Author: Kharatian Ani

Azeri Foreign Ministry to protest population census in Karabakh

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
24 Nov 04

Baku, 24 November: The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry intends to protest
the decision of the government in the so-called Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic NKR to conduct a census of the population there in 2005. The
census should not be held until the Karabakh conflict is resolved,
the Azerbaijani side believes.

The national statistics service of the “NKR” says that 146,592 people
lived in Nagornyy Karabakh as of 1 October 2004. However, specialists
from the Azerbaijani State Statistics Committee believe that the
Armenian side distorted the figures for political and economic reasons.

According to the latest census of the population in the “NKR”,
120,000 people lived in Karabakh in 1999. Therefore, the Azerbaijani
statistics committee thinks it is unlikely that almost 27,000 people
have volunteered to move to this conflict zone over the past five
years. It is more likely that the figures are inaccurate, statistics
experts say.

Passage omitted: repetition

Children’s Hospital

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
23 Nov 04

For three years construction works have been going on at the republic
children’s hospital on the means of the charity “Aida a l’Armenie”
of France. The director of the organization French pediatrician,
Armenian by origin Stepan Berberian was in Stepanakert recently. He
visits Karabakh once or twice a year to follow the reconstruction
works, bring into being larger programs and therefore organize actions
of donations in France. Along with the repairs medical services are
provided as usual, without any obstacles. We had a talk with the chief
physician of the hospital Armen Khachatrian and vice chief physician
Karine Tarkhanian. According to Armen Khachatrian, the roof of the
building was repaired, a boiler house was built. The pipes connecting
the boiler house to the hospital building were installed. A new
surgery department and theatre was built. Reconstruction works
go on at the department of reanimation and intensive therapy,
which will be finished by the end of the current year. According to
A. Khachatrian, during his last visit the head of the charity Stepan
Berberian was satisfied with the quality of work. During the meeting
an arrangement was made between the hospital and the benefactors to
start reconstruction works at the department of pediatrics. “We hope
that in 2005 the repairs of the first, second and third floors of the
hospital will be finished,” mentioned A. Khachatrian. He said that the
repairs cannot be completed in several months as the charity also has
financial difficulties (the means are raised from donations regularly
made in France). After the repairs of the interior of the building
they will pass to the exterior. The charity “Aida a l’Armenia” has
its permanent representative in Yerevan. Mr. Grigor spends most of
his time in Stepanakert and follows the works. According to Karine
Tarkhanian, new surgeries were opened in the hospital. Because of
the lack of special equipment children with hearing problems are
sent to Yerevan. Not long ago the apparatus â~@~Audiomediaâ~@~] was
delivered from Yerevan owing to the NKR president, which makes the
services available in Stepanakert. â~@~Our doctor who is the chief
specialist in this sphere in the republic is passing retraining. After
the end of the course he will treat both children and adults,â~@~]
mentioned K. Tarkhanian. The specialized surgery of echocardiography
has been operating for more than a year. Children with congenital heart
diseases were formerly sent to Yerevan hospital of Nork-Marash. Now
there are no problems, and the special medical equipment was delivered
by the same hospital. The surgery of endocrinology was opened in the
hospital where a young specialist, graduate of the Medical University
of Yerevan is appointed who is also included in the list of doctors
carrying out medical examination of children studying at the secondary
schools of Stepanakert. Karine Tarkhanian mentioned that the hospital
needs specialists in gastroenterology and allergy. According to her,
currently enteric diseases, especially infectious diseases among
children. First medical care to people with such diseases is performed
and later care is provided at the childrenâ~@~Ys isolation department
out of the medical institution. According to her, medical treatment,
both out-patient and in-patient is free of charge for children under
15. Formerly the inflow of humanitarian medicine was very large. The
international charities â~@~ Medecins Sans Frontiersâ~@~], â~@~Family
Careâ~@~], â~@~Red Crossâ~@~] provided regular humanitarian aid. Now
medicine is provided by the Red Cross mainly. Besides, medicine is
acquired on state means.

NVARD OHANJANIAN. 23-11-2004

–Boundary_(ID_P0+wGDgv3zdEGrOUvXt+Kg)–

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2004
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]

BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA ALUMNI PROGRAM CREATED

This past summer 40 diasporan volunteers representing the ACYOA,
Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Medical Association, Armenian
Students’ Association-NY, Armenian Volunteer Corps, Armenian
Youth Federation and the Land & Culture Organization, experienced
unforgettable journeys of self-discovery to Armenia. Having benefited
from their host organizations’ leadership, meaningful job placements
and program activities, each had a further advantage of gaining a
deeper and broader understanding of the language, the country and
its people as participants of Birthright Armenia/Depi Hayk.

Birthright Armenia launched its pilot summer in the homeland this
year, by offering quality support services of in-country orientation,
Armenian language instruction, and weekly forums, excursions and
“havak” tie-in meetings for all 40 volunteers. “Each diasporan
volunteer talked about what motivating factors played into their
decision to visit Armenia, and those are different for each person,”
says Linda Yepoyan, the non-profit’s executive director. “There is
something that awakens within them when they get to Armenia-call it
their Armenian soul-and you can literally see the transformation taking
place every single day toward more ethnically aware and energized
individuals getting more and more physically and emotionally connected
to the land.”

One of the key indicators of Birthright Armenia’s success will be
the cumulative effect of sponsoring hundreds and then thousands of
young diasporans from around the world to volunteer, study, and live
in the homeland. The multiplier effect of having thousands in Armenia
and around the globe who are maintaining connections with their work
colleagues, homestay family members and other local counterparts is
bound to be significant. Keeping the ignited fire alive within each
young person who has been to Armenia is critical as the exposure
to assimilation is such a reality. Birthright Armenia realizes that
the challenge of doing so is tremendous, as the potential for young
students to return to their cities, universities, circle of friends
and to recommence with their lives as usual is high. Therefore,
Birthright Armenia has created an alumni program that can help keep the
volunteers of all the sponsored organizations active in things Armenia.
The organization is committed to putting human and financial resources
into ensuring that the veterans of this wonderful homeland experience
are not lost, rather they are motivated to remain engaged until such
time as they are ready to become community leaders themselves.

“Although we are focused on getting large numbers of youth to Armenia
so our impact will be strongly felt, having a significant diasporan
volunteer and student presence there is really just one piece of
the puzzle”, says Edele Hovnanian, founder of Birthright Armenia.
“To truly do this right, the post-program involvement piece needs
to be just as strong”, she continues. “In order for participants to
receive their travel fellowship reimbursement equivalent to their
roundtrip airfare, one of the most important requirements for them
to provide is a one to two page continuing involvement proposal in
which each volunteer explains how they propose to maintain a personal
connection with the homeland and what they commit to do back home in
the Diaspora to help inspire others to get engaged. We have 40 such
proposals from the 2004 summer volunteers and intend to contact them
now, three months after their return from Armenia, to see where they
are on making good on their intentions.”

As another part of the alumni program, the organization custom built
a bulletin board that makes communicating and sharing of photographs
amongst the alumni as simple as a click of a button. The board is
posted to the Volunteers & Alumni section of Birthright Armenia’s web
site and is password protected to allow the volunteer alumni privacy
in sharing their common experiences and sentiments.

Updated weekly on the site is also the “Get Involved” section, which
is information tailored to list interesting volunteer opportunities
and community events scheduled to take place around the world. This
makes it easy for alumni to read about what is taking place in their
hometown on a weekly basis and to participate in the activities that
interest them the most.

For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia, please
visit or email: [email protected].

# # #

ArmenPress
Nov 19 2004

UMCOR CELEBRATES 10-TH ANNIVERSARY OF ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The United Methodist Committee
On Relief (UMCOR) celebrated today its decade-long activity in
Armenia with a tree planting in the “Motherhood Park” at
Malatia-Sebastia Community Site in cooperation with the Armenia Tree
Project (ATP).
UMCOR has donated a total of 1,000 trees to this park, a portion
of which has already been planted and the remained part was planted
today by the heads and members of UMCOR, ATP and other guests at the
event. Among the planted three were thujas, ashes and junipers, that
will serve as a beautiful gift from UMCOR to the local community,
ensuring future generations with a flourishing dense green park, in
place of the site’s current deserted land.
Invited to participate in the ceremonial tree planting were
representatives from UMCOR’s partners and friends, government
ministries, and over 55 local and international organizations who
have shown support for the Armenian transition over the years.
Following the welcome speeches planting commenced supervised by
agriculture specialists from ATP, who explained and demonstrated the
methodology of tree planting in order to secure the survival of each
and every seedling.
The hope of this event was to foster community awareness of the
urgent environmental need to restore disappearing green areas.
Furthermore, the event established a basis for further UMCOR-ATP
collaborations with respect to community outreach and poverty
reduction programs throughout the city.
UMCOR and ATP already have had an opportunity to collaborate with
each other. It was in June 2000, when 3 volunteers through UMCOR’s
“Global Justice Volunteer” program joined ATP staff doing volunteer
work in ATP’s programs. These volunteers were hosted by ATP
employees’ families and they spent their time helping and supporting
ATP in its daily activities.

AsiaNews.it, Italy
Nov 18 2004

No to religion used as an instrument of death, the Pope says

John Paul II meets Muslim, Orthodox and Jewish leaders from
Azerbaijan. Tolerance is possible; it is a sign of cultural progress.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – No one can `present or use religions as an
instrument of intolerance, aggression, violence and death’. The ways
of religion must instead be those `of love and justice for all. They
must teach as they do in Azerbaijan, that tolerance is possible; that
it is a sign of cultural progress.’

Speaking today to Muslim, Orthodox and Jewish leaders from Azerbaijan
John Paul II reiterated the call he made three years ago in Assisi to
the leaders of the world’s religions.

The Pontiff spoke about Nagorno-Karabach, a region still disputed
between Armenia and Azerbaijan itself, a land he `hopes will return
to full peace’. He told his guests that `a solution to this and
similar disputes requires a common effort and good will. People must
be open and understanding to one another in a spirit of true
reconciliation’.

The Pope told the delegation, which included Russian Orthodox Bishop
Aleksandr of Baku, that he remembered the `warmth’ and `friendliness’
with which he was welcomed in the country in 2002. He went on to
recall the `pride’ of the late Azeri President Heydar Aliev in
Azerbaijan’s religious tolerance, in what he called `the country’s
bedrock’.

`May your visit in the Vatican,’ the Pope added, `be a symbol for the
world. May it show that tolerance is possible; may it be a sign of
cultural progress; may it set humanity on bases for a wider and more
inclusive social and cultural development.’

`No one has the right,’ the Pope cautioned, `to present or use
religions as an instrument of intolerance, aggression, violence and
death. On the contrary, friendship and mutual esteem, especially if
it is supported by political leaders, are a source from which peace
and true progress can spring’.

`Together, Muslims, Jews and Christians can in the name of God and
civilisation appeal to humanity to stop violence and murder so that
everyone is allowed to follow the ways of love and justice. May God
help us follow these ways with perseverance and patience’.

There are only 300 Catholics in predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan. (FP)

AZERI OFFICIAL DISMISSES ARMENIAN REP’S COOPERATION PROPOSAL

Space TV, Baku
13 Nov 04

(Presenter) Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sarifov has said
that the arrival of the Armenian Energy Ministry’s representative in
Baku does not amount to building up cooperation between Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

(Sarifov) It has been said more than once and our esteemed president
has repeatedly said from the UN rostrum that until peace is established
with Armenia, there can be no talk of economic cooperation with
Armenia in any sphere.

They can speak about anything and this is their own business. The
Armenians can come here and see how Azerbaijan is developing. Bu this
does not mean cooperation.

Russia economic growth slowdown not related to YUKOS-expert
By Dmitry Zlodorev

ITAR-TASS News Agency
November 11, 2004 Thursday 4:19 AM Eastern Time

MOSCOW, November 11 — Russia’s economic growth retardation is
not linked to the developments around YUKOS, chief economist of the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Willem Buiter
is certain.

The expert said on Thursday that according to the EBRD forecast,
Russia’s economic growth rates in 2004 will reach 6.9 percent, as
against 7.3 percent in 2003. Buiter said it was not unexpected as
such periods are possible in the economic development of any country
and there is no alarming in that.

The main factor of economic growth in Russia, according to Buiter,
is structural reforms that have shown some progress recently.

First of all these reforms depend on effective regulation, ensuring
competition on the market and participation of the private sector
in the economy, Buiter said presenting the EBRD annual report at a
meeting with U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials in Moscow.

The EBRD chief economist stressed that out of 27 countries the
situation in which is reviewed in the document 17 have shown serious
improvement in the economic situation.

In particular, the expert noted, Armenia has recently doubled its
economic growth. According to Buiter, countries of southeast Europe
will show the greatest economic growth in the short run. In 2004 this
indicator will be 6.1 percent and in 2005 – 5.5 percent.

Officials of the EBRD mission in Russia who spoke at the meeting
stressed that in 2005-2007 the bank will give special attention
to financing interregional projects in Russia, in particular,
in the insurance and banking sectors, production, as well as in
infrastructural projects – construction of roads and ports.

EBRD mission officials said the bank would like to expand activities
outside Moscow and St. Petersburg.

According to them, last year the bank invested 1.1 billion euros
in the Russian economy and this year its capital investments will
account for about the same sum.

MOLDOVAN POLICE SEIZE FAKE DOLLARS

Infotag news agency
9 Nov 04

Chisinau, 9 November: The Moldovan police has exposed two criminal
groups which have been trying to sell 40.000 dollars in fake banknotes.

The public relations service of the Chisinau general police
commissariat has told Infotag news agency that Chisinau residents
Viktor Captura and Mikhail Lozan had been arrested while trying to
sell 20.000 dollars in fake banknotes. The criminals expected to
be paid 24 cents per dollar. The fake notes were of high quality. It
took three attempts to detect the fakes by special equipment.

The second gang included an Armenian, (?Khchan Melikset) and a Chisinau
resident, Viktor Gritsko. Police detained Melikset while he was trying
to sell 20.000 fake dollars, hoping to be paid 3.400 real dollars.

Criminal cases have been opened under Article 236 Part 2 of the
Criminal Code on charges of “producing or selling counterfeit
money or securities”. The article envisages 10 to 20 years of
imprisonment. Since the beginning of the year, 89 cases of forgery
have been registered in the republic, 77 out of them have been solved.

Pressure group objects to parliament speaker’s statements

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 9 2004

The Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has issued a statement
denouncing the Milli Majlis (parliament) speaker Murtuz Alasgarov’s
recent statements concerning the Armenian parliament members’
intended visit to Baku scheduled for this month. They said that by
allowing Armenian MPs to visit Azerbaijan the speaker is betraying
the country’s national interests.

“Armenia, as one of the main facets in its foreign policy course,
is trying to disregard its aggressor actions and therefore, to
collaborate with Azerbaijan in all fields, and the speaker’s actions
serve this policy.”

The statement reads in conclusion that GLO decisively condemns the
attempts by the Milli Majlis chairman to cooperate with the aggressor
and invite Armenian Parliament members to Baku.*

–Boundary_(ID_ADvlK1f7wx5LCN+SsAYZVA)–

Southeast European Times, MD
Nov 9 2004

Group Holds Conference on Turkey’s Accession Reforms
08/11/2004

Representatives of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
held a three-day conference in Istanbul to show support for Turkey’s
EU bid and discuss problems related to the country’s accession.
By Vahit Bora for Southeast European Times in Istanbul – 08/11/04

The conference focused on problems Turkey may have during EU
accession negotiations. [Green/EFA]

Representatives of the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the
European Parliament met in Istanbul from 19 October to 22 October to
discuss Turkey’s EU accession. The conference, the first held by a
European party on Turkish soil, focused on the challenges facing the
country as it seeks to fulfil the Union’s criteria for membership.

“After … intense debate with Turkish politicians, representatives of
Turkish civil society, media representatives, artists and scientists,
we have gained a clearer picture of what is at stake from the
question of Turkey’s entry into the EU,” the group, which focuses on
environmental issues and democratic rights, said in a press
statement.

Describing Franco-German reconciliation and post-communist
integration — the “miracles of the Rhine and the Oder” — as the
cornerstones of Europe’s postwar development, Greens/EFA group
Co-president Daniel Cohn-Bendit suggested Turkish accession would be
an equally important landmark. “I hope that in 10 or 15 years we will
have witnessed a third miracle; the miracle of the Bosphorus,” he
said.

At the same time, Cohn-Bendit said, Turkish politicians should
acknowledge that the country requires special treatment by the EU.
“Turkey is a country of 70 million people and of great importance to
Europe. But its integration into the EU is not comparable to that of
Malta or Bulgaria or Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will be difficult
both for Turkey and for the EU and both sides should be honest,” he
said.

Conferences and roundtable talks addressed a broad range of issues
facing Turkey, including women’s rights, civil liberties, freedom of
the press, environmental concerns, torture and the treatment of the
Kurdish, Armenian and Christian communities. Nearly all agreed that
Turkey has made sweeping changes over the past two years, but many
argued that implementation of reforms remains a problem.

The chairman of the Joint Parliamentary delegation for the EU and
Turkey, Joost Lagendijk, said that reforms and trust are the keys to
Turkey’s accession. Although the conditions for opening of the
negotiations have been met, he said, that does not mean the criteria
have been completely fulfilled.

While affirming its support for Turkey’s accession bid, the
Greens/EFA group said it would continue to monitor Turkey’s progress,
with special attention to issues of human rights, democratisation and
the position of women in society.

–Boundary_(ID_7K0G+JraS0CFT1JNMhQ3LA)–