DESPITE POLITICAL UNREST AND BORDER TENSIONS IN ARMENIA, WORLD VISION CONTINUES OPERATIONS
Reuters Alert
March 10 2008
UK
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this
article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are
the author’s alone.
World Vision continues its work in Armenia with necessary precautions
in spite of the recent political turmoil over presidential election
results and renewed clashes on the border with Azerbaijan. All World
Vision staff, sponsored children and communities are safe.
Eleven days of opposition protests over the presidential vote, judged
by international observers as ‘generally democratic’, have resulted
in a clash between police and protestors. According to police, eight
people were killed in the riot. On 1 March, the government declared a
state of emergency in Yerevan that bans public gatherings and imposes
restrictions on media reports until 20 March. Currently, the relative
calm is sustained in Armenia and Yerevan with strict control being
enforced by police and army forces.
Following the state of emergency, movement within Armenia is restricted
for persons who reside outside the capital, slowing but not inhibiting
some World Vision activities.
In addition, World Vision is closely monitoring the situation in
communities on the border with Azerbaijan where renewed clashes have
broken out recently. World Vision Armenia continues to support those
communities, many of which are populated by refugees from the war
with Azerbaijan in 1992-1994. Communities near the Azeri border are
being supported through two community development programs.
World Vision Armenia is praying for a peaceful resolution to the
political turmoil in Armenia and to the recent clashes on the Azeri and
Armenian border for the sake of girls and boys, whose best interests
are ensured by a safe and secure environment.