AZERI SOLDIER REPORTEDLY WOUNDED IN ARMENIAN TRUCE VIOLATION
ANS TV, Baku
31 Aug 05
The Armenian armed forces have fired on the positions of the
Azerbaijani armed forces in the village of Torpaqtapa from their
positions in the occupied village of Talis in Tartar District from
assault rifles and machine-guns.
A soldier of the Azerbaijani army was wounded in his arm in an
exchange of fire, according to residents. The Azerbaijani Defence
Ministry press service has denied the report.
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
Aug 27 2005
Azerbaijan, Armenia Leaders To Discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
(RFE/RL)
27 August 2005 — The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected
to meet today to discuss the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The talks between Presidents Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan and Robert
Kocharian of Armenia are due to be held in Kazan, in the Russian
republic of Tatarstan, where leaders of the Commonwealth of
Independent States held a summit yesterday.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held separate telephone
talks this week with Aliev and Kocharian and urged them to “make the
compromises necessary” to reach a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a mostly ethnic Armenian enclave, broke away from
Soviet Azerbaijan in 1988, sparking a war in which some 35,000 people
were killed. A cease-fire took effect in 1994.
International antitorture body urges Azeri authorities to free youth
leader
Turan news agency, Baku
26 Aug 05
Geneva, 25 August: The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) has
issued a statement calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to end the
persecution of activists of the Yeni Fikir [New Thought] youth
movement and members of their families.
The statement says that Yeni Fikir leader Ruslan Basirli was arrested
on 3 August on charges of a coup attempt. The Prosecutor’s Office says
that Basirli wanted the Armenian special services, whose
representatives he allegedly met in Tbilisi on 28-29 July, to be
involved in his attempt.
Basirli could not meet his lawyer for two days after the arrest. After
that, members of his family were persecuted. His father was sacked
from a school and crowds threw stones at their house in the town of
Zardab [central Azerbaijan]. Basirli’s uncle was also fired from the
tax inspection department of [central Azerbaijani district of] Goycay
on 8 August.
[Passage omitted: unconfirmed reports of torture against a Yeni Fikir
member] “The OMCT is seriously concerned over the physical and
psychological condition of Ruslan Basirli and his family, as well as
the condition of Sarvan Sarxanov [who was allegedly beaten up at the
Prosecutor-General’s Office]. The organization is also concerned about
the general atmosphere of persecution against members of Yeni Fikir”,
the statement says.
[Passage omitted: another Yeni Fikir member has been expelled from
university] The OMCT has appealed to the international community in
connection with the situation in order to protest against the
Azerbaijani authorities and urge them to ensure decent physical and
psychological conditions for Basirli, his family and Sarvan Sarxanov.
The statement urges Basirli’s immediate release on the grounds that
the charges against him are illegal. It also called for a fair
investigation and asked to ensure Basirli’s rights and freedoms if
there are such charges.
Azeri leader off to capital of Russia’s Tatarstan to attend CIS summit
ANS TV, Baku
26 Aug 05
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has left for Kazan to attend the summit
of CIS heads of state, Azerbaijani ANS TV has reported.
Aliyev will have a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to
discuss the Karabakh problem, it said.
CENN – August 25, Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1. Future of African Lion under scrutiny
2. Air Pollution: Its Damaging Effect
3. Oil pollution costs Birmingham father and son over £7,000
4. Our Ecological Rights Are Equal to common Values
5. Avoid Costly Fines for Environmental Non-compliance
6. Animal Testing Backed by 500 UK Scientists
1. Future of African Lion under scrutiny
Source: IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland, 23 August 2005
Africa is the primary range of the lion Panthera leo, yet living
closely to lions poses hardship for many African communities. The
lion is a major predator on domestic livestock which leads to strong
conflicts with local herders, but also on human life in some areas such
as the Southeast of Tanzania. However, the lion is not only a source
of personal and economic damage and danger, but also of benefits,
as a primary attraction for tourism as one of Africa’s “Big Five”
trophy animals.
While the lion is feared, its kingly status among the other wild
animals is also celebrated in African traditions. The lion is a
sacred animal, widely talked about but, as with most kings in African
folklore, rarely encountered in public. News of the King’s ill health
is cause for community concern, and investigation. It is no wonder
therefore, that up to today, there is still a lot to be learnt about
the king of the jungle – and much worry about its future.
Prior to the 13th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
International Trade Endangered Species (CITES), Kenya circulated
a proposal among lion range states to change the listing of the
African lion from CITES Appendix II (not necessarily threatened with
extinction but may become so unless trade is closely controlled),
to Appendix I (most endangered, are threatened with extinction
and CITES generally prohibits commercial international trade in
specimens of these species). The Kenyan proposal argued that the
African lion met the population decline requirements for Appendix I
because of the estimated recent decline in the continental population,
the endangered status of the West African regional population, and
because the African lion was potentially threatened by trade.
That is cause for concern, the Kenyans argued. Two recent attempts to
estimate the size of the African lion population came up with roughly
20,000-40,000 lions. Scientists used a population model to estimate
that there may have been almost 80,000 lions back in 1980, although the
actual population size at this time is not known for certain. The 2004
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the lion as “vulnerable”
due to an estimated decline in the African population of between 30-49%
over the last twenty years, and well documented on
The Kenyan proposal received mixed views. While there is uncertainty
over the magnitude of recent declines in the African lion population,
there is general agreement that the primary threats to the lion’s
future include lion-human conflict, loss of wild prey, and small
population sizes, particularly in West Africa. Trade is not considered
to have caused the decline, and trophy hunting is an important tool
for governments to manage lion populations and problem animals.
Faced with disagreement among the range states on the lion trade
issue at the Bangkok CITES meeting, Kenya withdrew their proposal.
But consensus was achieved among all that the next step should bring
the range states, lion specialists, and other stakeholders together
to discuss lion threats and develop conservation recommendations.
IUCN -The World Conservation Union was asked to hold a series of
regional workshops. Together with the IUCN Species Survival 1
Commission, its Cat Specialist Group, the Wildlife Conservation
Society, and the Africa Resources Trust, amongst others, this
initiative will lead to the development of regional as well as an
Africa-wide lion management strategy, and establish closer cooperation
amongst Africans in the conservation of the species.
There will be two regional lion conservation workshops: one for West
and Central Africa, and one for East and Southern Africa. At the
workshop technical sessions organized and supported by the Wildlife
Conservation Society, lion populations will be estimated, mapped
and prioritized. This information will be used in strategic planning
sessions, attended by lion managers from governments all over Africa,
to develop regional and continental conservation strategies. The
strategies are expected to include identification of objectives for
lion management in the four regions of Africa (West, Central, East and
Southern), as well as a continental overview. The strategies will be
developed at multi-stakeholder strategic planning workshops aimed at
promoting inter-regional cooperation. At the same time, the regional
strategies will build on and help guide improvement of national and
sub-national lion management policies.
These workshop outputs are anticipated to serve as a catalyst for
African lion conservation. They will provide the best assessment of
the current status of the African lion, with populations prioritised
from the perspective of conservation biology. They will help develop
a GIS-based database, which can be continually updated to monitor lion
status. They will set regional priorities for African lion management,
promoting greater cooperation among range states, and also guide
range states in developing and improving their own policies. They will
provide the larger conservation community with a continental action
plan to help ensure that investment in lion conservation addresses
the primary threats to lions in Africa.
That will be the mission of many committed conservationists,
practitioners, scientists and policy makers – mostly from West and
Central Africa – when they gather for the first of these meetings,
scheduled for Douala, Cameroon in October of 2005. The second meeting
will bring together a similar profile of people from East and Southern
Africa in January 2005 in South Africa. The challenge for the workshops
will be to chart the course for a future where Africa’s ancient lion
king can live peacefully amongst the people of a modern continent.
2. Air Pollution: Its Damaging Effect
Source: Eco-portal, August 23, 2005
The inhabitants of Accra city are constantly being exposed to toxic
chemicals. The source of these toxins is namely cars. The consequences
of inhaling these toxins may be fatal.
Cars emit poisonous chemicals such as Sulpher Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen
Monoxide (NO), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and un-burnt hydrocarbons every
time the engine is run. It has been scientifically proven, that
inhaling these compounds causes damage to human health.
Breathing car exhaust gases is just as damaging as breathing in
cigarette smoke. The majority of Ghanaians are aware of the dangers
associated with smoking, and should apply these concerns to the
inhalation of car exhaust gases.
At first, the patient may suffer from a mild irritation, a tickly
cough for example, watery eyes. Over time, this may develop into
something much more sinister like lung cancer, a life-threatening
disease. Children may develop asthma, a condition, which causes
breathing difficulties.
Not only are these pollutants damaging to individual health, but also
to the environment. Sulpher Dioxide is responsible for acid rain,
rainfall that can cause substantial damage to crops and vegetation.
As well as the poisonous compounds produced by car engines,
non-poisonous Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is produced. CO2 is the root cause
of climate change, which is of global concern.
Carbon Dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas, and forms a “blanket”
layer in the earth’s atmosphere, thus preventing the sun’s heat
from leaving it. Since the heat is being trapped, the atmosphere
is gradually heating up, an effect known as the greenhouse effect,
which causes the phenomenon known as global warming.
If global warming is allowed to continue, then we will witness more
freak weather conditions, such as draughts and floods and eventually
the polar ice caps will melt, causing sea levels to rise and low
lying countries to disappear.
To protect our own health, and the environment for generations to come,
we must act now to reduce the amount of pollutants in the city air.
Strict guidelines need to be put in place, which do not permit cars
that emit large quantities of pollutants, on the roads.
The MOT testing must be reinstated and made compulsory for all
vehicles. New vehicles must be tested annually for their emission
levels, and older cars twice annually. If the car is found to be
producing too many pollutants, then they should be taken off the road.
Drivers failing to take their cars to be tested should incur a fine.
However, the best method of reducing pollution levels stills remains
the most traditional: walk. Try and leave your car at home for making
short journeys. This way, the environment benefits, as a little bit
of exercise could do for you too.
3. Oil pollution costs Birmingham father and son over £7,000
Source: Environmental Agency, August 23, 2005
On Friday, 19 August 2005, Harry Fellows Jnr, of Bartley Green,
Birmingham, and his son Harry Fellows, of Weoley Castle, Birmingam,
trading as Selly Oak Car Care, were each fined £3,000 after they
pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates to charges relating to
polluting the Worcester and Birmingham Canal with engine oil.
The Environment Agency brought the charges under Section 85 of the
Water Resources Act 1991. Harry Fellows Jnr was charged with causing
pollution and Harry Fellows, his son, was charged with knowingly
permitting the incident. The men were ordered to pay a total amount
of £1667.92 in costs.
Speaking after the case, Gary Hankinson, an Environment Agency officer
involved in the investigation, said: ‘Companies have a responsibility
to do all they can to prevent polluting materials entering watercourses
from their premises. Selly Oak Car Care failed to do so, resulting
in harm to the environment and local wildlife. We take incidents
such as these very seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute
where appropriate.’
For the Environment Agency, Kiran Cassini told the court that Harry
Fellows owns Selly Oak Car Care and Harry Fellows Jnr, his father,
works for the company, which services and valets cars.
On 19 May 2004, an Environment Agency officer attended the Birmingham
and Worcester canal in response to a report from a member of the public
about oil on the surface of the canal. A large iridescent, slick of
oil with heavy black patches had been seen affecting approximately
2km of the canal. The oil contaminated waterfowl on the canal and
affected vegetation. Investigations indicated the source of the oil
was a pipe near Selly Wharf, Selly Oak. On 24 May 2004, oil could
still be seen discharging into the canal.
On 26 May 2004, Environment Agency officers saw a black liquid
discharging from the pipe into the canal. There was also a strong
odour of engine oil. Analysis of the liquid showed it to be oil. The
Environment Agency officers traced the pipe to Selly Oak Car Care.
Used engine oil had entered a manhole chamber at the rear of the
premises. The spout of a container of waste oil was seen to be feeding
directly into the manhole chamber, which connected to the pipe which
discharged to the canal.
In mitigation, Mr Dollery from Glaisyers, told the court that this
was an isolated incident and that both defendants were sorry for
their actions.
The defendants were given credit for their early guilty pleas.
However, the Court stated that the offences showed a deliberate intent
to dispose of engine oil. It was a serious incident, which affected
birds and flora in the area.
4. OUR ECOLOGICAL RIGHTS ARE EQUAL TO COMMON VALUES
Source: AZG Armenian Daily #148, August 23, 2005
Seminar of Youth Club’s Federation Launches
The Federation of Youth’s Clubs organizes “Ecological Rights Are
Equal to Common Rights” youth’s seminar with the assistance of
“Youth. Environment.
Europe” international organization and “Alert” foundation from
Netherlands, on the shore of the lake Sevan, on August 19-24. The
seminar is dedicated to preservation of environment, negative impact
of people on nature, stability of atmosphere, harmony between the
human beings and nature and a number of other important issues.
The representatives of about 25 various organizations from Armenia
discussed ecological issues, issues concerning cooperation and
ecological rights. The peculiarity of the program is that the
initiators envisaged holding the arrangements on the shore of the
lake, communicating with the campers on the shore. The Youth’s Clubs’
Foundation published leaflets for the special seminars that contain
information on the national park of Sevan, some piece of advice. The
booklets will be delivered among the campers. In other words, such
arrangements teach the citizens how to rest in the nature without
making harm to it.
5. AVOID COSTLY FINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL NON-COMPLIANCE
Source: (ENS) World News, August 24, 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) was formed to protect public
health, safety and the environment from chemical hazards.
EPCRA covers more than 650 toxic chemicals and chemical categories
within numerous business sectors, including most manufacturing
industries. Since this system was designed to protect the community,
organizations that do not follow the reporting requirements can be
penalized up to $27,500 per violation, per day.
In 2000 and 2001, the EPA’s data indicates that over 600 facilities,
collectively, accounted for the late reporting of more than a billion
pounds of toxic chemicals. In fiscal years 2002 through 2003, one
EPA region settled over 60 late reporter cases for penalties totaling
more than $500,000. To implement this act, a State Emergency Response
Commission (SERC) was put into place in every state.
Under EPCRA, many companies are required to send annual reports
to the EPA and SERC detailing their chemical inventories for the
previous year.
To understand the numerous complex components under EPCRA, attend
Georgia Tech Research Institute’s upcoming course on Managing
Environmental Compliance, October 12-14, 2005 at the Global Learning
and Conference Center on Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta, GA.
Sign up today and help your company avoid costly fines for
non-compliance, network with other professionals involved in
environmental compliance and keep up-to-date on new and changing
environmental regulations. Call 404-385-3500 to register or visit
(keyword search: EST 6000).
Attendants for this course will earn CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
and AIA, HSW Learning Units. This course can also be used for elective
credits for Georgia Tech’s Hazmat or OSH Training Certificate Program.
Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit applied
research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.
Our approximately 1,200 employees perform or support more than $100
million in research yearly for more than 200 clients in industry
and government.
6. Animal Testing Backed by 500 UK Scientists
SOURCE: PLANET ARK, AUGUST 25, 2005
More than 500 leading British scientists and doctors gave their
backing to animal testing on Wednesday, a day after a farm targeted by
activists said it would stop breeding guinea pigs for medical research.
The declaration, drawn up by the Research Defence Society (RDS),
said a small but vital part of work into new medicines involved the
use of animals.
Signatories included three Nobel laureates, 190 Fellows of the Royal
Society and the Medical Royal Colleges, and more than 250 academic
professors.
“It shows the strength and depth of support for humane animal research
in this country,” said RDS Executive Director Simon Festing.
Animal research is a highly emotive topic in Britain, which is home
to a vocal and at times violent animal rights lobby.
Violent actions have provoked warnings by the pharmaceutical industry
that the hostile environment could undermine investment in research
and development in the UK.
The Darley Oaks Farm in Staffordshire, central England, which breeds
guinea pigs for use in laboratories, has been the subject of one of
the most sustained harassment campaigns.
The family owners said on Tuesday they would cease work following
a long and violent campaign by rights protesters which included the
desecration of a family grave.
The RDS declaration comes 15 years after a similar pledge supporting
animal research by the British Association for the Advancement
of Science.
CENN INFO Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 75 19 03/04
Fax: ++995 32 75 19 05
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
–Boundary_(ID_quW9rhZ7VZi4Pu+XKx9Tjg)–
Australian, Australia
Aug 25 2005
Darchinyan unleashes fistic fury
Peter Kogoy
August 25, 2005
SOUTHPAW Vic Darchinyan last night retained his IBF and IBO flyweight
titles with a fifth-round TKO of Colombia’s Jair Jimenez in Sydney.
Darchinyan was on top from the opening bell, showing his array of
punching power to wear down a brave Jimenez.
Referee John Wright called a halt to the fight 2min 23sec into the
fifth round.
The Armenian-born Darchinyan’s win took his record since turning
professional in 2000 to 24-0, 19 by knockout.
“I said before the fight that I had the body punches to beat him,”
Darchinyan said.
“Jimenez was brave and tough, but tonight I showed that I am a true
champion. Mentally I came prepared, but it was still a tough fight
because I had been out of the ring for four, five months, a long time
for a fighter.”
Trainer Jeff Fenech said Darchinyan would have a holiday in Armenia
then come back to train for a mandatory defence of his titles against
Irishman Damaen Kelly.”
The fight must be held in the next three months.
Earlier, Billy Dib, who turned 20 three days ago, showed his
potential with a second-round knockout of Uganda’s Michael Kizza to
retain the IBO Asia Pacific junior-lightweight title.
A protege of English superstar Prince Naseem Hamed, with whom he has
trained for the past six months after turning professional a year
ago, Dib was never troubled by the more experienced Kizza.
Dib’s win took his unbeaten record to 7-0 with five knockouts.
“I thought Kizza would give me a tougher fight,” Dib said.
“This win tonight has proved to me that I believe I can go all the
way and be a worthy world champion. I reckon the sky is the limit.”
Dib has the firepower in both fists to carry him a long way.
Fenech said Dib, from Sydney’s south is, “arguably the best prospect
to emerge in years”.
Dib attacked Kizza from the opening bell, sending the African
champion to the canvas midway through the first round with referee
Craig Waller ordering a mandatory eight count.
With Dib landing a flurry of straight jabs, only the bell saved Kizza
from ending his night there and then. As it was, Kizza didn’t last
much longer as Dib found his range and timing to send him to the
canvas with a thundering combination of left jabs and a fearsome
overhead right.
Ahmed Elomar, 22, claimed the vacant IBO Asia Pacific featherweight
belt with a second-round knockout of Thai Denchai Tiabkoon.
“I was expecting a longer fight. I didn’t expect it to be this
easy,” Elomar, of Sydney, said, before issuing a challenge to
Australian title-holder Tommy Browne.
“They say he’s the best in this country, well I’ve got news for him.
I want to be the best.”
ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 23 2005
Nigeria president pledges to UNESCO to take care of Russia sailors
MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) – Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo
will take care of Russian sailors who are kept in custody in this
country. He made these pledges in a message addressed to the Paris
UNESCO headquarters after an address of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Ara Abramyan.
`I bear in mind your concerns and intention to quickly settle the
situation,’ the president emphasized. He noted that after the
proceedings and the pronouncement of the sentence `political steps
may be made or possible exchange of prisoners may be considered.’
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and head of the Union of Russian Armenians
Ara Abramyan is taking part actively in the efforts to return the
sailors to the homeland. The Russian side handed over to Nigerian
lawyers all necessary documents for their release under guarantees of
the embassy.
`The formalities that the Nigerian court demanded from the Russian
side are fulfilled,’ the Russian Foreign Ministry said. `At present,
the point is that these documents should pass through relevant
Nigerian instances,’ the ministry said.
The Russian sailors are kept in custody in the strict regime prison
Kiri-Kiri. They are accused of oil smuggling. The tanker African
Pride flying the Panamanian colors and belonging to the Greek company
Azora-service was detained on October 8, 2003, 18 miles off Lagos on
suspicions of crude smuggling.
The hearings of the case began in the Nigerian federal court in March
2004. Only some crewmembers of the tanker, including 12 Russian
sailors were charged with attempted oil smuggling from the country.
The defendants refused to plead guilty.
The youngest crewmember is 25 years old, and the oldest is 65 years
old. All of them need qualified medical aid. They recovered from
malaria, are exhausted and sick with gastroenteritis.
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep
Aug 23 2005
Kocharian in `Informal’ Talks With Georgian Leader
President Robert Kocharian was meeting with his visiting Georgian
counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili in a popular Armenian resort on
Monday for talks few details of which were made public.
Sources in the Armenian presidential administration told RFE/RL that
Saakashvili arrived in Yerevan by plane on Sunday and joined
Kocharian at his summer retreat on the shore of Lake Sevan. They said
Saakashvili was later joined by his Defense Minister Irakli
Okruashvili who arrived from Tbilisi by car.
The sources said Kocharian’s office did not release any statements
because of the `informal’ character of the talks.
The previous meeting of the two leaders took place at a Georgian ski
resort last April. They discussed at the time tensions in Georgia’s
Armenian-populated Javakheti region which followed Tbilisi’s demands
for the closure of a Russian military base stationed there. According
to a Russian news agency, the situation in Javakheti was high on the
agenda of the Sevan talks as well.
The Armenian and Georgian prime minister paid a joint visit to the
impoverished and restive region late last month, promising joint
efforts to alleviate its socioeconomic problems. The Georgian
premier, Zurab Noghaideli, announced that his government will use
additional U.S. assistance that will be provided to Georgia to
rebuild the local roads and other infrastructure.
Speaking to a group of Armenian journalists last week, Saakashvili
called for the establishment of closer economic times between the two
neighboring countries. `Developing without each other would not be
rational, natural or right,’ he said.
Armenpress
TURKISH-ARMENIAN CLERGYMAN PRAISES TURKISH AUTHORITIES FOR RESTORATION OF
ARMENIAN MONUMENTS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: Sahak Mashalian from the Armenian
Patriarchate in Istanbul praised Turkish authorities for their latest
endeavors to restore some of Armenian historical and cultural monuments
scattered across Eastern Anatolia, citing, particularly, the recently
launched restoration of Holy t Cross Armenian church on Akhtamar Island in
Lake Van denying also allegations that restoration may result in distortion
or remodeling of Armenian churches into mosques.
“Just on the contrary, we have to encourage these endeavors of the
Turkish authorities,” he told Armenpress, adding also that the Turkish
authorities have given up their policy of rebuilding Christian churches into
mosques. Father Sahak Mashalian said the Saint Cross Church on Akhtamar
island is preserved better than other Armenian churches, ascribing this to
its being located on an island. He said the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey
has dispatched a local Armenian architect to supervise the restoration work.
Eastern Turkey was once a heartland of Armenian culture with millions of
Armenians living there at the turn of the 19th century. They were all killed
and driven out at the beginning of the 20-th century. The Holy Cross church
was one of the most important churches of those ancient Armenian lands. It
was built by Armenian King Gagik I of Vaspurakan and inaugurated in A.D.
921. Gagik’s historian described it as being near a harbor and a palace with
gilded cupolas, peacefully surrounded by the lake. Only the church survived.
By 1113, the church had become the center of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Akhtamar and the center of a renowned school of scribal art and
illumination. Considered one of the most important examples of Armenian
architecture, the church has elaborate reliefs projecting up to 4 inches
from brownish-red sandstone walls, almost like sculptures. Some depict
biblical stories, such as Jonah being swallowed by the whale and Daniel in
the lion’s den.
All parties equally responsible for reforms in Armenia – European official
Mediamax news agency
19 Aug 05
Yerevan, 19 August: The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe, Ren van der Linden, said in Yerevan today that
the approval of constitutional amendments will be an “acid test”
for Armenia and that both the authorities and the opposition are
equally responsible for its successful outcome.
Linden said this at a meeting with Artur Bagdasaryan, chairman of
the Armenian National Assembly. The Armenian speaker highlighted the
importance of the PACE president’s visit to Yerevan at this moment
when the parliament is preparing to consider the draft constitutional
amendments in their second reading.
The PACE president said it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive
campaign in order to conduct the constitutional referendum successfully
and enlist the support of the people.
Linden also said that the Council of Europe is interested in
cooperation between Armenian political parties on issues of vital
importance, in the presence of independent media, in clarifying
electoral registers and in bringing to book those involved in
violations in previous elections.