nikolay
Bordyuzha, told journalists following the meeting with Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana on 12 May.

Speaking about military cooperation within the CSTO, Bordyuzha
stressed that it was necessary to perfect the system of Collective
Rapid Deployment Forces CRDF in Central Asia. In particular, he
clarified, this is about the need to introduce uniform standards
for the armed forces of the CSTO member states, including military
equipment, and boost military-economic cooperation.

“We should perfect the CRDF in Central Asia as well as regional forces
existing today. We are talking about the necessity to introduce uniform
standards, we are talking about giving an impetus to military-technical
cooperation,” Bordyuzha said.

Passage omitted: background on the CSTO

Armenian president not to attend NATO summit in Istanbul

Turkish Daily News
May 11 2004

ANKARA – Turkish Daily News — Armenian President Robert Kocharian
will not attend a NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29, a spokesman
for Kocharian was quoted as saying on Monday.

The decision not to take part in the historic summit is “explained
by the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations,” Presidential
Press Secretary Ashot Kocharian said in an interview with Russia’s
ITAR-TASS news agency.

No progress in bilateral relations was seen in 2003,” the press
secretary said. “Armenia reiterates its readiness to improve relations
with Turkey without preliminary conditions,” he said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan will represent the country
at Istanbul’s summit.

Heads of state or government of some 46 countries, including U.S.
President George W. Bush are to attend the NATO summit in Istanbul,
which will welcome seven new members in the alliance’s biggest ever
enlargement.

Armenia is working with NATO as part of the alliance’s Partnership
for Peace program with some of the former Soviet republics.

Turkey became one of the first countries to recognize the independent
Armenia in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union
but relations with this country has been severed after Armenian
forces occupied Azeri territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. As part of a
trade blockade against Armenia, Turkey also keeps its border gate
with Armenia closed for the last ten years.

Turkey’s conditions for normalization of relations with Armenia are
withdrawal of Armenian troops from Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan’s stopping
to support Armenian diaspora efforts aimed at international recognition
of allegations of an Armenian genocide at the hands of late Ottoman
Empire and its renouncing territorial claims on Turkey’s eastern part.

Karabakh urges trilateral peace declaration

Mediamax news agency
12 May 04

Yerevan, 12 May: The Nagornyy Karabakh Republic (NKR) Foreign
Ministry today called on the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan
“to reaffirm their adherence to maintaining the cease-fire regime
until the signing of a peace agreement and the adoption of a relevant
trilateral declaration”.

According to Mediamax news agency, the NKR Foreign Ministry also
proposed that the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group “render their
utmost assistance in elaborating a new document which will become a
serious move towards establishing an atmosphere of confidence between
the conflicting sides as the necessary condition for achieving peace
and comprehensive integration in our region”.

“The NKR Foreign Ministry hopes that this proposal will receive the
support of all the interested sides, which will demonstrate to the
peoples of the region the sincere desire of their leaders to achieve a
stable peace and security in the South Caucasus,” the statement reads.

KARABAKH IMPORTANT FACTOR IN CAUCASUS – NKR Foreign Minister

Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, Yerevan
8 May 04

Text of Galust Nanyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayastani
Hanrapetutyun on 8 May headlined “The NKR is an important factor in
the region”

This is an interview with the foreign minister of the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic (NKR), Ashot Gulyan. The Bishkek agreement on the
armistice signed on 12 May 1994 will mark its 10th anniversary
soon. It does not contain any term, it only says that the armistice
should last until the signing of a peace agreement.

According to NKR Foreign Minister Ashot Gulyan, when the armistice
agreement was signed, the NKR was given the opportunity to start
peaceful life. “It is natural that the Karabakh party’s participation
in the signing of the armistice agreement, as well as in other
discussions, was one the most painful problems for Azerbaijan,” Gulyan
said.

Irrespective of everything, the most important thing is that they
reached such an agreement and it is still in force. According to
Gulyan, if the NKR as a party is responsible for maintaining the
armistice, so the NKR should logically be a full participant in the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

When several months ago the former foreign minister of Azerbaijan,
Vilayat Quliyev, said that Azerbaijan is ready to negotiate directly
with the NKR if Armenia walks out of this process, Ashot Gulyan says
that it was not serious readiness. This was simply a regular political
step on the part of Azerbaijan and aimed to find out what response it
will get.

“The NKR president, as well as numerous members of the NKR Foreign
Ministry, have repeatedly said that the Karabakh party is ready to
negotiate with Azerbaijan in any format without any pre-conditions,”
Gulyan said.

He also said that in the 10 years they managed to make quite serious
progress in the issue of creating and establishing an independent
state.

Gulyan said that thanks to these efforts, the NKR has really become an
important factor in the region. If earlier the NKR was seen in the
region only as a military and political factor, which had military
potential, today “I think that the level of the NKR’s economic and
public development allows us to say that Nagornyy Karabakh is really
an important factor in the region in all spheres,” Gulyan said.

As for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict in this context, Gulyan said that only Armenia and
Turkey can settle these relations. “I have the impression that the
Turkish government is hostage to the pre-conditions put forward by
Azerbaijan from time to time,” Gulyan said.