Artsakh  Newsletter

VOLUME 4, No. 10-11

BRIEFLY...

(Continued from page 1)

Nagorno Karabakh study group in the French Parliament, which would provide unbiased and accurate information about the processes in Nagorno Karabakh to the National Assembly.  Ghoukasian thanked the deputies for their interest in Nagorno Karabakh. 
Following the visit to France, President Ghoukasian's delegation, joined by the NKR Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian visited New York and Los Angeles urging local Armenian-American communities to actively participate in the telethon, later broadcast live on November 28.  The telethon, organized by the All-Armenian

Hayastan Fund, raised $5,073,000 for the construction of the strategic North-South Highway in Nagorno Karabakh. 
While in New York, Ghoukasian visited the site of the World Trade Center, paying tribute to the memory of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.  In his remarks at the wreath-laying ceremony President Ghoukasian said "We express our heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and to all American people.  The entire world community is joined with you in the effort to rout out international terrorism.  Nagorno Karabakh was also at

tacked by international terrorists when Azerbaijan hired Afghani mujaheddin mercenaries to fight against us."  He added,  "We are as one with the American people in this fight against our common enemy."
In New York and Los Angeles, President Ghoukasian met with the leaders of the Armenian Church, Armenian political parties and major community organizations.  He also met with prominent Armenian-American businessmen and philanthropists, who have assisted Nagorno Karabakh in its post-war economic recovery.   

Dr. Vahakn Dadrian Visits Nagorno Karabakh, Meets Ghoukasian

Stepanakert, October 14.  Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukasian received the Director of the U.S.-based Zoryan Institute's Genocide Research Project, the renowned scholar of Armenian Genocide studies, Vahakn Dadrian.  Dadrian briefed Ghoukasian on the Institute's current projects.  Ghoukasian underscored the importance of the Genocide Research Project and welcomed Dadrian's visit to Nagorno Karabakh.  Later, Dadrian gave lectures to undergraduate students, diplomatic corps and NKR Defense Army officers dedicated to the issue of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1918.  He stressed that the Genocide was organized by the government of the Ottoman Turkey and was the result of the latter's discriminatory policy towards Armenians.  According to Dadrian, the fact that the crime has gone unpunished, emboldens modern-day Turkey in its denial of mass atrocities committed against the Armenian nation.  Dadrian said that in order to repent, Turkey needs to abandon its aggressive military doctrine, which is at the heart of its domestic and foreign policy. 

Stepanakert, October 10.  Recently reelected President Arkady Ghoukasian signed a decree partially reshuffling the NKR government.  According to the decree, the posts of Vice Prime Ministers were reintroduced, the Finance Ministry and Economy and Structural Reforms ministry were merged into an Economy and Finance Ministry and the Education and Science Ministry and the Culture, and Sport and Youth Affairs Ministry were merged into an Education, Culture and Sports Ministry.  The Statistics, State Registry and Analytical State Department was restructured to the National Statistics Service.    The structure of the government has been set as follows:

Prime Minister - Mr. Anoushavan Danielian
Vice Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister - Mr. Benik Bakhshian
Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Urban Construction and Industrial Development - Mr. Yuri Ghazarian
Government Chief of Staff, Minister - Mr. Souren Grigorian

Minister of Defense - Lt. Gen. Seyran Ohanian
Minister of Education, Culture and Sports - Mr. Armen Sarkisian
Minister of Economy and Finance - Mr. Spartak Tevosian
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Mr. Ashot Ghulian
Minister of Health - Mrs. Zoya Lazarian
Minister of Interior - Mr. Armen Isagulov
Minister of Social Welfare - Mr. Lenston Ghulian
Head of the State Department of Justice - Mr. Robert Hairapetian
Head of the State Department of National Security - Mr. Bako Sahakian
Head of the State Department of Taxation - Mr. Hakob Kagramanian

Ghoukasian described his new cabinet as the "government of development".  He explained the decision to reintroduce the positions of Vice Prime Ministers by his administration's strong emphasis on economic development, mostly in the spheres of agriculture and industrial production. 

National Statistics Service Says Industrial Output Rose 27% in January-September

Khachen, November 9.  The Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Pargev Martirossian consecrated the newly constructed St. Mary's Armenian church in the town of Askeran, Khachen province.  The church has been built with the funds donated by the Armenian businessman, Barsegh Beglarian.  President Arkady Ghoukasian, National Assembly Chairman Oleg Yesayan and other government officials participated in the ceremony.

Stepanakert, October 7.  The National Statistics Service reported that in the first eight months of this year the total industrial output rose 27%, compared to the same period of last year, reaching more than $8 million USD.  Final product

sales increased by 18.4% making up $7.4 million USD, of which $1.4 million were exports with 79% of it generated from sales to non-CIS countries.  In the agricultural sector 20,847 metric tons of milk and 1,527 metric tons of meat and poultry were

produced.  Capital construction projects totaled $6.1 million USD.  The number of people employed by the production sector rose by 17.5%, reaching a total of 2,973.   The average monthly salary rose 3.3% to reach $50 dollars.