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AZERI PRESIDENTIAL AIDE CONDEMNS PROTEST AT ARMENIAN PRESENCE AT NATO MEETING

Assa-Irada, Baku
23 Jun 04

BAKU

The head of the public and political department at the presidential
administration, Ali Hasanov, has commented on the radical steps by the
KLO (Karabakh Liberation Organization) against the arrival of Armenian
military officers in Baku within the framework of NATO’s Partnership
for Peace programme.

He said that any protest actions should be held within civilized
norms. The protest against the Armenians’ arrival should not have
involved the smashing of the hotel doors and windows and storming of
the conference room. The official said that the public stance on this
issue was understandable, adding that however, radical steps were
unacceptable. Hasanov stressed that the Azerbaijanis were cultured
people and said that international legal norms should in no way be
violated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JUNE 18-24, 2004

HIGHLIGHTS:

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY

THE SUIT OF “INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” VERSUS THE YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY
REFUSED

NA DEPUTY DEMANDS THAT THE HEAD OF “ALM” MEDIA HOLDING BE CRIMINALLY
PROSECUTED

INTERNEWS ARMENIA PROPERTY RELEASED

“IMPULSE” CONTINUED TO BE AIRED ON FM 106.5

STAFF CHANGES IN THE TV COMPANIES OF HRANT VARDANIAN

ARMENIAN MEDIA LEGISLATION SCORED FIVE

“SHANT” TV COMPANY IS 10 YEARS OLD

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY

On June 23-24 in Tsaghkadzor “Freedom of Expression and the Right to Respect
fro Private Life” seminar was held. The event was organized by Yerevan Press
Club, the Media Division of the Directorate of Human Rights of the Council
of Europe and “Femida” NGO. The seminar brought together representatives of
public, also journalistic organizations, media, executive and judicial
powers of Armenia, the Council of Europe, international structures. At the
opening of the seminar the RA Deputy Minister of Justice Ashot Abovian, the
Spokesman of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hamlet Gasparian and the
Administrative Officer of the Media Division of the CE General Directorate
of Human Rights Charlotte de Broutelle.

A presentation on the Council of Europe standards regarding freedom of
information and the respect for private life was made by a barrister of
Matrix Chambers of London Hugh Tomlinson. The Chairman of the Civil Cases
Chamber of the RA Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumian told how the Armenian
legislation protects privacy, whereas the head of “Femida” NGO Julietta
Amirkhanian described the Armenian court precedents related to interference
with privacy.

The second part of the seminar was devoted to media self-regulation issues.
The limits to freedom of expression in the context of privacy protection
were defined by the Legal Expert of Internews Armenia public organization
Olga Safarian. YPC Expert Mesrop Harutiunian spoke about the link of the
between the legal and ethical norms of privacy protection. The experience of
media self-regulation in other CE member countries, by the example of the
United Kingdom and Bosnia and Herzegovina was presented by a member of UK
Press Complaint Commission, the Chairman of the Media Council of Bosnia and
Herzegovina Robert Pinker.

THE SUIT OF “INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” VERSUS THE YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY
REFUSED

On June 21 the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan refused the suit of “Investigative Journalists”
public organization and its chairman Edik Baghdasarian versus Yerevan
Municipality. As it has been reported, Edik Baghdasarian demanded to be
given access to the resolutions of the city administration, passed in
1997-2003, on the constructions made in the green zone around the building
of the National Opera and Ballet Theater. At the previous session of June 9
the respondent admitted that the municipality “was late” with the answer and
asked the plaintiff to specify what information exactly was needed. Having
received a written inquiry from the latter, the respondent petitioned the
court to provide time to prepare the information requested (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, June 4-10, 2004).

However, at the session of June 21 the representative of the municipality
submitted to the court a letter, signed on June 16 by a head of an
appropriate division of the city administration. The letter informed that
“Investigative Journalists” must be even more specific as to which
“subjects” are of interest to them. On her behalf, the judge noted that the
organization should have gathered information from other institution, such
as the State Real Estate Cadastre Committee and only afterwards, having
exhausted all the possibilities, address the municipality. Eventually the
suit was refused.

“Investigative Journalists” intend to challenge this decision with the RA
Court of Appeals.

NA DEPUTY DEMANDS THAT THE HEAD OF “ALM” MEDIA HOLDING BE CRIMINALLY
PROSECUTED

On June 21 deputy of the RA National Assembly, the Head of the Association
of Political Scientists of Armenia Hmayak Hovhannisian addressed the RA
General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian with a petition to institute criminal
proceedings against the owner and the head of “ALM” media holding Tigran
Karapetian for incitement of national hatred, libel and insult. The reason
for this was the authorship program of Tigran Karapetian “Price of Question”
, aired by “ALM” TV company on June 15. In particular, as the NA deputy
wrote, the “ALM” head said that Hmayak Hovhannisian “behaves as a Jew or
made a Jewish step”, as well as called him a “pickpocket and a liar”. As a
proof, the videotape of the program was enclosed to the application.

Tigran Karapetian himself publicly denied having made anti-Semite nature of
his utterance and noted that he can bring facts to substantiate the
remaining wording by facts.

INTERNEWS ARMENIA PROPERTY RELEASED

On June 18 at the session of the court of primary jurisdiction of Aragatsotn
region in Ashtarak city the suit of “Ashtarak TV” about removing arrest of
the property used by the TV company was partially secured. As it has been
reported, previously the same court secured the suit of Aragatsotn
Prosecutor’s Office on obliging the TV company to pay the outstanding tax
liabilities. To execute the court ruling the property of “Ashtarak” TV was
arrested – so that to be later sold at an auction. This punishment was thus
actually imposed also on the private persons and organizations – the owners
of the part of “Ashtarak TV” property arrested. In particular, on June 9
Internews Armenia public organization submitted to the court the documents
that confirmed its ownership of a part of equipment arrested (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, June 4-10, 2004).

At the session of June 18 the court resolved to release the property owned
by Internews Armenia.

“Ashtarak TV” company stopped its broadcasts on May 21.

“IMPULSE” CONTINUED TO BE AIRED ON FM 106.5

On June 21 the National Commission on Television and Radio announced the
results of the broadcast licensing competition for FM 106.5 MHz, announced
on February 12. As it has been reported, this frequency was claimed by two
radio companies – “Impulse” and “Ultra” (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, May
21-27, 2004). By the voting of the national Commission, “Impulse” radio
station that partly re-broadcasts Russian “Mayak” radio will continue to go
on air on FM 106.5.

STAFF CHANGES IN THE TV COMPANIES OF HRANT VARDANIAN

The founder and the former chairman of “AR” TV company Meruzhan
Ter-Ghulanian that became a creative director after the restructuring of the
TV company in May last year (see YPC Weekly Newsletter May 9-15, 2003) was
appointed to the position of Vice President of a charitable fund “The
Vardanian Family”. The creative director of “AR” is now Zhirayr Dadasian,
previously on the same position at “Hairenik” TV. It should be noted that a
well-known Armenian entrepreneur, the President of “Grand Holding” company
Hrant Vardanian is the owner of both TV companies.

ARMENIAN MEDIA LEGISLATION SCORED FIVE

Russian Media Law Institute published a report “On the Media-Related
Legislation in the Countries of CIS and Baltic States”. The purpose of the
study is to determine the development level of the national legislative
frameworks in the context of legal guarantees of mass communication freedom.
The report covers the period of June 12, 1990 (when the USSR Law “On Press
and Other Media Outlets” was adopted and, in the opinion of the researchers,
set the grounds for the freedom of expression and press in the post-Soviet
countries) up to now.

The comparative analysis the CIS countries and Baltic states was made along
21 sections, starting from constitutional provisions up to norms that
regulate the issues of professional activity (protection of information
sources, media production export and import, restrictions on advertising,
etc).

The level of the media in a specific country was assessed by a 11-unit scale
and along the following criteria: constitutional provision for media freedom
and the prohibition of censorship; the presence of laws on media, TV and
radio broadcasting, public service broadcasting; protection of professional
rights of journalists; the nature of procedure for media registration;
restrictions on foreign ownership of media; linguistic requirements; absence
of criminal libel and/or insult and separately – officials.

None of the 15 countries of the former USSR received maximal number of
points (11). The rating list is headed by Estonia (9 points), followed by
Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine (7 units each) – where, according to the
research, the level of media regulation is high.

Armenia, along with Latvia and Tajikistan was among countries with medium
level of media legislation (5 units each). The same group also includes our
neighbors in South Caucasus – Azerbaijan and Georgia that scored 4 units
each, similarly to Belarus, Russia and Uzbekistan.

A lower lever of legal regulation media is taken by Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan (3 units each). The last place of the rating is taken by
Turkmenistan (2 units).

“SHANT” TV COMPANY IS 10 YEARS OLD

On June 21 “Shant” TV company (Gyumri, Shirak region) celebrated the 10th
anniversary of its first air. Since 2000 “Shant” started to broadcast in
Yerevan too.

Yerevan Press Club congratulates colleagues and wishes prosperity and
further success.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

–Boundary_(ID_N0QnvKfW6sUo6O2cd/JFrQ)
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From: “Katia M. Peltekian” <[email protected]>
Subject: Protesters in Baku try to storm NATO conference
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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World News / Jang News, Pakistan
June 23 2004

Protesters in Baku try to storm NATO conference

BAKU: A NATO conference in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan
was disrupted on Tuesday when hardline nationalists tried to storm
the hotel where the meeting was taking place. Police arrested 12
demonstrators, who were protesting against the presence at the
conference of two servicemen from the neighbouring country of
Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia are officially in a state of war
after fighting in the early 1990s over the disputed enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

About 30 demonstrators broke through a police cordon outside the
venue for the meeting, a hotel in the Azeri capital, Baku, and
smashed the glass door of the conference hall, witnesses at the scene
told AFP. They were prevented from getting into the hall by the
hotel’s security guards and were later detained by police. The
meeting was suspended for five minutes as a result of the
disturbance.

Earlier, the protesters had marched through Baku carrying placards
with the slogans: “Armenians Out!” and “The Armenians criminals have
the blood of our people on their hands.” “We will continue this
protest action all day,” said Akif Nagi, who led the demonstration.
“Our aim is to force the Armenians to leave the conference.” The
conference is being held to prepare for a training exercise of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, called “Cooperative Best Effort,”
which is due to take place in Azerbaijan this fall.

The conference is being attended by delegates from 24 NATO member
states and partner countries, including the two Armenian officers.
They have been identified by Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry as Colonel
Murad Sakhanian and Senior Lieutenant Aram Hovannisian. Also on
Tuesday, there were complaints about the presence of the Armenian
officers from deputies in Azerbaijan’s parliament. Speaker Murtuz
Aleskerov said he “expressed his protest about this issue.”

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of NATO’s Partnership for
Peace programme, which is seen as a stepping-stone to full membership
of the military alliance. This is not the first time a NATO event has
brought clashes between the two countries. Earlier this year, an
Armenian officer studying English in the Hungarian capital, Budapest,
as part of a NATO-sponsored course, was beheaded as he slept in his
student dormitory. An Azeri officer, who had been studying on the
same course as the victim, has been arrested and charged with the
murder.

The war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the early 1990s over
Nagorno-Karabakh left some 35,000 people dead and forced about a
million people on both sides to flee their homes. It ended with
Armenian forces in control of Karabakh, which is internationally
recognised as part of Azerbiajan.

–Boundary_(ID_N0QnvKfW6sUo6O2cd/JFrQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

From: “Katia M. Peltekian” <[email protected]>
Subject: BAKU: KLO Activists Face Criminal Case on Charges of Hooliganism

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 23 2004

KLO Activists Face Criminal Case on Charges of Hooliganism

Criminal cases have been filed against five arrested members of the
Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO), including its leader Akif
Naghi, on charges of hooliganism, police said on Tuesday.

The KLO members were arrested the same day after they attempted to
stage an unauthorized rally in front of Baku’s Europe Hotel in
protest of two Armenian participants of a planning conference for
NATO’s `Cooperative Best Effort-2004′ military training.

Although police stopped the protestors from nearing the hotel, a
group of young KLO members could enter the building via a rear door.
After minutes of squabbling with the hotel’s guard, they also managed
to break into the hall where the conference was being held.
Reinforced police forces eventually could force the intruders out of
the hotel.

The Baku-hosted planning conference, which was organized under NATO’s
Partnership for Peace Program, is attended by representatives from
ten NATO member-states and 11 countries participating in the
Partnership for Peace Program. The conference is due to finish on
Thursday.

Baku’s arch foe neighbor, Armenia, which has taken control over
one-fifth of Azerbaijan’s territories in 1991-94 war, is being
represented in the event by Colonel Murad Isakhanyan and Senior
Lieutenant Aram Hovhanesian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Germany to help Armenia improve water supplies

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
22 Jun 04

[Presenter] Armenian and German businessmen are preparing cooperation
plans. The Armenian side is presenting in Berlin proposals to
increase the volume of commodity turnover. Armenian legislation is
more liberal on protecting investment and ensuring economic
competition.

[Correspondent Hermine Bagdasaryan from Berlin] An additional 8m euros
to improve water supplies to Armenia’s distant districts – Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik has reached this agreement with German
Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie
Wieczorek-Zeul. This is not the beginning of German support, but a
continuation of several years of a programme of improvement for the
republic’s water supply, assisting small and medium-sized businesses
and developing alternative sources of energy.

Minister Zeul asked Andranik Markaryan about the Caucasus Initiative
programme, expressing concern that only Armenia and Georgia are
involved in it. Our neighbours [Azerbaijan] politicize our joint
cooperation in the ecological and economic sectors although Armenia
has declared its readiness for cooperation without any conditions,
Andranik Markaryan said.

Markaryan and Zeul also discussed a peaceful settlement to the
Karabakh problem.

The agenda of the Armenian delegation also included economic
events. More than 200 businessmen have arrived in Berlin to take part
in the Armenian-German economic cooperation forum and industrial
exhibition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Virgo’s Lie is hot but Egoyan’s Love is cooler

Screendaily
by Denis Seguin in Toronto
23 June 2004

Summer is always the busiest season for film production. In Canada, where
the summer is as short as it is hot, that makes it busier than most. In
terms of heat, the hottest production by far is Clement Virgo’s new film,
Lie With Me, which started shooting in Toronto on June 16.

Virgo co-wrote the screenplay with Tamara Faith Berger based on her
`brazenly pornographic’ novel. Mark Urman head of theatrical distribution
for THINKFilm, which picked up world rights for the project, is already
making comparisons with sensual sensations of the past. `Clement and
Tamara’s script explores human sexuality with a bravery and honesty not seen
on screen since Bertolucci’s Last Tango In Paris,’ says.

`We are thrilled to be in bed with such a provocative filmmaker and fully
expect Clement, Tamara and their terrific actors [Eric Balfour and Lauren
Lee Smith] to create the most honest, erotic and intimate film about sex
ever made in North America.’ No small feat.

Second perhaps in sensation but higher in prestige is the prospect of a new
film from auteur Atom Egoyan. The heat is on the auteur and in more ways
than one. His previous film, Ararat, a film that explored the historical
impact of genocide, was critically lauded and created its share of
controversy. But it didn’t perform at the box office. The new film, Somebody
Loves You, is a clear departure from weighty subject matter. But it also
offers an opportunity for Egoyan to break from the
`intellectuals-only-need-watch’ track his career has lead him. Based on the
widely-admired novel by Broadway wunderkind Rupert Holmes, the story follows
a young celebrity journalist as she tracks the secrets of a showbiz duo who
were driven apart by a bizarre death in which one of them may have played
the part of murderer. The deeper she digs the more she finds herself
involved with both men and perhaps risking more than she bargained. The
project offers some audience-friendly genre landmarks (1970s LA noir) with
Egoyanesque touchstones like identity confusion. It’s the third novel Egoyan
has adapted (the others were 1997’s The Sweet Hereafter and 1999’s Felicia’s
Journey) but is by far the least depressing. The film starts shooting at the
end of August under Egoyan’s long-time collaborator producer Robert Lantos,
who is a third source of heat. After the failure Norman Jewison’s The
Statement, Lantos’ Serendipity Point Films needs a hit.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 22 2004

SPEECH BY ILHAM ALIYEV, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
[June 22, 2004, 18:14:47]

Esteemed Mr. President,

Dear guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I do extend my cordial greeting to you once again and wish you
welcomed here.

Today, a new page is being opened in the relations between the
Republic of Azerbaijan and the Hellenic Republic. Useful political
dialogue is being held. Relations are developing fast. We want these
relations would cover all areas.

Dear Mr. President, I highly appreciate your official visit to
Azerbaijan and I am confident that this visit will pave ground for a
new level of relationship between our countries. It goes without
saying that the conducted discussions and meetings will define new
areas for mutual activities and contribute to the further expansion
of the relation in future.

Expansion and the development of relations between our countries in
political, economic, humanitarian, cultural and tourism fields are of
paramount importance. I wish to express my hope that the ties to be
established between Greek businessmen and Azerbaijani entrepreneurs
during the Greek-Azerbaijani business Forum will give an impetus to
our cooperation. Relationship will strengthen after your visit.

Today, Azerbaijani State continues the foreign and home policy
founded by the national leader Heydar Aliyev. From this points of
view the integration of Azerbaijan into the Europe and Euro-Atlantic
structures, to the international organizations has an important
place.

Thanks to the wise policy of Heydar Aliyev, today Azerbaijan takes
its well-deserved place in the world. Our country is the member of
Council of Europe and successfully cooperates with the NATO in the
framework of “Partnership for Peace” program and with the European
and Euro-Atlantic structures. Azerbaijan has been included into the
EU ” Wider Europe and neighbors” policy.

Today, the biggest energy projects of the world are being implemented
in Azerbaijan. The transportation of the energy resources from the
Caspian basin to the West, implementation of TRACECA Program, the
restoration of the Great Silk Road, the projects like the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline
are wonderful examples to this. After the implementation of these
projects a new stage of integration into Europe and the development
in Azerbaijan, as well as the countries of the region will start. The
operation of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline will significantly
expand Azerbaijan-Greek relations. This pipeline will not only make
our countries to prosper, but it will also have a positive impact on
their relationship.

Azerbaijan is closely co-operating with all the countries of the
region. Only Armenia has isolated itself from such co-operation. As a
result of military aggression of this country, 20% of our lands has
been occupied, more than 1 million refugees and internally displaced
people were ousted from their native places. Four UN Security Council
Resolutions and OSCE decisions regarding the conflict remain
unfulfilled. The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict must
be solved soon based upon the international law norms and the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored.

It is with pleasure I wish to note that the Olympic games in the
current year will be held in its historic Motherland-Greece.
Azerbaijani sportsmen, as well as people form cultural and artistic
communities are having special preparation for this noble event.

Esteemed Mr. President, once again I want to express that I do attach
a high importance to your official visit to the Republic of
Azerbaijani and wish you good health and permanent development and
prosperity to your country. I raise my glass, Mr. President to You,
to the development of sincere friendship and mutually beneficial
relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Hellenic
Republic.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 22 2004

PACE SUMMER SESSION STARTED
[June 22, 2004, 19:32:46]

Head of Azerbaijan delegation made report on activity of the PACE
Bureau at the session

As the correspondent of AzerTAj reported, the group of deputies
headed by the head of delegation of Azerbaijan in Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, chairman of standing commission of
Milli Majlis on international relations and inter-parliamentary links
Samad Seyidov has arrived in the city of Strasbourg to take part in
summer session of the structure.

The summer session of pace commenced on June 21. In first half of
day, session of the Bureau of structure and assembly has taken place
in political groups. At session of the Bureau the agenda of session
has been finally discussed, the exchange of opinions on participation
of the Turkish community of Cyprus in the PACE both in its committees
and on other questions has taken place. The member of Bureau Samad
Seyidov in discussion of the Cyprian question has supported the
position of brotherly Turkey.

In the second half of day, the agenda of session was approved. It
includes: “Euro and the expanded Europe”, “Elections on the post of
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe”, “Observation by
Turkey of the obligations “, ” Fulfillment by Turkey of decisions of
the European Court on human rights”, “Contribution of the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the development of Central
and Eastern Europe”, “Fulfillment by Bosnia and Herzegovina of the
obligations; evolution and further development of democratic
institutes in this country”, “Role of women in conflict preventing
and settlement of conflicts”, “Possible monopolies of electronic
media in Italy and malfeasance”, “All-European interdiction of
corporal punishment of children”, “Position of refugees and IDPs in
the Russian Federation and a number of CIS countries”, “Water
resources management in Europe” and other questions.

At session, MP Samad Seyidov has made report on the work done, since
April session by the Bureau before the summer session. The Azerbaijan
deputy has in detail informed on the next assembly of chairmen of the
European parliaments, carried out by PACE on May 17-19 in Strasbourg,
about the meetings of chairmen of parliaments of Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Armenia with participation of chairman the PACE held within the
framework of this action,. Having touched the resolution adopted by
Assembly at the April session on performance of obligations by
Armenia, Samad Seyidov has noted, that in this question the structure
has given Armenia time until the fall session.

Then, the deputy has noted the work done by the Bureau in connection
with results of monitoring in Latvia, destiny of missing in Belarus,
cooperation with Kazakhstan, judgment on death penalty to the
Bulgarian doctors in Libya, presidential elections conducted in
Ukraine in October.

The report of the Azerbaijan deputy on activity of the Bureau of
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe testifies to high
trust to our country and growth of its image in the structure.

At the session, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan is expected to
make speech before the deputies about situation in his country.

The Session continues its work.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 17:24:59 | 22-06-2004 | Social |

CHILDREN FALLEN INTO NEGLECT IN ARMENIA

On Tuesday, Christian Ferrin, the head of Armenian mission of Doctors
without Borders organization, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan,
voiced dissatisfaction at cooperation with Armenian authorities for
last seven year.

Ferrin said a program launched to improve child treatment in
special schools was already completed but no changes had been made
in Nubarashen and Vardashen special schools so far. Children are
being mistreated and undergone violence as before, he said. The
organization and Armenian Education Ministry was in charge of the
project implementation.

In his words, Armenian authorities said these schools were intended
for military training. It means children under age of12 years pass
military training in a clear breach of International Convention on
the Rights of the Child.

Key aim of the organization is children protection. The organization
focuses its attention also on rendering help to those families in
extreme need to prevent them from collapsing.

“Many abandoned children in orphanages have parents who are unable to
take care of them. Time has come the authorities to take responsibility
for every child not only to help them”, Ferrin said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI POLICE ARREST 12 FOR STORMING NATO CONFERENCE IN BAKU

Turan news agency, Baku
22 Jun 04

22 June: According to the latest data available to the Karabakh
Liberation Organization (KLO), police have detained 12 people who
took part in the protest outside Hotel Europe today. The detainees
were taken to various police departments of Baku.

The protest started in the morning and continued for quite a while
intermittently. It was accompanied with sporadic clashes with police. A
group of protesters burst into the hotels’ ground floor and tried to
disrupt a NATO conference in which two Armenian officers were taking
part. Police and hotel security officers took them out. As a result,
the hotel’s windows were smashed.

The protesters left the hotel at 1330 (0830 gmt), but the building
is still cordoned off by police.

Preliminary reports say that none of the participants in the NATO
conference, including Armenians, suffered in the incident.