Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenian National Committee of New York
PO Box 693
Woodside, NY 11377
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
May 27, 2004
For Immediate Release

Contact: Tony Vartanian
[email protected]

CONGRESSMAN ANTHONY WEINER MEETS WITH
ARMENIAN COMMUNITY AT FUNDRAISER IN NEW YORK

— Armenian National Committee Activists Thank Congressman for Unwavering
Support of Armenian American Issues

NEW YORK, NY–On May 16, members of the New York Armenian-American
community, including a number of ANC activists, gathered at the home
of Mr. and Mrs. Antranik Boudakian for a fundraiser for the New York
City mayoral campaign of Congressman Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY 9).

Mr. Boudakian welcomed Congressman Weiner and thanked him for his
ardent support of issues concerning Armenian Americans, especially for
Armenian Genocide recognition. He then showed a clip of Congressman
Weiner’s inspirational speech at the Genocide Commemoration organized
by the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New York on April 23 at
the City Hall of New York.

After his distinguished service on the New York City Council,
Congressman Weiner was elected to the United States House of
Representatives in 1999, representing the boroughs of Queens and
Brooklyn in New York City. He is a Democratic Whip and serves on
numerous prominent committees such as the Judiciary Committee, Science
Committee (Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics) and Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee (Aviation and Highways Subcommittees).
In addition, Congressman Weiner was the only New Yorker appointed by
the leaders of the House of Representatives to serve on the Homeland
Security Task Force following the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001.

Congressman Weiner’s dedicated service to his Armenian constituents
is clearly evidenced as he is an active member of the 129-member
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. This year, he was one of
signatories to the Congressional letter to President Bush urging him
to recognize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide” as well as one of the
25 Senators and Representatives who commemorated the 89th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide during “Special Order” remarks on the House
floor. Congressman Weiner recounted the events of April 24, 1915,
the beginning of the first genocide of the 20th century, praising
the resolve of the Armenian community to overcome such a tragedy and
its invaluable contributions to society, promising never to forget
the Armenian Genocide, and stressing the need for US recognition of
the Genocide.

Congressman Weiner thanked Mr. Boudakian for hosting the fundraiser
as well as those in attendance for their support. He remarked on
the parallels that exist between the Armenian and Jewish communities,
namely as they relate to their respective genocides and their struggles
to overcome enormous adversity to ultimately thrive and prosper in the
communities in which they settled while equally committed to ensuring
that the atrocities committed against them were never forgotten
or repeated. Congressman Weiner recalled the misguided advice he
received early in his career from former Congressman Steven Solarz,
now chief lobbyist for the Turkish government on Capitol Hill, who
told him to avoid the complicated political issue of the Armenian
Genocide. He acknowledged the unwavering support of the Armenian
community throughout his career and reiterated his commitment to
champion Armenian issues in Congress and, if successful, as Mayor of
the City of New York.

“The Armenian-American community of New York owes a great debt of
gratitude to Congressman Weiner,” stated Tony Vartanian, Chairman
of the ANC of New York. “His support of Armenian American issues
throughout his three terms in Congress shows the strong bond shared
between the Congressman and his Armenian constituents,” continued
Vartanian.

“We are confident that whatever path Congressman Weiner’s future holds,
he will continue to be a friend of the community and an advocate of
our issues,” concluded Vartanian.

Among those in attendance included Vicar General of the Prelacy
and Pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Douglaston,
New York Very Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, ANC representatives
Tony Vartanian, Antranig Kasbarian, and Roupen Ardhaldjian, and Sam
Azadian and Ani Minnetyan of the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.

The Armenian National Committee (ANC) is the largest Armenian American
grassroots political organization in New York and nationwide. The ANC
actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.

####

MEDICINE REGISTRATION FEES TO BE LEVELED

ArmenPress
May 26 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS: According to a health ministry-affiliated
agency for medications and medical technologies, foreign pharmaceutical
companies seeking registration of their products in Armenia will
pay as much fee for expert examination of their medicines as
local companies. Until now overseas companies have paid $1,500
for conducting expert examination of their medicines and local
companies-$400. The lower price for domestic companies was to help
boost home pharmaceutical production.

Under the new scheme, both local and foreign companies, will have to
pay $1,200. Leveling of fees is one of the requirements Armenia assumed
when joining the World Trade Organization. According to the agency,
around 4,000 medicines are registered in Armenia, of which 7.4 percent
are domestically produced. Armenia brings medicines mainly from US,
Great Britain, France, the Czech Republic, Hungary and CIS countries.

Two of 11 Armenian companies, licensed to manufacture medicines,
Pharmatech and Arpimed have brought their products in compliance with
GMP requirements.

A lesson in democracy
by Igor Fedyukin, Vitaliy Ivanov, Anna Nikolayeva

SOURCE: Vedomosti, No 88, p.A2

RusData Dialine – Russian Press Digest
May 26, 2004 Wednesday

Pro-democracy group says Russia is headed towards authoritarianism

Russia and other former Soviet countries outside the Baltics lag far
behind most of Europe in political reforms, a pro-democracy nonprofit
group said in a report.

The European Union’s recent expansion to include 10 new members,
eight of them in Eastern Europe, highlights a “widening and worrisome
democracy gap,” said the report, issued Monday by Freedom House.

The group’s annual “Nations in Transit” report tracks progress in
six categories: electoral process; civil society; independent media;
governance; constitutional, legislative and judicial framework;
and corruption.

Russia’s ratings declined in the greatest number of categories (5
out of 6). Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine performed better
(4 out of 6 each). Out of the CIS countries, Turkmenistan received
lowest ratings, followed by Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan
and Kyrgyzstan.

The report states that Russia “is moving further along the
authoritarian path.” In particular, President Putin “strives to
concentrate the power, leaving no space for viable civil society,
independent media or political opposition.”

The State Duma’s independent deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov told Vedomosti he
fully agrees with Freedom House: “Our democracy has indeed degraded
in all aspects, and it has been noted by all the international
organizations that monitor the development of democratic institutions.”

Such ratings “are as relevant to reality as the Pravda’s reports in
the sixties about the hard life of African Americans in the U.S.,”
believes Aleksey Volin, the Cabinet’s former deputy chief of staff.
“Even Armenia has been ranked higher than Russia, although there the
presidential elections and the state of opposition sparked serious
criticism of foreign observers,” Volin remarks. “And if Freedom
House believes that the status of Russian-speaking minorities in
the Baltic states corresponds to the international norms, then the
Pravda’s reports about life in the U.S. were absolutely true.”

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 19 2004

OIC AMENDS THE RESOLUTION “ON AGGRESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
AGAINST AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC”
[May 19, 2004, 13:11:59]

In the information received by AzerTAj from the embassy of Azerbaijan
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is stated that the next assembly
of top officials of member-states of the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) was held in Jeddah. Discussed was the issue of
preparation to the XXXI conference of the foreign ministers of the
OIC member-countries in Istanbul.

Before the arrangement, the permanent representative of Azerbaijan in
OIC, ambassador Elman Arasly has met the Secretary General of this
international structure Abdulwahid Bilgeziz, his assistant Izzet
Al-Mufti and other high-ranking officials of the Organization, has
discussed with them questions of the further expansion of relations
of Azerbaijan with OIC, has addressed the Secretary General with the
request for support of initiatives of our republic.

As earlier, at this assembly, the OIC member- states have supported
the issue connected to Azerbaijan. So, the resolution of OIC “On
aggression of the Republic Armenia against the Azerbaijan Republic”
under the offer of the Azerbaijan side has been amended. Participants
of assembly have agreed to include Azerbaijan’s draft resolution
submitted by the delegation “Youth initiative of Islamic Conference”
in the agenda of XXXI Istanbul conference of the ministers of foreign
affairs of the OIC member–states.

At the assembly in Jeddah, discussed was the report of Secretary
General A. Bilgeziz, decided to submit for discussion in the Istanbul
conference the question in connection with the appeal submitted to
the OIC Secretary General on admission of the Central African
Republic and the Republic Mauritius in membership of the
Organization. Taking into account the appeal on granting to some
states of the status of the observer in OIC, it was decided to create
special commission for preparation of offers concerning entering into
the Charter of structure of respective alterations. Participants of
the assembly condemned the inhuman treatment of the American soldiers
with the prisoners in Iraq.

The draft resolution “Concerning new position of Cyprus” submitted by
the delegation of Turkey has been unanimously adopted by the
assembly.

Slovene president receives credentials of Armenian ambassador

STA news agency, Ljubljana
18 May 04

Ljubljana, 18 May: President Janez Drnovsek was handed Tuesday [18 May]
the credentials of the non-resident Armenian Ambassador to Slovenia
Vahram Kazhoyan. During their meeting, the officials expressed an
interest in furthering relations between Slovenia and Armenia.

According to Drnovsek’s office, the president stressed that Slovenia’s
presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) in 2005 should prove to be an excellent opportunity
for strengthening relations.

Drnovsek also highlighted that both countries are relatively young
and have had to build their relations from the ground up, which means
that there is still a lot of room for expansion.

The Armenian ambassador congratulated Drnovsek on the recent entry
of Slovenia into the European Union, an important development for
Armenia as well, which could benefit from the experience Slovenia
has gained in the accession process.

Armenian opposition vows to “block” president’s office on 21 May

Mediamax news agency
15 May 04

Yerevan, 15 May: The secretary of the Justice parliamentary faction,
Viktor Dallakyan, has spoken about the opposition’s plans to block
again the presidential residence and the Armenian parliament’s building
on 21 May.

Dallakyan said this in his address to another rally of the united
Armenian opposition in central Yerevan on Friday [14 May].

The opposition leaders declared again their rejection of a dialogue
with the ruling coalition, explaining this by the fact that the
opposition’s proposal to include a clause on “Ways to overcome the
internal political crisis after the 2003 presidential elections” in
the agenda of the talks has not been fulfilled in full, i.e. to be more
precise, the word “crisis” has been replaced with the word “situation”.

Mine risk to be taught in schools
by Zulfugar Agayev (Staff Writer)

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004

Nazim Ismailov, director of ANAMA,
explains details of the Mine
Risk Education Project.
(Sun photo by Jeyhun Abdulla)font>

BAKU — Secondary school students in Azerbaijan’s frontline districts
are going to have special classes on landmines and unexploded
ordnance (UXO) starting this fall under an agreement signed Tuesday
by the Ministry of Education, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
and the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).

The agreement gave the go ahead for the Mine Risk Education Project,
which a top ANAMA official says considers the inclusion of mine
education classes into the curriculum of secondary schools, a venture
the first of its kind in the world. The $70,000 UNICEF-funded project
is planned to continue for at least ten years.

“World practice has shown that it is almost impossible to completely
clear areas from landmines and other unexploded ordnance in a short
period,” says Nazim Ismailov, director of ANAMA. “It requires a long
time, which is why educating people about the risks of these kind of
dangerous explosives constitutes a priority now.”

Landmines, planted during and in the wake of 1991–94 Karabakh war
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, are posing a threat to the lives of
an estimated 514,000 Azeris living near the frontline, which
separates Azerbaijan from its occupied territories and also from
Armenia.

Armenian troops invaded Azerbaijan’s mainly ethnic-Armenian populated
region of Nagorno (Daghlig)-Karabakh and seven administrative
districts during the war, forcing over 700,000 civilians from their
homes. The territories remaining out of Baku’s control make up 20
percent of the nation’s total area.

Although no final solution has been found to the conflict in the ten
years following the cease-fire agreement signed in May 1994, ANAMA
has been engaged in clearing away the frontline areas from mines and
educating locals since 1998, when the organization was founded. The
agency is mainly funded by international donors whose subsidiaries
make up for 85 percent of its budget, with the Azerbaijani government
covering the remaining funds.

Ismailov says that a group of ANAMA experts have been working for the
past three years to educate people in frontline districts about the
risks of unexploded mines. However, he explains, since their work is
not systematic, it hasn’t been giving the desired results. According
to ANAMA, the number of those killed and injured by landmines and
other UXO keeps growing every year. For example, 14 civilians died
and another 14 were injured by mine blasts in 2003. Landmines took
the lives of six people and maimed another six during the first five
months of this year. Mostly middle-aged people are affected by mines,
with children constituting 16 percent of the victims.

ANAMA’s press officer, Shirin Rzayeva, said that a total of 1,274
Azerbaijanis fell victim to mines and other UXO from 1990 to 1
January 2004. Approximately 75 percent of them were injured and 25
percent died, she added.

According to the Mine Risk Education Project, ANAMA along with the
Ministry of Education plans to select and train 500 instructors
during August and September. The instructors will then be sent to
secondary schools in frontline districts to teach schoolchildren.

“Mine education is really a serious task,” says Ismailov. “You have
to talk to children in one way and to adults in a completely
different one.”

Ismailov said that a joint group of experts from ANAMA and the
Ministry of Education are working out methods to best present the
classes to students. They are planning to use special films and also
hold different competitions among the students in order to increase
their interest in the classes, he added.

Ismailov added that fatal mine incidents indicate that people living
in high-risk areas near the frontline do not seriously heed the mine
warning signs that have been set up.

“They tend to ignore the signs, saying that if something is going to
happen to them, nothing can prevent it as it will be a part of their
destiny. But they have to realize one thing; you may walk near a
landmine a hundred times without hitting it, but you will certainly
walk on the mine one time if you keep using that area.”

Ismailov says that cleaning areas from landmines is a very costly
job. In Azerbaijan, it costs $1 to clear one square meter area, and
the cost is even higher in other countries, he adds.

Last year ANAMA cleared over 3 million square meters of area from
mines. The agency is planning to clean 7 million square meters this
year.

Taking into account the mentioned figures, Ismailov seems optimistic
that the territories under Armenian occupation will be easily cleared
from mines after a final settlement is found to the conflict.

He says there are some 350,000-500,000 square meters of area that
needs to be cleared from an estimated 50,000-100,000 landmines in the
occupied territories.

These are mainly the frontline areas that now separate the two troops
and also some strategic places, such as water wells, bridges, etc, he
says.

The only problem is that, as the ANAMA director explains, since there
were no regular armies on either side of the conflict during the
early stages of war, it will be difficult to find maps of mined areas
if the maps exist at all.

Government of Ardzinba starts persecuting Georgian – minding people

Batumi News
May 14 2004

On the statement of Tamaz Nadareishvili, ex Chairman of the Abkhazian
Supreme Council, the power wielding structures of the de facto
government of Sokhumi started with the search operations, to identify
the individuals who appeared in the streets of Sokhumi with the five
cross Georgian national flags.

He said it should be a very significant rally, as the government
structures got involved in the searches. Nadareishvili said the
rally was not a spontaneous one, on the reports, the contacts and
consultations are being kept with certain individuals, however,
for the security measures, their identity is kept in secrecy.

Nadareishvili rules out the Inal Kazan, a US citizen has his hand in
the processes. Regarding Armenians, living in Sokhumi, Nadareishvili
said their stance will depend on the official stance of Armenia. “In
the past, Armenians got a hint to back Abkhazians, and now, like
soberly thinking Abkhazians, they do see that Abkhazia is at the
verge of a disaster and they are confused.

Thereby, Georgian government should provide active works with the
Armenian government, to ensure their, if not supporting, than at
least neutral stance”, – Nadareishvili thinks.

ARKA News Agency
May 12 2004

On May 13 Robert Kocharian to leave for Russia with three-day working
visit

The President of Ukraine and RA Prime Minister note dynamical
development of trade-economic cooperation

RA Prime Minister and Ukrainian Foreign Minister discuss bilateral
relations

Delegation of Armenian Parliament to leave for Samara tomorrow

Cease-fire regime in Karabakh conflict area is 10

Military efficiency of NKR Defense Army is a pledge of peace in the
region – Ashot Gulian

Scientific-practical conference started in Stepanakert

Two-day workshop “European integration as peace and sustainable
development guarantee” started in Stepanakert

*********************************************************************

ON MAY 13 ROBERT KOCHARIAN TO LEAVE FOR RUSSIA WITH THREE-DAY WORKING
VISIT

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. On May 13 RA President Robert Kocharian
will leave for Russia with three-day working visit. In the frames of
the visit Kocharian will meet with RF President Vladimir Putin, the
Head of the Governmetn Mihail Fradkov. Armenian President will also
meet the Chairman of Board of OJSC Gasprom Aleksey Miller and the
Chairman of Itera Group of Companies Igor Makarov. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE AND RA PRIME MINISTER NOTE DYNAMICAL
DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE-ECONOMIC COOPERATION

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. The President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian noted dynamical development of
trade-economic cooperation. The parties exchange views on internal
political and socio-economic situation in both countries. The parties
stressed the perspective of cooperation of the countries in the
sphere of education. Kuchma thanked the Government of Armenia for
attention to demands of Yerevan branch of Ternopol Academy of
National Economy, the only branch of Ukrainian academy in South
Caucasus. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRIME MINISTER AND UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS BILATERAL
RELATIONS

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grischenko discussed bilateral
relations. The parties also discussed development of
Armenian-Ukrainian cooperation in international organizations. They
noted activation of economic, political and cultural cooperation
based on agreement base. Armenian PM also visited Institute of
Electric Welding after Eugenie Paton, where he met with its director,
the President of National Science Academy of Ukraine Boris Paton.
Armenian delegation also met with representatives of National Bank of
Ukraine. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TO LEAVE FOR SAMARA TOMORROW

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. Delegation of Armenian Parliament, headed
with RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian will leave for Samara
tomorrow, RA NA told ARKA. Armenian parliamentarians will take part
in conference “Interregional Armenian-Russian Cooperation. Situation
and Perspective”. The parties will discuss Armenian-Russian
trade-economic cooperation at regional level and perspectives and
opportunities of development. Russian party will be represented with
the Chairman of Russian Federation Council Sergey Mironov, the
governors and representatives of legislative and executive powers of
Russia.
Armenian Speaker will also meet with the heads of legislative and
executive powers of Samara region, businessmen and representatives of
Armenian community of Samara. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

CEASE-FIRE REGIME IN KARABAKH CONFLICT AREA IS 10

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. In May 2004 it will be 10 years since the
establishment of cease-fire regime in Karabakh conflict area.
With Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and the CIS Interparliamentary Council
mediating, at the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on May 5, 1994,
Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia signed the Bishkek Document.
According to that document, parties to the conflict agreed to a
cease-fire, effective from May 12th to date.
In 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group was formed to resolve the Karabagh
conflict. Under its auspices, a negotiating process has been created
to prepare for the OSCE Minsk Conference that has the duty of finding
a final solution to the status of Nagorno Karabagh.
It is noteworthy that all these 10 years peace was observed without
support of international peacemaker’s forces and first of all due to
balance of powers in the region. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

MILITARY EFFICIENCY OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY IS A PLEDGE OF PEACE IN THE
REGION – ASHOT GULIAN

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. Military efficiency of NKR Defense Army is
a pledge of peace in the region, NKR Foreign Minister Ashot Gulian
stated. He also noted that there are no objective backgrounds for
recommencement of military actions today. He added that in most of
the cases cease-fire regime was violated by Azeri party. “May 1994
and meeting in Bishkek is very important stage in the history of
Karabakh settlement”, Gulian said.
With Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and the CIS Interparliamentary Council
mediating, at the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on May 5, 1994,
Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia signed the Bishkek Document.
According to that document, parties to the conflict agreed to a
cease-fire, effective from May 12th to date.
In 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group was formed to resolve the Karabagh
conflict. Under its auspices, a negotiating process has been created
to prepare for the OSCE Minsk Conference that has the duty of finding
a final solution to the status of Nagorno Karabagh. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

SCIENTIFIC-PRACTICAL CONFERENCE STARTED IN STEPANAKERT

YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. Scientific-practical conference “Priorities
of Science in Artsakh State University started in Stepanakert
participated by professors and lecturers as well as postgraduate
students of the University. The conference will hear 110 papers on
development of physics-mathematic, economy, pedagogy and other
science, rational use of natural resources, environment protection
etc. T.M. –0–

*********************************************************************

TWO-DAY WORKSHOP “EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AS PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GUARANTEE” STARTED IN STEPANAKERT

YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. Two-day workshop “European Integration as
peace and sustainable development guarantee” devoted to the 10th
anniversary of establishing ceasefire in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict zone started in Stepanakert. The workshop is organized with
the assistance of European Integration (Armenia), Karabakh Committee
“Helsinki Initiative-92, holding Antares, Varanda Ltd, NKR Parliament
Foreign Relations Permanent Commission, as well as NKR Foreign
Ministry. In the course of the workshop there will be heard a number
of papers. Along the workshop it is planned holding meeting with NKR
universities students with the discussion topic European Structures,
as well as organizing exhibition that would present modern education
and fiction. T.M. –0–

*********************************************************************

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MAY 7-13, 2004

HIGHLIGHTS:

RESEARCH ON KARABAGH PROBLEM AND REGIONAL RELATIONS PRESENTED

TWO OF THE EGG-THROWERS INTERROGATED

BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

“ARAVOT” ON AIR

HCA VANADZOR BRANCH WINS SUIT VERSUS MUNICIPALITY

RESEARCH ON KARABAGH PROBLEM AND REGIONAL RELATIONS PRESENTED

On May 10 at the Journalists Union of Armenia Yerevan Press Club held the
presentation of “The Karabagh Conflict and Prospects for Settling It” book
published under the project “Possible Resolutions to the Karabagh Conflict:
Expert Evaluations and Media Coverage”. The project was implemented by
Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs with the support of OSI Network Media Program.
Stepanakert Press Club was also involved in the project.

The book presents the findings of the sociological surveys and media
monitoring, administered in 2001-2003 in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous
Karabagh. “The surveys of the population and decision-makers in 2001 as well
as focus-group discussions in 2002 allowed to reveal the sentiment and the
major priorities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh on the
conflict-related issues”, the Armenia project coordinator Ashot Melikyan
said. “The Delphi research of the experts in 2003 showed that despite the
significant discrepancies between the Armenian and Azerbaijani parties,
there is a certain potential for rapprochement which can be used during
political decision-making in the conflict resolution process.”

The media monitoring coordinator in Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh Elina
Poghosbekian pointed out the main distinctions of the coverage of Karabagh
problem by the media. The findings of the monitoring studies of Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Karabagh media, held by unified methodology and in
practically identical timeframes, showed that in 2001-2003 the most actively
discussed issues were those of peaceful or military solutions to the
conflict. At the same time the majority of publications was devoted to the
need for peaceful resolution. Unlike the Karabagh media that for three years
has been displaying generally steady attitude and a greater interest to the
subject in question, its coverage in the media of Armenia and Azerbaijan
significantly reduced in 2003. The “frozen” interest to Karabagh issue is
explained by the stagnation in the negotiations process, but it is primarily
due to the elections last year that kept the media attention focused in the
two countries. Thus, during presidential and parliamentary election
campaigns in Armenia the “Karabagh factor” was either not used or little
used (along with other economic, social and other issues) in the pre- and
post-election political debate. Year 2003 was marked by presidential
elections and the problems of power succession for Azerbaijan and its media
as well.

At the presentation Yerevan Press Club also publicized the monitoring data
on the coverage of the relations of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey by the
media of the three countries. This research has been conducted by Yerevan
Press Club and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union of Azerbaijan since 2002. The
“election fever” of 2003 also told on the attention of Armenian and
Azerbaijani media to the relations within Armenia-Azerbaijan-Turkey
triangle. A characteristic feature of the Armenian media coverage in
2002-2003 are the Armenian-Turkish (with an emphasis on the 1915 issue) and
Armenian-Azerbaijani (with an emphasis on the Mountainous Karabagh problem)
relations. The relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are the least popular
subject. In Azerbaijani media three priorities can be steadily traced:
Azerbaijani-Turkish and Azerbaijani-Armenian relations as well as the
Karabagh problem. The bilateral relations of Armenia and Turkey receive very
little attention. As to Turkish media, they display permanently low interest
to Turkish-Armenian and Turkish-Azerbaijani subjects, focusing on other
foreign policy aspects.

The findings of the researches mentioned can be viewed in detail on YPC web
site:

TWO OF THE EGG-THROWERS INTERROGATED

On May 12 the Public Relations and Information Department of the RA General
Prosecutor’s Office communicated that two of attackers on journalists during
an opposition rally of April 5 have been interrogated. According to the
General Prosecutor’s Office, these are a resident of Yerevan, unemployed
Ashot Avetisian, born in 1965, and a resident of Artashat city, unemployed
Hrair Harutiunian, born in 1957. According to release, these people “made a
complete confession and gave appropriate testimony”.

As it has been reported, on April 5 the media representatives were attacked
by a group of “strong guys” while attempting to record them throwing eggs
at the rally participants (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 2-8,
2004). On May 5, a month after the incident, the General Prosecutor’s Office
informed about the transfer of the criminal case, instituted on April 8 by
the RA Police, to Yerevan Prosecutor’s Office. A week after the public
learned about the first steps of the investigative bodies. In this context
it is important to note that right after April 5 the scene of the assault
on one of the cameramen was shown on air, and the photographs of several
“egg-throwers” were published in the press. Here a question arises: has it
not taken the law enforcement bodies too long to identify only two of the
attackers and interrogate them? Hopefully, having finally set off, the
investigation will proceed at greater speed to find and punish people who
exerted violence against journalists at duty.

BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

On May 11 the National Commission on Television and Radio announced a
broadcast licensing competition for 33rd UHF in Nor Hajn town of Kotayk
region. The deadline for the bid submission is August 9, 2004. The
applications will be considered by the National Commission on August 18.

Currently “Nor Hajn” TV company broadcasts on this frequency.

“ARAVOT” ON AIR

On May 10, after the technical break announced due to the change of the
owner and the title, “Aravot” TV company went on air. As it has been
reported, after the sale of “Kentron”, the TV company, renamed to “Aravot”,
was headed by Aram Abrahamian, also the Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily (see
YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 23-29, 2004). Despite the assurances of Aram
Abrahamian that he will continue to assist the return of “A1+” TV company on
air (Abrahamian hosted “PostScript” program on “A1+”), his consent to head
“Aravot” TV encountered very negative response from “A1+” management. (Two
years ago, by the decision of National Commission on Television and Radio
the opposition channel “A1+” lost the competition for its frequency to
“Kentron”, presently “Aravot” TV.)

On its behalf the Board of opposition party Armenian National Movement (ANM)
announced that it refuses to appear on the air of “Aravot” TV. On May 6,
with a reference to anonymous source in the ANM Board, “Haikakan Zhamanak”
daily reported that the governing body of the party does not want to
participate in the imitation of freedom of speech.

In an interview to “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper of May 7 Aram
Abrahamian expressed his perplexion at the fact that “a political force
refuses to state its position on live air out of fear that it will be an
imitation of freedom of speech”. “In any case I regret that this part of the
political spectrum will not be represented on our channel, however, I am
positive that this is temporary”, Aram Abrahamian added.

HCA VANADZOR BRANCH WINS SUIT VERSUS MUNICIPALITY

The Vanadzor branch of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly won a case versus the
administration of Vanadzor city at the court of primary jurisdiction of Lori
region. The reason for the suit was the refusal of Mayor Samvel Darbinian to
provide HCA Vanadzor branch copies of all the resolutions passed by the
municipality and the Senior Council of the community in 2002-2003.

According to the head of HCA Vanadzor branch Artur Sakunts, the Mayor
referred to the provision of the RA Law “On Legal Acts”, by which the legal
acts for internal use and personal purpose are only provided to their
addressees. The remaining documents, as the Vanadzor administration head
said, were published in the periodical books of communal legal acts. The
human rights activists were unable to find them even at the municipality
itself. Thinking that the representatives of the local authorities violated
the RA Law “On Freedom of Information” the HCA Vanadzor branch filed a suit.

During the hearing the respondent did not have objections on the essence of
the case but he noted that out of 2,614 resolutions a part cannot be
provided as it contains information not to be publicized. To get the
remaining documents the plaintiff must pay a local duty of 1,000 drams
(about $2) for each copy.

At the session of April 30 the suit of HCA Vanadzor branch was secured. The
court obliged the municipality to provide the organization with copies of
all the resolutions of city administrations and the Senior Council of the
community for 2002-2003 except those constituting a secret. The total amount
of duty to be paid for the documents was defined to be only 1,000 drams.

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

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
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