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ARMENIAN CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS CALL ON NATO AND AZERBAIJAN TO RECTIFY ARMENIA'S EXCLUSION FROM MILITARY TALKS WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. The Armenian Assembly of America today commended Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) for calling on NATO to investigate and rectify Azerbaijan's hindrance of Armenia's participation in a key NATO military conference in Baku. In a letter addressed to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and General James L. Jones and issued yesterday, the Congressmen ask that NATO consider an alternate host country if Azerbaijan intends to block Armenia's future participation in meetings for the 2004 "Cooperative Best Effort (CBE)" exercises. The congressional letter to NATO said in part: "We concur with the comment of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, that [Azerbaijan's] actions, 'contradict the spirit, letter and logic of the Partnership program and question the very fulfillment of its goals to enlarge cooperation and dialogue between the peoples of the Euro-Atlantic region and specifically, the South Caucasus region.'" "Moreover, we question whether Azerbaijan, an aspirant to NATO, will work towards strengthening regional cooperation between the Organization and Partner countries should it become a Member." "We had hoped for a more resolute response from the State Department," Executive Director Ross Vartian said. "If the U.S. cannot secure a reversal of policy from Azerbaijan to allow unhindered participation by Armenia, the host nation ought to be changed." WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. The Armenian Assembly of America today commended Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) for calling on NATO to investigate and rectify Azerbaijan's hindrance of Armenia's participation in a key NATO military conference in Baku. In a letter addressed to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and General James L. Jones and issued yesterday, the Congressmen ask that NATO consider an alternate host country if Azerbaijan intends to block Armenia's future participation in meetings for the 2004 "Cooperative Best Effort (CBE)" exercises. The congressional letter to NATO said in part: "We concur with the comment of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, that [Azerbaijan's] actions, 'contradict the spirit, letter and logic of the Partnership program and question the very fulfillment of its goals to enlarge cooperation and dialogue between the peoples of the Euro-Atlantic region and specifically, the South Caucasus region.'" "Moreover, we question whether Azerbaijan, an aspirant to NATO, will work towards strengthening regional cooperation between the Organization and Partner countries should it become a Member." "We had hoped for a more resolute response from the State Department," Executive Director Ross Vartian said. "If the U.S. cannot secure a reversal of policy from Azerbaijan to allow unhindered participation by Armenia, the host nation ought to be changed." THERE IS NO SPLIT IN RANKS OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION IN PACE YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. There is no split in the ranks of the Armenian delegation in PACE. VIce Speaker of the national Assembly of Armenia, Head of Armenian delegation in PACE Tigran Torosian stated during the press conference concerning the results of the winter session of PACE on Jan 26-29. According to him, the representatives of both pro-power and opposition forces, represented in the Armenian delegation, were interested in removal of the word "the rest" from the wording "Nagorny Karabakh and the rest occupied territories of Azerbaijan", which was written in the draft report concerning the monitoring in Armenia. Tigran Torosian stressed the representative of "Justice" bloc Shavarsh Kocharian and the leader of the party "National unity" Artashes Geghamian have expressed readiness to make a speech regarding this question. The fact that Shavarsh Kocharian has made an initiative to make a proposal to the resolution for conducting a referendum is not the evidence of that there had been a split in the ranks of the Armenian delegation, the vice speaker said. According to him, the opposition has the right to raise questions in the international instances which interest it. The fact that Shavarsh Kocharian intended to raise in PACE the question of conducting a referendum of confidence in the president was not a surprise not for the parliament members not for the representatives of the foreign political office of the country, Tigran Torosian said. The vice speaker considered inexpedient the statement of the Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian, who had said that the Armenian delegation staff in PACE must be revised because the representatives of the opposition have raised there the question of the referendum of confidence in the president. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. A provocation was organized in respect to Minister of Culture for Youth Affairs of Armenia Tamara Poghosyan. Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan said at a press-conference today. It should be noted both Artur Baghdasaryan and Tamara Poghosyan are members of "Orinats Yerkir" party included in the ruling political coalition in the country after the May, 2003 elections. Commenting on the activity of the above minister at the request of journalists, Artur Baghdasaryan said that as a result of a target-orientated activity of definite political forces (he did not named any) a process of Tamara Poghosyan's discredit started. The "Orinats Yerkir" party have not discussed the issue of her supposed resignation with any offical, including, RA President. Robert Kocharyan has not made any proposals to the party in connection with the minister's resignation. The issue of her occupation of this post within the framework of agreements inside the coalition is the prerogative of the party. At the same time, Speaker Baghdasaryan said that the activity of the ministry will become a subject of political discussion inside the party soon and the public will be informed of the results. SEVERAL TYPES OF GEORGIAN WINES MADE OF GRAPES GROWN IN ARMENIA YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. Several sorts of grapes grown in Armenia are exported to Georgia, Chairman of the Union of Armenian Wine-Makers of Armenia Avag Haroutiunyan told ARMINFO. He said although the Georgian wines are more widely known than Armenian ones, however, the Armenian grapes used by Georgian wine-makers is more popular among them than the local ones. Haroutiunyan connects this fact with the taste quality of the Armenian grapes. Nevertheless, he could not mention the exact volume of the exports of Armenian grapes to Georgia. Haroutiunyan said that Armenian wine-makers work on renewal of both technologies and marketable state of the exported wines. PATRIARCH OF ISTANBUL AND ALL TURKEY GETS INTO ROAD ACCIDENT YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey Mesrop Mutafyan got into a road accident Sunday while going by bus from Saklikent to Antalia. The accident was caused by a brake failure. Mutafyan broke his nose and leg and was taken to the Antalia hospital. Also on bus were 12 clergymen. Some of them got minor injuries. ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE INJURED IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. According to news received today in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, was injured in an automobile accident. His Beatitude and his delegation were traveling on a pilgrimage to Antalia. As a result of the accident, Abp. Mesrob's leg and nose were broken, and suffered numerous other minor injuries. He was immediately transported to a hospital, the press-service of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told ARMINFO. On February 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, spoke by telephone with the Vicar of the Patriarchate, His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Svajian, and learned of the details surrounding the incident and the condition of the health of the Patriarch. His Holiness requested that Abp. Shahan convey his wishes for a quick and complete recovery to His Beatitude. The cause of the accident was attributed to a failure of the automobile's brakes. Also slightly injured in the accident were Rev. Fr. Sahak Mashalian of the Patriarchate, and ten others who were accompanying the Patriarch. The Patriarchate is headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. NORTHERN AVENUE RESIDENTS HOLD ACTION OF PROTEST YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. Over 50 Yerevan citizens residing near Northern Avenue held an action of protest against the authorities' intention to remove them and pay compensations. The Yerevan Municipality decided to demolish the old buildings occupying an area of 80 hectares, offering the local residents twice as less money as necessary to buy housing in the center. Protesting against the authorities' policy the residents formed a committee, which declared the Government's decision alienating land-plots for construction anticonstitutional. The committee applied to the Armenian Parliament. One of the leaders of the district chapter of the "Republic" party Vardan Petrossian urged the people to defend their rights. HEADLINES OF FEBRUARY 2
CHECHGAZPROM THREATENS TO STOP GAS SUPPLY OF GEORGIA
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