Anadolu Agency
May 5 2004

Labor And Social Security Minister Basesgioglu Leaves For Azerbaijan

ISTANBUL – Turkish Labor and Social Security Minister Murat
Basesgioglu left on Wednesday for Azerbaijani capital Baku on an
official visit.

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, Basesgioglu said
that he would hold meetings on issues concerning labor ministries of
the two countries.

Recalling that cooperation agreement was signed between ministries of
the two countries in 1997 and Social Security Agreement which was
signed later went into effect in 2001, he said that international
cooperation, employment, social security and exchange of experts
between Turkey and Azerbaijan would be discussed in the meeting of
joint permanent commission between ministries in Baku.

Basesgioglu said that they would also sign administrative agreement
regulating implementation and provisions of Social Security Agreement
during his visit to Baku.

Basesgioglu stated that he would also be received by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister and National Assembly
Chairman.

Replying to a question on non-participation of Azerbaijani
parliamentarians in the voting on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) held in the Council of European Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA)
last week, Basesgioglu said, ”Turkey and Azerbaijan are two friendly
countries. National issues of the two countries have been followed
and defended together on international platform. We wish that
Azerbaijani parliamentarians had cast their votes and expressed their
views supporting Turkish thesis. I have just learnt that they
established a connection between Upper Karabakh issue and Cyprus
issue. The two countries will discuss it in detail. It is obvious
that there is need for a better communication and coordination from
now on. Despite all those things, I think that there should not be
any situation which might harm friendship between the two countries.
However, we have defended Azerbaijan’s national causes with
sensitivity on international platform so far. I hope that we will be
given value for it in coming days. I hope that both countries will
act together in defending their joint national causes.”

Replying to a question on unemployment, he said that Turkish
government attached great importance to unemployment issue and noted
that unemployment rate would reduce to 6-7 percent in 2010.

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. Announces 62% Increase in the Dollar Value of Net
Contracts for the Quarter Ended April 30, 2004 and 58% Increase for the Month
of April 2004

RED BANK, N.J., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Hovnanian Enterprises,
Inc. (NYSE:HOV), a leading national homebuilder, announced today
preliminary net contracts and sales backlog for the second quarter and
month ended April 30, 2004. For the month of April 2004, the dollar
value of net contracts increased 58% and the number of net contracts
increased 39%, to 1,520 homes, when compared with April 2003. For the
quarter, the dollar value of net contracts increased 62% and the
number of net contracts increased 45%, to 4,911 homes, when compared
with the second quarter of fiscal 2003. The sales value of contract
backlog at April 30, 2004 grew 69% over April 30, 2003, to $2.4
billion, and the number of homes in contract backlog increased 52%, to
8,092 homes, when compared to 5,318 homes at April 30, 2003. The
Company delivered 3,373 homes during the second quarter, including 19
in unconsolidated joint ventures, an increase of 35% over the 2,507
homes delivered during the same period in 2003, which included 11 home
deliveries in unconsolidated joint ventures. The number of active
selling communities company-wide on April 30, 2004 increased to 291
communities from 244 communities at the end of April 2003.

Net Contracts

Three Months Ended Contract Backlog

April 30th April 30th

————————- ————————–

2004 2003 % Change 2004 2003 % Change

————————- ————————–

Northeast(1)

Homes 919 639 43.8% 2,440 2,024 20.6%

Dollars 307,127 204,944 49.9% 733,520 538,741 36.2%

Avg.

Price 334,197 320,726 4.2% 300,623 266,176 12.9%

Southeast(1)

Homes 1,276 949 34.5% 2,591 1,531 69.2%

Dollars 351,922 248,323 41.7% 750,533 423,615 77.2%

Avg.

Price 275,801 261,668 5.4% 289,669 276,692 4.7%

Southwest(1)

Homes 1,150 732 57.1% 1,254 645 94.4%

Dollars 202,748 143,978 40.8% 204,621 128,786 58.9%

Avg.

Price 176,303 196,691 (10.4%) 163,174 199,668 (18.3%)

West

Homes 1,428 1,069 33.6% 1,570 1,100 42.7%

Dollars 533,685 312,470 70.8% 587,174 336,741 74.4%

Avg.

Price 3 73,729 292,301 27.9% 373,996 306,128 22.2%

Consolidated

Total

Homes 4,773 3,389 40.8% 7,855 5,300 48.2%

Dollars 1,395,482 909,715 53.4% 2,275,848 1,427,883 59.4%

Avg.

Price 292,370 268,432 8.9% 289,732 269,412 7.5%

Unconsolidated Joint

Ventures

Homes 138 9 N/A 237 18 N/A

Dollars 84,795 1,759 N/A 140,352 3,715 N/A

Avg.

Price 614,454 195,450 N/A 592,204 206,381 N/A

Total

Homes 4,911 3,398 44.5% 8,092 5,318 52.2%

Dollars 1,480,277 911,474 62.4% 2,416,201 1,431,598 68.8%

Avg.

Price 301,421 268,238 12.4% 298,591 269,199 10.9%

———————————————————————-

April % Change April % Change

2004 From 2004 From

Net April Net April

Contracts 2003 Contracts 2003

($ in millions)

Northeast(1) 346 39.5% $98.3 37.6%

(NJ, NY, PA, OH)

Southeast(1) 331 20.4% 95.7 32.2%

(FL, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)

Southwest(1) 345 52.7% 61.4 39.6%

(AZ, TX)

West 460 32.2% 181.1 72.9%

(CA)

Consolidated Total: 1,482 35.1% $436.5 49.2%

Unconsolidated Joint

Ventures 38 NM 26.7 NM

———————————————-

Total: 1,520 38.6% $463.2 58.2%

———————————————-

(1) The number of net contracts and backlog in the Northeast for the second
quarter and month ended April 30, 2004 includes the effect of the Summit Homes
acquisition, which closed in April 2003. The number of net contracts and
backlog in the Southwest for the second quarter and month ended April 30, 2004
includes the effect of the Great Western Homes acquisition, which closed in
August 2003. The number of net contracts in the Southeast for the second quarter
and month ended April 30, 2004 includes the effect of the Windward Homes
acquisition, which closed in November 2003.

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1959 by Kevork S. Hovnanian,
Chairman, is headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey. The Company is one of the
nation’s largest homebuilders with operations in Arizona, California, Florida,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. The Company’s homes
are marketed and sold under the trade names K. Hovnanian, Washington Homes,
Goodman Homes, Matzel & Mumford, Diamond Homes, Westminster Homes, Fortis Homes,
Forecast Homes, Parkside Homes, Brighton Homes, Parkwood Builders, Summit
Homes, Great Western Homes and Windward Homes. As the

developer of K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons communities, the Company is also one
of the nation’s largest builders of active adult homes.

Additional information on Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., including a summary
investment profile and the Company’s 2003 annual report, can be accessed through
the investor relations page of the Hovnanian Web site at
To be added to Hovnanian’s investor e-mail or fax lists, please send an
e-mail to [email protected] or sign up at

SOURCE Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
CO: Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
ST: New Jersey
SU: CON SLS
Web site:

05/05/2004 05:00 EDT

A1 Plus | 17:28:18 | 05-05-2004 | Politics |

PENDING JUSTICE

On Wednesday, Court of Appeal continued considering the first instance court
‘s decision, under which general-lieutenant Vagharshak Harutyunyan, who has
been charged with three counts of attempting a coup, making seditious calls
and making insulting remarks toward the authorities, will remain kept in
preliminary detention facilities while awaiting trial.

The Appeal Court upheld the first instance court decision.

A1 Plus | 22:08:27 | 05-05-2004 | Politics |

OPPOSITION IS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH AUTHORITIES

The opposition came up with a statement on Wednesday.

Taking into account that crisis in the country is increasingly deepening
since presidential elections in 2003, taking into consideration that
fulfilling PACE demands worded in its 1374 resolution have great
significance for our country and acknowledging full responsibility for
bringing the country on the road of democracy, the opposition states it is
ready for dialogue with the authorities and, as a gesture of good will, make
unilateral move refraining from staging rallies throughout ten days.

If the authorities don’t make return step, protest actions will be resumed,
the statement says.

ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR-GENERAL VOWS HARSH STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Arminfo
4 May 04

YEREVAN

The newly-established Department for Struggle against Corruption under
the Prosecutor-General’s Office will combat this evil in all state
bodies, including the power-wielding agencies and the prosecutor’s
office, Prosecutor-General Agvan Ovsepyan told reporters today.

“I am not so naive to deny the presence of corruption in the system of
prosecutor’s office,” Ovsepyan said. A statute of the department will
be developed within 10 days where its development areas will be fixed,
he said.

The prosecutor-general said that the department would closely
cooperate with the Control Chamber of President, presidential aide on
issues of fighting against corruption and other structures. The
prosecutor-general expressed the opinion that corruption was
especially spread in economic bodies.

ARMENIAN CIVIL AVIATION GETS NEW CHIEF

Arminfo
4 May 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has relieved Samvel
Markaryan of his duty as the chief of the Main Department for Civil
Aviation (Armenian Airlines) under the Armenian government.

Artem Movsisyan has replaced him, the press service of the government
told Arminfo news agency.

(Passage omitted: biography of Movsisyan)

ARMENIAN LEADER DISCUSSES FOREIGN POLICY WITH DIPLOMATS

Arminfo
4 May 04

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received the participants in
another forum of the leadership of the central staff and heads of
Armenia’s diplomatic and consular representative offices accredited
abroad.

The press service of the Armenian head of state told Arminfo news
agency that during the meeting, the Armenian president welcomed the
idea of holding the forum and pointed out that such meetings are a
good opportunity to discuss the state’s foreign policy approaches with
the aim of enriching the base of arguments and applying them in an
effective, selective and purposeful way.

Kocharyan touched on issues that concern a peaceful solution to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, national security and Armenia’s relations
with the diaspora. Drawing the ambassadors’ attention to the economic
sphere, he noted the importance of stepping up the investment
policy. During the meeting the president also presented the internal
political situation in the republic.

In turn, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan pointed out that
the plenary session also discussed foreign policy issues and regional
processes that affect Armenia, dictating changes to some aspects of
foreign policy. The results of the discussions in working groups were
presented as well.

ARMENIAN MINISTER DECLINES TO COMMENT ON AZERI COUNTERPART’S REMARKS ON TALKS

Arminfo
4 May 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has refused to comment on
the statement of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov that
Armenia and Azerbaijan “are discussing the issue of returning
territories”.

“I don’t want to comment on these statements,” Oskanyan said today,
answering journalists’ questions within the framework of the meeting
of the group on information affairs. He added that the meeting between
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Robert Kocharyan and Ilham
Aliyev, was successful enough and such meetings will be
continued. This meeting gives us the right to hope that common contact
points will be found during the negotiations, the Armenian foreign
minister added.

Armenian opposition sets deadline for meeting European demands

Arminfo
4 May 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian opposition has given the authorities a 10-day break to
meet the demands stated in the resolution of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE].

The chairman of the Antrapetutyun party, Albert Bazeyan, said during
the opposition demonstration in Yerevan today [4 May] that the next
rally would be held on 14 May. Prior to that the authorities of the
country are to start fulfilling the demands stated in the PACE
resolution. The opposition demands that the authorities start with
releasing arrested opposition activists.

The decision has been made not to conduct any demonstrations for 10
days. The main demand of the opposition concerning the resignation of
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan remains unchanged. During these 10
days the authorities have to show that they intend to fulfil the
demands put forward by the opposition and confirmed by PACE, he said.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
May 5, 2004

Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian
Telephone: 818.500.1918

ANC PRAISES REPUBLICANS ADVANCING GENOCIDE REAFFIRMATION IN CONGRESS AND
ACROSS THE NATION

GOP Elected Officials Spearhead Efforts For Genocide Acknowledgment In
Congress and Western United States

Los Angeles, CA – The largest Armenian-American grassroots public
affairs organization in the Western United States issued a statement
today praisinga number of Republican legislators in the U.S. Congress.
The statement issued by the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region praisedGOP members of Congress for their outstanding
support on issues of concern to tens of thousands of Armenian American
voters throughout California, Nevada and other western states.

The statement went on to praise Republican Governors in the states of
Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska for joining the growing list of states
that have officially acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. April 2004
marked a month when a record number of Governors issued proclamations
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and April 24th as a Day of
Remembrance. The list includes Republican Governors Dirk Kempthorne
of Idaho, Judy Martz of Montana, and Mike Johannsof Nebraska.

In addition to praising these states for their acknowledgement of the
Genocide, the ANCA-WR praised Republican Governor of California,
Arnold Schwarzenegger for designating April 24th in the State of
California, as a Day of Remembrance for the Genocide. Republican
State Senator Chuck Poochigian presented the proclamation to the
Armenian-American community at the ANCA-WR organized April 24
Commemoration in Montebello, California.

`We appreciate the work of our Republican friends, particularly
theGovernors and members of Congress who supported the ANC’s
initiatives to raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide and urge
Congress to pass resolutions acknowledging this crime against
humanity,’ stated ANCA-WR Government Relations Director Armen
Carapetian.

Last week the Nevada ANC honored Senator John Ensign (R-NV) as the
â=80=9CANC Man of the Year’ for his staunch support of Armenian
American issues. Senator Ensign introduced Senate Resolution 164,
which reaffirms America’s commitment to preventing genocides and
punishing perpetrators of genocide. The legislation also clearly
recognizes the mass murder of Armenians from 1915 to 1923 as a case of
genocide. Currently the bill has the support of over 39 Senators,
including 9 Republican Senators.

Several months ago, the Orange County ANC honored Congressman Ed Royce
(R-Fullerton) with the local chapter’s Freedom Award. Rep. Royce
serves on the influential International Relations Committee and has
had a long track record of support of issues that are of concern to
his Armenian-American constituency. During his remarks at the ANCA
Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance last week, Rep. Royce
renewed his pledge to fight for official acknowledgment ofthe Armenian
Genocide.

The ANCA-WR honored Republican Congressman George Radanovich
(R-Fresno) as its `Man of the Year’ several months ago at its largest
event of the year. Radanovich is the principal author and sponsor of
H.R. 193, which acknowledges the Armenian Genocide. That legislation,
which was passed unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee on May
21, 2003 is awaiting a vote on the House Floor.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughoutthe United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

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