Author: Vanyan Gary

Zaman, Turkey
June 29 2004

Erdogan: Kurds Are Not Minority but Part of All

At the Pan Atlantic Youth Summit yesterday organized as part of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, Prime Minister
Erdogan emphasized that Kurds are not a minority, but one part of a
whole.

Erdogan answered questions posed by the audience at the Summit
attended by approximately 200 students. “Kurds are components
inextricable from the whole. Religious groups can be counted as a
minority. For us, the Kurds do not have minority status,” Erdogan
said in response to a question about the future of the Kurds. He also
pointed out that although he is from Rize, his spouse is from Siirt,
a southeastern city that is densely populated by Kurds. He said, “the
population in Turkey is almost hybrid, there is no minority.”

Erdogan said that NATO and the European Union (EU) have extended east
and Turkey is no longer a geographical wing, but rather the center.
He stressed that Turkey is gaining importance and it will
successfully overcome the difficulties with its historical experience
and the power it took to unify with the west. Erdogan said, “Turkey
is a candidate to be a symbol of 21st century culture and
civilization.” When asked when the Armenian border will be opened, he
reminded the audience that Armenia is an occupier in Azerbaijan. He
added: “Turkey cannot develop its relationship with Armenia and this
stems from Armenia. It is an incompatible country.” Erdogan
criticized Armenia for not attending the NATO summit. “The Armenian
Diaspora wants to keep so-called genocide on the agenda. It is
impossible for Turkey to approve this attitude.” He also replied to a
question about the new Turkish policy in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by saying: “We put effort forth for the
unification of the island and started peace talks for the fourth
time. We showed we would be always a step ahead of the Greeks. The
side that rejected the Annan plan is in the EU and the situation of
the side who said yes is apparent.”

Next Step: Iraqi Election

All eyes have turned to elections to be held in January of 2005 for
the Iraq National Assembly now that sovereignty has been transferred.
The transfer of power took place yesterday, two days ahead of
schedule.

The new Constitution to be prepared by the Parliament in the fall of
2005 is to be presented for a referendum. The new government that
will be determined through the free general elections in December of
2005 will come to power in January of 2006.

The US forces entering the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 9, 2003
formed the Iraqi Temporary Governing Council consisting of 25 Iraqi
members on July 13, 2003. The Council enacted the interim
Constitution on March 8, 2004 and, after electing Ghazi Al-Yawar as
President on June 1, 2004, annulled itself as of June 28, 2004.

06.29.2004
Bahtiyar Kucuk, Servet Yanatma
Istanbul

Ventura County Star
June 28 2004

A life in harmony
Fourteen years after losing her sight, a woman rediscovers her love
of music

By Rosy Banks, [email protected]
June 28, 2004

When Gayane Pogosyan lost her vision in an accident 14 years ago, she
thought she would never be able to play a musical instrument again.
Her viola and violin collected dust.

Then her daughter, Marina, asked her to accompany her in a duet and
recorded the music. For painstaking hours, Pogosyan memorized the
music note by note.

Two years ago, that dedication earned her a part in the Moorpark
Symphony Orchestra. The only blind member among its 75 musicians, the
violist has memorized 115 minutes of music in Beethoven’s Symphony
No. 9, along with two concertos, for a performance. It took almost
five months for her to prepare for a recent concert at the Oxnard
Performing Arts Center.

“All of my body, mind and soul celebrates after that hard work,” said
Pogosyan, who lives in Simi Valley. “We don’t know what we’re capable
of until we only have one way to do it.”

The Armenian-born violist attests to the capabilities that lie in
individuals, regardless of their handicap. She overcame expectations
and spends much of her spare time studying music and preparing for
concerts and performances around the community.

“Its not easy being a blind person in an orchestra because being able
to watch the conductor is a must,” said James J. Song, music director
for the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra. “Gayane is a unique individual.
She joins in when others are playing and has become well acclimated
to the group.”

In 2003, she received the outstanding musician award for her devotion
to the orchestra. But finding time to practice and memorize each
piece isn’t easy for a mother and grandmother of three who works full
time.

Studying music is only one of a long list of daily tasks for
Pogosyan. During the week, she works as a counselor for the state and
helps visually impaired clients cope with loss and use resources to
improve their lifestyles.

“I help them stand up on their feet so they can start a new life, as
I did,” she said.

Graduating summa cum laude from California Lutheran University,
Pogosyan adapted as the only blind student from 1995 to 2000.
Disability, she said, was not going to stop her from pursuing her
dreams.

“Sometimes I think that my blindness came as a blessing,” she said.
“At first it was difficult, but I got through the challenges and it
made my character stronger. Because of my blindness I went back to
school and found God.”

Music provided the fuel for the another passion she said comes
naturally to her — dancing. On Friday nights, Pogosyan swings the
night away with friends or her new dance partner, Dan Cutler.

“I never regard her as having any handicap,” Cutler said. “I forget
lots of times.”

Others do not recognize her blindness immediately, Pogosyan said.
When she encounters people fearful or ignorant of her condition, she
tries to educate them. She remembers many times when people would
start talking slowly and loudly.

“I lost my sight, not my mind,” she would tell them.

Pogosyan thrives on new challenges and her dedication is respected by
orchestra members, friends and for her, above all else, her
grandchildren. Loved ones and music are her top priorities.

On a recent day off, her home echoed with their voices. Her grandson,
8-year-old Jake Brock, has decided to take violin lessons and sought
the guidance of his grandmother as her two other grandchildren sat
petting her retired guide dog. When the children get frustrated or
discouraged, they can look to Pogosyan.

“Sometimes at school I tell people my grandma is blind and I tell
them all the things she does,” said Lauren Reiber, her 13-year-old
granddaughter. “They just say, ‘Wow.’ “

New York Times
June 26 2004

Dithering as Others Die
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

LONG THE SUDAN-CHAD BORDER – The ongoing genocide in Darfur is
finally, fortunately, making us uncomfortable. At this rate, with
only 250,000 more deaths it will achieve the gravitas of the Laci
Peterson case.

Hats off to Colin Powell and Kofi Annan, who are both traveling in
the next few days to Darfur. But the world has dithered for months
already. Unless those trips signal a new resolve, many of the Darfur
children I’ve been writing about over the last few months will have
survived the Janjaweed militia only to die now of hunger or diarrhea.

I’ve had e-mail from readers who are horrified by the slaughter, but
who also feel that Africa is always a mess and that there’s not much
we can do. So let me address the cynics.

Look, I’m sure it’s terrible in Darfur. But lots of places are
horrific, and we can’t help everyone. Why obsess about Sudan?

The U.N. describes Darfur as the No. 1 humanitarian crisis in the
world today. The U.S. Agency for International Development estimates
that at best 320,000 more people will still die of hunger and disease
this year – or significantly more if we continue to do nothing.

Moreover, apart from our obligation to act under the Genocide
Convention, acquiescence only encourages more genocide – hence the
question attributed to Hitler, “Who today remembers the Armenian
extermination?”

Haven’t we invaded enough Muslim countries?

The U.S. is not going to invade Sudan. That’s not a plausible option.

But we can pass a tough U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing
troops, as well as more support for African peacekeepers. If Germany,
France and Spain don’t want to send troops to Iraq, then let them
deploy in Darfur. And we must publicly condemn the genocide.

What good is a speech in the U.N.? Why would Sudan listen?

Governments tend to be embarrassed about exterminating minorities. In
Sudan, a bit of publicity about Darfur coupled with a written
statement from President Bush led Sudan to agree to a cease-fire in
April and to improve access for aid agencies. More publicity prompted
it to promise to disband the Janjaweed raiders.

Sudan lies and wriggles out of its promises, but its genocide is
still calibrated to the international reaction. Likewise, it is still
denying visas and blocking supplies for emergency relief, but
pressure has led it to improve access.

So, Mr. Bush, if a single written statement will do so much good, why
won’t you let the word “Darfur” pass your lips? Why the passivity in
the face of evil? You could save tens of thousands of lives by making
a forceful speech about Darfur. Conversely, your refusal to do so is
costing tens of thousands of lives.

If the Sudanese were notorious pirates of American videotapes, if
they were sheltering Mullah Omar, you’d be all over them. So why not
stand up just as forcefully to genocide?

Mr. Bush seems proud of his “moral clarity,” his willingness to
recognize evil and bluntly describe it as such. Well, Darfur reeks of
evil, and we are allowing it to continue.

What can ordinary Americans do?

Yell! Mr. Bush and John Kerry have been passive about Darfur because
voters are. If citizens contact the White House or their elected
representatives and demand action, our leaders will be happy to
follow.

Readers can also contribute to one of the many aid agencies saving
lives in Darfur. (I’ve listed some at
, Posting 489.)

Be realistic. We don’t have our national interest at stake in Darfur.

But we do. Sudan’s chaos is destabilizing surrounding countries,
especially Chad, which is an increasing source of oil for us.
Moreover, when states collapse into chaos, they become staging
grounds for terrorism and for diseases like ebola and polio (both
have broken out recently in Sudan).

In any case, America is a nation that has values as well as
interests. We betrayed those values when we ignored past genocides,
and we are betraying them again now.

In my last three columns, I wrote about Magboula Muhammad Khattar, a
24-year-old woman struggling to keep her children alive since her
parents and husband were killed by the Janjaweed. Each time I visited
the tree she lives under, she shared with me the only things she had
to offer: a smile and a bowl of brackish water.

Is a cold shoulder all we have to offer in return?

OIC ministers back steps to end “occupation in Iraq”

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
17 Jun 04

subheadings as received

Istanbul, 16 June: Islamic countries have decided to assist each other
in their progress and reforms and announced that they would take steps
in putting an end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Istanbul declaration was issued at the end of the 31st Session of
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

The declaration said: “We, as the OIC members, will assist each other
in our progress and reform, which should come from within.” Stating
that OIC members were sovereign nations who worked for political,
economic, social and cultural progress, the declaration noted that
they valued their freedom and the equality of their citizens. “We
all aim to strengthen the representative character and the democratic
practices of our governments,” it stated.

“The OIC, as an institution, will also develop ways and means for
supporting progress in a collective framework. In this context, we
welcome the concept of enlightened moderation,” Istanbul declaration
said.

It stressed that Islam countries were all determined to provide
contemporary education to our new generation.

CYPRUS

The declaration noted: “We commend the Turkish Cypriot people for
overwhelmingly endorsing the United Nations Settlement Plan, on
the unification of the island, based on a new bizonal partnership
of the two politically equal constituent states. We welcome and
support the report of the United Nations secretary-general of 28
May 2004, as well as the conclusions and recommendations contained
therein. We also support the good offices mission of the United
Nations secretary-general.”

“In view of the fundamentally changed circumstances in Cyprus following
the 24 April 2004 referenda, we decided to take steps in putting an
end to the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. In the same vein,
we look forward to similar action by the international community and
bodies,” it stated.

Meanwhile, it has been decided that the Second Meeting of the OIC-EU
Joint Forum would convene in Istanbul between 4 and 5 October 2004.

ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT

It stressed that OIC members were resolved to pursue the peaceful
settlement of all international issues and spend efforts to persuade
all parties concerned to act accordingly and noted, “we can on
all concerned to address the question of Palestine and the wider
Arab-Israeli conflict as a matter of urgent priority. The objective
is to achieve full statehood for Palestine living side by side with
Israel within secure and recognized boundaries.”

OIC members said that the settlement could only be the outcome of
direct negotiations between the two parties and noted that equally,
the Syrian and Lebanese tracks must be brought to their successful
conclusion on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.

“We have thus decided to support and closely monitor efforts towards
comprehensive peace and to declare that the successful outcome of these
efforts will be fully embraced by the OIC,” the declaration noted.

IRAQ

OIC members said that they supported the steps towards ending the
occupation in Iraq and they equally supported the process in which
the Iraqis would assume their sovereignty and stated: “We state
that this assumption of authority must be full. Also the political
transition towards the formation of an elected government must be
totally inclusive and transparent.”

“We welcome in this respect the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1546
by the United Nations Security Council which sets the framework for
this transition,” it stated.

OIC members condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to redouble
their efforts in fighting this international scourge.

“We will continue to support Afghanistan’s rebuilding process,” it
noted and said that the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir
should be fully respected and their will honoured in accordance with
international legitimacy.

The declaration stated that OIC members likewise supported the
resolution of the Azeri-Armenian conflict within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.

The Dissolving Opposition

Transitions Online, Czech Republic
June 14 2004

YEREVAN, Armenia–Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian appears to
have warded off a challenge to his authority, surviving a two-month
opposition protest campaign that aimed to force his resignation. Even
though the protests failed to attract large numbers of Armenians, some
political analysts in Yerevan say the opposition campaign inflicted
considerable political damage on Kocharian.

Since April, opposition leaders had promised “decisive action”
against Kocharian. However, at the most recent street protest in
central Yerevan, on 4 June, the opposition acknowledged that it lacked
sufficient backing to fulfill its aim, and abandoned plans to march on
Kocharian’s residence. “We believe that we are not yet ready to carry
out actions needed for achieving our final victory,” a leading member
of the opposition Justice bloc, Albert Bazeyan, told a thinning crowd.

The unrest stemmed from the February-March 2003 presidential election
in which Kocharian secured a second term amid allegations of vote
rigging. His opponents still refuse to recognize the legitimacy of his
reelection and were unsuccessful in a 2003 attempt to have the voting
results invalidated. Kocharian critics later decided to embrace protest
tactics, striving to imitate the success of Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili, who came to power amid the “Rose Revolution” in Tbilisi.

The opposition unveiled the protest strategy in early April. The most
critical moment occurred early on in the protest campaign, as riot
police, during the early hours of 13 April, dispersed opposition
protesters as they marched towards Kocharian’s official residence
in Yerevan.

The leaders of Armenia’s two main opposition groups, the Justice
bloc and the National Unity Party (AMK), have since continued the
unsanctioned rallies in the city center. The protests have flagged
in recent weeks as many opposition supporters grew increasingly
frustrated over the lack of “decisive action.”

Bazeyan and other opposition leaders said they will continue to rally
supporters in the capital to keep up pressure on the authorities.
“There will be no stability in the country as long as Kocharian remains
in power because stability and Kocharian are incompatible things,”
the most radical of them, Aram Sarkisian, said.

But few observers believe that demonstrations attended by several
thousand people will pose a serious threat to the ruling regime.
Given the effective end of the protest campaign, political analysts
are examining the question of why the Armenian opposition failed
to mobilize what one of its leaders described as a “critical mass”
of demonstrators.

In the view of Aghasi Yenokian, director of the independent Armenian
Center for Political and International Studies, Justice and the
AMK never had a clear action plan. He said the opposition also lost
popular trust due to its inability to successfully press its appeal
over the presidential election tally. “The opposition has shown on
several occasions that it can let the people down at any moment,”
Yenokian said.

Still, some local political experts believe that the protests,
which provoked the worst-ever government crackdown on the Armenian
opposition, dealt a blow to Kocharian’s legitimacy at home and
abroad. That, they say, could open new cracks in the country’s shaky
governing coalition, rendering the medium- to long-term political
situation in the country unpredictable.

“Armenia is entering a period of political apathy where there is no
effective government and [no] effective opposition,” said a recent
commentary in the pro-opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak.

Authorities have maintained throughout that the opposition protest
campaign was unconstitutional. On 8 June, one of Kocharian’s top allies
declared victory in the political struggle. “The opposition has failed
to achieve its goals,” Prime Minister Andranik Markarian said.

Throughout the crisis, Kocharian stressed that Armenia’s strong
security apparatus ensured that a repetition of the “Georgian scenario”
would not occur in Yerevan. At the same time, Kocharian has sought
to placate building popular frustration.

Kocharian has long tried to cast himself as the custodian of a
fast-growing economy. The benefits of economic growth, though, are
not evenly distributed in Armenia, as many in the country continue
to grapple with poverty. In recent weeks, Kocharian has expressed
renewed interest in improving living conditions. His schedule in
early June, for example, was full of meetings, heavily publicized by
state-controlled television channels, with officials at all levels
of government to examine issues ranging from suspected corruption in
high school graduation exams to patchy supplies of drinking water.

In addition to the high-profile effort to address popular concerns,
authorities have cracked down on the opposition, arresting hundreds of
government critics. The crackdown continued even after strong criticism
voiced by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in late
April. Since then, a 24-year-old man has been sentenced to an 18-month
jail term for hurling a plastic bottle at a riot police officer during
the 12-13 April events. Four other opposition activists received up
to 15-month prison sentences stemming from their participation in
another protest.

Although Kocharian is the winner of the latest round, experts
believe the political bout will continue. Yenokian, for one, viewed
the deepening intra-governmental infighting as a source of political
turmoil down the road. “The processes should not be considered over,”
the analyst said. “They may well have a continuation.”

President wraps up visit to central regions

Azer News, Azerbaijan
June 10 2004

On Tuesday, President Ilham Aliyev toured Mingachevir and Yevlakh,
central Azerbaijan where he examined the implementation of the State
Program on Socio-economic Development of the Regions. In Yevlakh,
he attended the opening of a new avenue named after national leader
Heydar Aliyev on Tuesday.

Speaking before the region’s residents at the Heydar Aliyev Square
after the inaugural ceremony, the President instructed the Yevlakh
authorities to pay attention to the problems of the region’s residents,
entrepreneurs and farmers. Touching upon the conflict over Upper
Garabagh, Aliyev said Azerbaijan aspires to a peaceful settlement
and that the problem will be resolved even if Armenia stands opposed.

He said the key principle of Azerbaijan’s domestic policy is to
develop the regions and eliminate unemployment. President Aliyev also
visited the tractor repair plant and toured the construction sites of
the Yevlakh stadium and a pump station on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
Main Export Pipeline. After visiting Yevlakh, President Aliyev
went to Mingachevir. In his statement at the inaugural ceremony of
a newly-built settlement for 412 internally displaced persons, he
said that in time all refugees will be provided with shelter. The
President then toured the State Regional Power Station, which
supplies 60% of Azerbaijan’s electricity, and the Kur riverside Rowing
Sports Center. He said that after the IDPs currently living on the
Sports Center are relocated, it will be renovated to international
standards. In a meeting at the Mingachevir Executive Authority,
President Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with the city’s overall
development and the private sector.

Nuclear Power: Europe’s new concern about Metsamor

Armenianow.com
10 June 2004

Special from Caucasus Media Institute

The European Union will allocate 100 million Euro to Armenia for
interrupting the exploitation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant
and searching for new energy sources. However, the grant was frozen
and will not be allotted unless the Armenian government announces
the precise term for closing the plant.

Metsamor Power Plant from the South-East..

Resistance to the Europeans’ demand was decisive: Armenian experts and
the representatives of state structures express radically different
opinions. The Armenian government declares that some 800 million Euro
is necessary to close Metsamor and for other relevant arrangements,
as well as for developing alternative energy systems.

The first block of the Armenian power plant was launched December 22,
1976; the second started January 5, 1980. It was built by a project of
first generation plants. Under ecological pressure that strengthened
in 1988, the two blocks of the plant were stopped the following
winter. The 1988 strong earthquake of Spitak that killed tens of
thousands turned out a decisive factor. In 1988-1992 the republic
literally plunged into darkness, and, by the government’s decision,
the plant restarted in 1995. The power project envisages 30 years of
exploitation. Then why is Europe in a hurry? What’s the ground for
the unrest?

“We think that no nuclear power plant must be in a seismic zone as
it is dangerous for the region as a whole. There are also technical
reasons because that plant is an old generation construction and
does not comply with contemporary standards,” says Alexis Loeber, EU
Armenia Office director. According to European experts, the Armenian
plant is one of such dangerous constructions throughout the world.

The probability of repeating earthquakes in the same territory is
a truth seismology recognizes. The settlement and the temple of
Garni situated not far from the power plant are historically known
to have suffered from a mighty earthquake that ruined them. “Those
seismic risks that are considered today in Armenia are not that
dangerous. But geological events are a complicated processes. There
can be an earthquake that occurs once 20-30 years; it is impossible
to guarantee anything,” acknowledges Alvaro Antonian, head of the
Armenian national service of seismic protection.

According to Areg Galstian, Armenian deputy minister of energy,
the reactor of the Metsamor plant is the modernized and stable
version of the Russian, Bulgarian and Slovakian reactors of the same
generation. The security systems were strengthened before the restart,
taking account Armenia’s peculiarities.

Charles Dunlop, an expert from the American University of Armenia,
says that the second reason for closing the Metsamor plant is that the
reactor is not in line with contemporary standards although American
and European donor organizations have allotted around $50 million to
solve that problem. The reactor of the Armenian power plant has no
concrete protecting layer, which would keep the stream of exhaustion
from polluting the atmosphere. But, Konstantin Pyuskulian, deputy
director of the plant’s security department, says that today it is
both financially and technically impossible to construct a concrete
protecting layer for the Armenian plant.

Alvaro Antonyan Head of National Seismic Center.. There’s also
another perplexing circumstance: the nuclear fuel is imported to
Armenia from Russia via air. In terms of the economic blockade, this
is the only way of transporting the product. “It is the same as a
flying potential nuclear bomb. This is a way practiced nowhere else
all over the world. The fuel is generally transported either via sea
or by railway,” says Alexis Loeber. “Even if the airplane crashes,
there will be less damage than the air pollution in case of using
a bomb with depleted uranium,” confidently says, Armen Saghatelian,
director of the Center for Ecological Studies.

The Metsamor plant currently generates 1/3 of the energy consumed
in Armenia.

“The closing of the plant for Armenia will signify a return to the
darkness of 1988-1992,” says Galstian and, at the same time, adds
that if the plant gets closed, Armenia will have to depend on the
only gas pipeline, the technical state of which is not very good.

The construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline may be a good
incentive for developing thermal power plants. But this, too,
according to the Armenian official, is not a complete alternative to
the nuclear power plant. “We never say ‘no’, we say ‘yes’, we will
shut down the Metsamor plant but we must have alternative sources and
capacities.” According to him, if everything takes its normal course,
the Metsamor plant will close in 2016.

And if the dialogue between the European Union and Armenia on the issue
of closing the plant does eventually take place then the closing will
be no earlier than 5 years following the decision made. About this
much time is necessary to create capacities partially alternative to
the Metsamor plant.

Anand to lead Rest of the World

Rediff, India
June 9 2004

India’s Viswanathan Anand, the current World number 2, will lead the
Rest of the World team against Armenia in a chess match, being held
to mark the 75th birth anniversary of late Armenian world champion
Tigran Petrosian.

The match, starting in Moscow on Thursday, will be a six-player team
tournament where each player faces all the members of the opposing
team.

The World team is expected to include Michael Adams, Peter Svidler,
Loek Van Wely, Etienne Bacrot and Paco Vallejo.

A couple of years ago, Anand led the World team to victory over the
strong Russia in an epic match in Moscow.

The Armenian team includes World No. 1 Garry Kasparov and will have
members who are either Armenian or have an Armenian connection. The
three Armenians in the six-member team are

Vladimir Akopian, Smbat Lputian and Rafael Vaganian while others
are Kasparov (whose mother is Armenian), Hungarian Peter Leko (whose
wife is Armenian) and Israeli Boris Gelfand, who was the most famous
pupil of Tigran Petrosian and learnt the game from the master between
1980-83.

“It is a very interesting event. I enjoyed the match between Russia
and Rest of the World, and I hope this will be a similar pleasant
experience,” said Anand, who has already arrived in Moscow, in
a statement.

“Playing In Moscow is always a treat. I remember playing in the Kremlin
in 2001 against Tkachiev and the crowd start clapping when I played
Qb3. To be recognized in the Russian heartland for your chess is a
matter of pride.”

MGM MIRAGE LANCE UNE OPA SUR SON RIVAL MANDALAY

La Tribune
7 juin 2004

Avec 11 casinos à Las Vegas, le nouveau groupe s’assurerait une
position dominante. Mais l’accord des autorités de la concurrence
reste incertain.

Le groupe américain de casinos et d’hôtellerie basé à Las Vegas MGM
Mirage a lancé vendredi une offre d’achat non sollicitée sur son
rival Mandalay Resort Group, également basé dans la ville du Nevada
aux Etats-Unis.

MGM Mirage a annoncé offrir 68 dollars par action en numéraire,
ce qui correspond à une valeur d’entreprise de 7,65 milliards de
dollars environ, en tenant compte d’une dette financière estimée
à 2,8 milliards de dollars. “La combinaison de ces deux grandes
sociétés devrait offrir une prime aux actionnaires de Mandalay et
procurer à ceux de MGM Mirage plusieurs avantages stratégiques”,
a déclaré l’assaillant dans un communiqué.

Le prix proposé par MGM Mirage représente une prime de 12,8 % par
rapport au cours de clôture de l’action Mandalay vendredi soir à 60,27
dollars. A la Bourse de New York, le titre avait progressé de 10,34 %
au cours de la séance tandis que l’action MGM Mirage s’adjugeait 3,37
% à 46,03 dollars. “Mandalay Resort Group a bien reçu l’offre qui va
être examinée avec attention et répondra à MGM Mirage en temps utile”,
a sobrement répondu la cible sans plus de commentaire.

MGM Mirage est détenue à 57 % par Kirk Kerkorian. Le milliardaire
américain d’origine arménienne, qui a fêté son quatre-vingt-septième
anniversaire hier, a déjà réussi plusieurs tentatives d’offres
hostiles, comme celle lancée en 2000 sur Mirage Resorts pour 6,4
milliards de dollars.

Il contrôle également les studios de cinéma Metro Golwyn Mayer à
hauteur de 74 %, mais est en négociation pour s’en séparer. James
Murren, le président du groupe, avait déclaré cette année dans une
interview que Las Vegas constituait le meilleur marché du jeu pour
investir.

Position dominante. Les deux groupes bénéficient actuellement d’une
augmentation de la fréquentation des casinos à Las Vegas. Le bénéfice
de MGM Mirage a plus que doublé au premier trimestre et le groupe
est en train de construire un nouvel hôtel de 928 chambres.

Le nouvel ensemble serait à la tête de 11 casinos à Las Vegas, ce
qui lui assurerait une position dominante sur le “strip”, l’avenue
principale de la capitale mondiale du jeu. Mais, selon John Maxwell,
un analyste de Merrill Lynch spécialiste du secteur cité par Bloomberg,
une telle prise de contrôle rendrait incertain l’accord des autorités
de la concurrence américaine.

N. R. (avec agences)

ARKA News Agency – Interview
June 3 2004

LOSSES FROM WINTER FROSTS ESTIMATED AT AMD 1.5B

Samvel Avestisyan’s, RA Deputy Agriculture Minister’s exclusive
interview, to ARKA News Agency.

ARKA – What is the sum of losses caused by the winter frosts? What is
the Ministry undertaking currently to compensate the farmers the
losses incurred?

S.Avetisyan – Based on preliminary calculations, the losses from the
frosts made AMD 1.5b. Apricot gardens suffered most of all,
practically for 90% and peach and wineyards to 30% and 10%
respectively. The Government allocated AMD 61.8 mln as a compensation
for purchasing fertilizers, also the Government regards other sources
to support the farmers, particularly the possibility of exempting
gardens from the land tax.
As for the foreign assistance, we applied to a number of
organizations, however there was no reply yet. Mainly, we hope to
FAO’s support that is our principle partner in these issues. An
independent group of experts of this organization to arrive in
Armenia soon that once more to evaluate the sizes of the caused
damage and to draw possible support programs.

ARKA – What’s the expected volume of bread-grain this year?

S.Avetisyan – We can supply one third of the inner demand for
bread-grain. The best harvest was in 2002, when 415 thsd. tons of
grain crop and 241 thsd. tones of wheat was collected. At the expense
of our own grain resources we can satisfy 40% of inner demand. The
average crop capacity of the republic makes 20-21% for 1 hectare. On
average, about 100-110 thsd. hectares make area under crop for winter
grain. If we bring the volume of harvest from 1 hectare to at least
30 centners, then we can satisfy 70% of demand. In this case our
dependence on import of grain will significantly reduce. We shouldn’t
forget that crop capacity was very high in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR), the main grain exporter of which is Armenia. Last year Armenia
exported from NKR grain of high quality and this is a good source for
the covering the shortage of grain in Armenia. However, crop capacity
in 2003 was not very high in Armenia, as only 310 thsd tones of crop
was collected. In 2004 we expect to have up to 400 thsd tones of
crop. On the whole, in order to satisfy the inner demand for
bread-grain, crop capacity to be increased to 50-55 centners for each
hectare, instead of enlarging areas under crop. However, in the near
future we cannot achieve such results.

ARKA – Climatic and geographically agrarian sector of Armenia is in
risk zone. What stage is the process of evaluation of insurance risks
of agrarian sector on? When can we have the first examples of
insuring the sector?

S.Avetisyan –This year for the first time budget financial means at
AMD 40a mln are assigned for the evaluation of agricultural insurance
risks. Tender for determination of the company to evaluate risks is
conducted by the agency for state purchases. Till the end of the year
the result of evaluation of agricultural risks will be submitted. In
this case, co-operation with international insurance agencies can
begin. If the risks be evaluated this year, then next year
experimental insurance of some crops.

ARKA – In 2004 implementation of the first pilot antihail program.
What stage is the implementation of the program on? Which of the two
models, namely French or Argentine is mot acceptable for Armenia?

S.Avetisyan – Government assigned AMD 180 mln on pilot program. We
dwelled on Argentine one of antihail settings installation. At
present a group of specialists from Argentina are in Armenia. They
conduct research for further work in Aragatsotn region. It is
expected that settings will be sent to Armenia one of th edays.
Everything is done as en experiment yet, and we will still have to
evaluate the efficiency of th esystems and decide whether to continue
the program implementation or not. The program to be finnced rom the
budget. If the outcome of the experiment is positive, then maybe
donors will be found for the installation of settings in regions with
high hail threat.

ARKA – The percentage of crediting of agriculture exceeds 10%. They
talk about possible reduction of interest rate for crediting farms by
banks. How real is it?

S.Avetisyan – Of course, the demand for crediting of agriculture was
satisfied only by 10% last year. Steps are done to increase credit
portfolio of banks and reduction of interest rate. Ra President
Kocharian ordered to find possible ways for reduction of the interest
rate to 12%. It’s real, as some banks grant credits at 13% of annual
rate instead of 16-20% of annual rate. Of course, the interests of
the banks cannot be neglected, and the contribution of the government
is important. IFAD program of crediting may be effective, and in the
framework of it Foundation for crediting agriculture will be created.
Also, Foundation will credit separate regions lose to the border and
mountainous regions that cannot get bank crediting. Credit clubs
created here will do crediting on cooperative basis at the expense
the Foundation. So the interest rate will be by 2-3% less than that
of bank credit, i.e. to 12% of annual rate.

Our future related to crediting is in space of formation cooperative
credit system where the farmer gets not only loan, but is a member of
that cooperation and manages those means. We already have experience
in this filed. Particularly, USDA applies this system due t which
around 40 credit clubs were founded in marzes that are functionin
sucssfully.

ARKA – Recently, the Government approved the strategic program of
sustainable growth of agriculture till 2015. What will be the
expected results by the completion of the program?

S.Avetisyan – The strategy covers full spectrum of problems facing in
Armenian agricultural sector. ñòðàíû. The solution of these problems
is not only business of the state but also the producers themselves.
According to this problem the aggregate agricultural production in
Armenia should increase by 70%. The sum of crediting agricultural
sector is expected to be increased 10 times. The program of
sustainable development of agriculture is harmonious to poverty
reduction program. It clearly sets up required actions and term for
their solution. The tasks for the forthcoming 2-3 years are approved
by the Government concern mid-term financing programs We can state
confidently, that this stage of realization of the strategy is
secured by financial resources.
The concrete priorities of the agriculture development are
anti-epidemic measures in animal raising, rehabilitation of
irrigation networks, plant protection from deceases, creation of
special and productive infrastructures, block of measures targeted at
food security.

ARKA – How perfect is legislative base in the agriculture?

S.Avetisyan – It cannot be ever stated that the legislative base was
perfect. This is a dynamic process. The life dictates its conditions
and according to them, the legislation changes. Currently we work on
several laws, particularly one concerning veterinary. We adopted this
law in a hurry as we had a commitment to the Council of Europe
however, it requires improvement. Also, we anticipate amendments
related to licensing of pest-killers. Definition of farms also needs
clarification. On one hand, eth Civil Code regulates those forms of
farming that exist in Armenia, but it says nothing about farms. One
the other hand, the law on peasant economy is still effective. I
think that we need to fix the stats of farming economies legally and
we need to pass this law next year. T.M. –0–