Author: Toganian Liana

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

The European Union Commission Reaffirms Armenia’s Inclusion in the New
Neighborhood Initiative

On June 14, the European Union General Affairs and External Relations
Council reaffirmed the Commission’s proposal to include Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan in its New Neighborhood Initiative. This decision means that the
three countries will each develop individual plans for deeper cooperation
with and possible integration into Europe. At the same time, each country’s
advancement will be judged individually, based on its own merits and
accomplishments.

The Council noted that the region is stable and that Europe is interested in
bolstering democracy and prosperity in the region. It also took into
consideration the suggestions of the European Parliament and the EU’s
Special Representative on the South Caucasus to include the three countries
in the New Neighborhood Initiative. The Council noted that this marks an
important step in the EU’s involvement in the region.

The Council also invited the Commision and the representative of the General
Secretary/High Representative to present individual country reports on
matters relating to political cooperation, as well as foreign and security
policy, and taking into consideration individual political and economic
reforms.

The decision must be finalized at the EU Council meeting on June 17-18.
Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian, welcomed the
Council’s determination and said Armenia awaits the final decision later
this week, and looks forward to an even deeper relationship with the EU,
that brings with it the prospect, if not the promise, of full European
integration.

8th int’l economic forum opens in St Pete Tuesday

ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 15 2004

ST PETERSBURG, June 15 (Itar-Tass) – The 8th Petersburg international
economic forum opens here on Tuesday under the motto of “Effective
Economy — Decent Life”. The forum has been organised by the
Interparliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS), the Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament
with the participation of the Government of the Russian Federation
and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Heads of Government, parliament chiefs, the leaders of international
organisations, and members of the economic and political elites of
a number of countries will attend a plenary meeting, which will be
broadcast in the Internet. A keynote report is to be delivered by
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.

Participants in the three-day forum are to devote special attention
to matters concerning economic growth and the quality of life
under globalisation conditions, the development of the European
Union’s economic relations with Russia and other CIS countries, the
economic and social reform processes, the development of contemporary
information technologies, the attraction of investments, accession of
new countries to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). These and other
matters will be discussed at both plenary sessions and at the forum’s
26 roundtable meetings, some of which will take place in Moscow.

The forum’s programme also provides for a CIS business congress that
will deal with an analysis of the development of interaction within
the CIS business community, including that concerning support for and
the protection of the interests of small and medium-sized businesses,
the expansion of cooperation in the fair-and-exhibition activities,
deeper interaction between State and public organisations of CIS
countries within the framework of negotiations for accession to the
WTO. At the close of the congress, the participating businessmen are
expected to adopt a Final Statement.

At the Mikhailovsky Manege exhibition center, there will be also
exhibitions-and-presentation of the economic resources of Russia’s
Southern Federal District, the Republic of Armenia, and the Czech
Republic, and an exhibition on the theme of “The Mineral and Raw
Material Resources of CIS Countries”.

MP Owen bites own ass

Georgia Straight, Canada
June 10 2004

STEPHEN OWEN, THE federal public works minister and Vancouver Quadra
Liberal MP, appears to have talked himself out of a future cabinet
position if the Paul Martin Liberals form a government and he wins
his seat.

Owen did himself in, according to a federal Liberal source, when in a
June 4 Globe and Mail story he accused the Jean Chrétien government
of direct involvement in the $100-million sponsorship scandal. Owen
added that civil legal action against former government officials
could be launched “very soon”.

“There was clearly some political influence,” Owen said. “You’ve
got [former minister Alfonso] Gagliano already identified, [former
Chrétien chief of staff Jean] Pelletier already identified. So you
clearly have got political involvement at the highest levels.”

With Martin desperately trying to put the damaging sponsorship scandal
behind him and gain needed help from the Chrétien crew, Owen’s actions
might have been the last straw.

The sponsorship reminder, pounced on by Owen’s Conservative opponent,
Stephen Rogers, fits into an Owen pattern of poor political judgment.

On April 21, Owen strongly angered Martin and his cabinet colleagues
when he skipped a vote on a motion condemning the 1915 Turkish massacre
of 1.5 million Armenians.

The motion passed, but Martin had ordered all cabinet ministers
to vote against it, fearing it would harm relations with Turkey.
Environment Minister David Anderson voted against the motion, but
Owen was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, when she voted for the resolution, Vancouver Centre Liberal
MP Hedy Fry didn’t improve her chances of returning to cabinet if
reelected.

SMALL SINGERS OF ARMENIA’S REVELATION IN PARIS

ArmenPress
June 3 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 3, ARMENPRESS: The biggest revelation at a May 22
concert at Palais de Congres in Paris, that was celebrating French
singer, song writer and actor Charles Aznavour’s 80-th anniversary
was Small Singers of Armenia group, headed by composer and conductor
Tigran Hekekian. They performed Aznavour’s Pour Toi, Armenia (For You,
Armenia) song. The song was written after the terrible earthquake that
hit Armenia in 1988, when Aznavour brought in 89 artists to record
‘Pour Toi Armenie,” which was the first of the top fifty from the
first week it was out, remained on top of the list during several
weeks and sold over 2 million records in France.

The famous US singer, Liza Minelli that was among the guests, invited
by Aznavour, was delighted with the performance and was trying even to
replicate Armenian words. The Small Singers then performed another
song together with Aznavour in French. Hekekian said he noticed
tears in the eyes of Aznavour when he was listening to the children
singing Pour Toi, Armenie, while Liza Minelli said she was ready to
help issue a CD with the recording of the song.

French president Jacques Chirac reportedly asked the Armenian
ambassador to France to convey to Armenian president Kocharian that:
“You have a wonderful children choir that represents Armenia at the
highest level.”

In 1998 Aznavour was named Entertainer of the Century by CNN and users
of Time Online from around the globe with nearly 18% of the total vote,
edging out such greats as Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.

Born in Paris of Armenian parents he made his debut at the age of nine,
acting, dancing, singing, and he has not left the stage since then,
except for a short period during the Second World War. His first song
“J’ai Bu” received first prize for the record of the year. After that
his songs were one success after the other, and several great singers
sang and recorded them. among them were Edith Piaff, Maurice Chevalier,
Bing Crosby, Ray Charles, Shirley Bassey, Fred Astaire, Liza Minelli,
Placido Domingo.

For his role in “La Tete Contre Les Murs” he received the prize of
the Crystal Star as the best the male actor. Sixty other acting roles
followed, among them -Tirez sur le Pianiste” by Francois Truffaut,
“Un Taxi pour Tobrouk”, “Le Diable et les Dix Commandments”, “Les
Aventuriers” and “Le Tambour” In 1997 President Jacques Chirac named
Charles Aznavour “Officier de la Legion d’Honneur,” the highest honor
in France.

AZERBAIJAN, LITHUANIA: PROSPECTS OF CO-OP DISCUSSED
[May 25, 2004, 10:40:06]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 25 2004

On May 24, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov
has met the delegation led by the deputy foreign minister of Lithuania
Darius Yurgelevichius.

As informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, warmly having welcomed the visitors, minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has noted, that Lithuania has got wide experience on
the way of integration to Europe, and has congratulated them on its
recent admission into the NATO and the European Union. Having stated
that Azerbaijan shows interest to cooperation with Lithuania, the
Minister has noted, that this visit would benefit to strengthening
of friendship between our countries, and has expressed gratitude for
support of the position of Azerbaijan within the framework of the
international organizations.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has noted, that the meetings which have
been carried out by the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham
Aliyev with heads of structures of the European Union during the
recent working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, and signing of the
Protocol to the Agreement on partnership and cooperation between
the European Union and Azerbaijan create favorable conditions for
steady development of relations between our country and the mentioned
international organization.

The deputy foreign minister of Lithuania Darius Yurgelevichius has
emphasized necessity of development of links between his country
and Azerbaijan and in the field of policy, economy and tourism, and
also continuation of close cooperation of the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs of both states. He has noted, that development of relations
in the said form instills belief in prospects of cooperation between
our countries, and has emphasized necessity of continuation of closer
cooperation in the international organizations.

Then, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has told about participation of
our country in a number of large economic projects, including in
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum
gas pipelines, and also about effective cooperation with the
member-countries of Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
within the framework of the said structure, has in detail informed
the visitor on the Armenia -Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict,
the work done in the direction of its settlement, and heavy condition
of the refugees and IDPs.

At the meeting, also discussed were some questions of mutual interest.

Pilgrimage to the ‘homeland’
By Monica Deady / Staff Writer

regional/wtp_covwparmeniams05212004.htm
Friday, May 21, 2004

St. Stephen’s fifth-graders visit Armenia

Principal Houry Boyamian hugged each child goodbye as they passed
through the doors of their school and boarded the waiting bus. After
a bus ride, two flights and several hours in limbo, the students will
arrive in Armenia, their “homeland.”

Twelve fifth-graders at St. Stephen’s Elementary School in Watertown,
along with their families, left for a 10-day trip to Armenia Tuesday,
marking the first time the school is sending students to visit the
country; it’s also the 20th anniversary of the school.

“We’re not pretty excited, [we’re] very excited,” fifth-grader Tina
Halvadjian said, “just for the fact that we’re gonna see our homeland.”

Halvadjian, who had tears in her eyes as Boyamian hugged her on her
way to the bus, explained that this would be the first time they
“actually see what we’ve studied.”

“This is our first time going and it’s our homeland, too,” Hovig
Karahousaran said. He said he was excited to see cities and everything
on their itinerary.

Other excited students and parents said they could not say a specific
thing they were looking forward to, but that they were just excited
to see their “homeland.”

While in Armenia, the students will stay in Yerevan, the capital, for
a few days. They will tour the foreign ministry, as well as several
museums, visit two schools and meet children there, and see several
important religious places.

In addition, the students will be in the country for Republic Day,
or Armenian Independence Day, and be able to attend celebrations.

To raise money for the trip beforehand, coordinator Shari Melkonian
said the families held several fund-raisers and collected money outside
various stores. Several local vendors also contributed to their trip.

Melkonian said they raised about $15,000, half the total cost of
the trip.

In a brief ceremony prior to boarding the bus, archpriest Rev. Torkom
Hagopian gave each child a gold cross, and blessed them.

“It is nice [that they are going],” Hagopian said before the
ceremony. “It is very nice that the children at this age will see
the motherland.”

Boyamian, who has been principal at St. Stephen’s for 16 years, agreed.

“For the past eight years they have learned so much; now they will
see with their own eyes,” she said.

“You don’t get to practice [a language] until you’re in the country,”
said John Altandilian, co-chairman of the board at St. Stephen’s
School and a former French teacher. “They’re going to feel their
whole eight years of school in 10 days.”

While the students are gone, the rest of the school will track their
progress on a map in the lobby, and two fifth-grade students who did
not go will report to the school on their progress each day.

“It’s going to be memorable, definitely memorable,” said Lori
Orchanian, a mother who went with her son, Nicholas, a fifth-grader,
daughter Stephanie and husband Zareh.

Monica Deady can be reached at [email protected].

Armenian president not to attend NATO’s Istanbul summit – foreign minister

Noyan Tapan news agency
17 May 04

Yerevan, 17 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s decision not
to participate in the NATO summit in Istanbul is based on the current
state of the Armenian-Turkish relations, and is in no way connected
with the NATO-organized event. [Foreign Minister Vardan] Oskanyan
issued this statement on 17 May while commenting on the president’s
decision not to attend the NATO’s June summit.

We have not recorded any moves in the opening of the borders and
therefore, Armenia has no diplomatic relations with Turkey, the
minister said, adding that President Kocharyan simply does not consider
it comfortable to attend the event in this country irrespective of
an organization arranging it. “There are no problems with NATO,”
Vardan Oskanyan said.

The minister believes that relations between Armenia and NATO are
at the highest level: “At present, we do not give in to our two
neighbours.” As for Armenian-Turkish relations, Oskanyan said that
Armenia was ready to normalize relations and not only on the issue
of opening borders, but also “to establishing diplomatic relations”.

Armenia, Iran sign accord for 20 years of gas deliveries

IranMania News, Iran
May 15 2004

YEREVAN, May 14 (AFP) – Armenian and Iranian energy ministers Thursday
signed an accord under which Iran will supply 36 billion cubic meters
of gas to Armenia, in exchange for electricity, over 20 years starting
in 2007.

The sides did not elaborate on the gas tariffs set for the deliveries.

Gas will flow into Armenia through a planned pipeline linking the two
neighbours on which construction is to begin at the end of the year.

“The construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline has political and
economic importance for our country and foresees economic benefits
for both of our nations,” Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen Movsysian
said after signing the accord with his Iranian counterpart Bijan
Namdar Zanganeh.

The two countries had already signed an accord over the 140-kilometer
gas pipeline’s construction, at an estimated cost of 220 million
dollars.

Russia, Ukraine, China and the United States had already voiced
interest in participating in the project, the Armenian minister said.

Movsysian also declared that Armenia was not ready to accept the
European Union’s offer of 100 million dollars to close down the
Metzamor nuclear power station, which Europeans consider dangerous.

Armenia is currently dependent on Russian gas, which is supplied via
a pipeline that crosses through Georgia.

For the annual 1.2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas, Armenia pays
55 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.

PRESS RELEASE

May 14, 2004

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]

AUA AT HELM OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IN ARMENIA

Yerevan – On May 4, 2004, the American University of Armenia (AUA) conducted
opening ceremonies to present its Solar Photovoltaic Power Station, which
was built in collaboration with Armenia’s State Engineering University
(SEUA) Heliotechnics Laboratory and Transistor Plus of Viasphere Technopark.
The success of AUA’s solar photovoltaic project demonstrates the feasibility
of using solar energy as an alternative power source in Armenia.

AUA’s Engineering Research Center began design and installation of the
photovoltaic power system in Spring 2003, with generous funding by the
Turpanjian Family Foundation. This project builds upon the solar heating
and cooling system located on AUA’s rooftop, developed two years ago with
scientists in Portugal, Germany, Russia and Armenia, funded by Mr. Sarkis
Acopian and INCO Copernicus of the European Union. This innovative solar
station has the highest capacity among similar systems functioning in
Armenia and the only one that is integrated into a solar driven heating and
cooling system.

The new solar electric power station can operate independent of an external
power supply. The system is comprised of solar photovoltaic panels field, a
solar battery bank, and a three-phase DC/AC inverter. The 72 solar
photovoltaic panels are installed on a special seismic isolated structure on
the roof of the University. Each panel has approximately 0.7 square meters
of surface and was produced at Heliotechnics Laboratory of the SEUA. The
photovoltaic converter cells used in the solar panels were made by Krasnoye
Znamye, Russia. The three phase DC/AC inverter was designed and
manufactured specifically for this project by Transistor Plus which is a
part of ViaSphere Technopark.

The Engineering Research Center is administered by AUA’s College of
Engineering. Its aim is to conduct basic and applied research on economic
and technological problems that are relevant to the industrial development
of Armenia and its region. It brings together AUA visiting faculty, local
scientists and engineers, and AUA students to collaborate on innovative
research projects.

—————————————-

The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit or

Pictures From left to right:

Solar-1: Artak Hambarian, Associate Director of AUA College of Engineering
and Research Center, Project Manager; Anahit Ordian, Director of AUA
Administration; Aram Vardanyan, General Director of the Viasphere
Technopark; William Akounyan, Project Researcher; Hrant Vardanyan, Manager
of the Engineering and Production Service of the Viasphere Technopark;
Joseph Panossyan, Head of the Heliotechnics Laboratory, State Engineering
University of Armenia; Gagik Ayvazyan, Director of Transistor Plus;
Khachatour Khachikyan, Operations and Finance Manager of the Viasphere
Technopark

Solar-2: Artak Hambarian, Associate Director of AUA College of Engineering
and Research Center

Solar-3: Wilhelm Akunyan, AUA Engineering Research Center researcher; Joseph
Panossyan, Head of the State Engineering University of Armenia,
Heliotechnics Lab.

Mistake burdens officials

The Age
May 13, 2004

The president of the Australian Weightlifting Federation, Sam Coffa,
has accepted part of the blame for an “outrageous” blunder that
resulted in Australia having just one men’s representative in the
sport for Athens.

The men’s team finished second to the tiny island nation of Nauru
at last week’s Oceania championships in Fiji and will take its
smallest-ever weightlifting team to an Olympic Games.

The Australian women’s team finished first in Suva and qualified
one lifter.

The ignominy of the men losing out to a country of 11,300 people was
compounded by the fact coaches left behind a lifter ranked No. 1 in
the world – because they thought Australia would qualify first anyway.

“The one or two lifters needed to get us over the line were left
behind,” Coffa said yesterday.

“This was following advice from our coaching panel that we had enough
buffer to take us over the line and it didn’t prove to be the case.

“I won’t apportion the blame to anyone in particular but we are all
guilty and that includes me.”

Sergo Chakhoyan, currently training in Armenia and rated world No. 1 in
the 85 kilograms class, was the weightlifter told he was not required.

With his bronze medal in the clean and jerk at last year’s world
championships, he pre-qualified for the Games and he’ll now fill the
sole men’s spot for Australia. Nauru will take two lifters.

The bungle left Chris Rae, who won the 105 kilograms-plus class in
Suva, a shattered man.

The 23-year-old Sydney Olympian was in line to fill the second spot
pending results at the Games selection trials in Melbourne in June.

“It’s a huge error. It’s devastating for me and it has cost me the
chance of making the Olympics,” Rae said.

“The coaching staff said we didn’t need him (Chakhoyan) but the result,
where no athlete performed exceptionally badly and we still lost,
has proved the coaching staff has made a mistake.

“I thought it was odd – even on paper (before the Oceania
championships) it looked like the Australians weren’t going to win.

“For us to lose the position is a massive blow to me and it hurts to
know not picking the best team has probably cost me a chance to go
to a second Olympics.”

Rae is second in the Australian selection criteria for Athens and was
confident of qualifying for the Games, at which he said a top-10 spot
had been on the cards.

Australian coach Luke Borreggine refused to comment about the selection
mistake yesterday.