Author: Mamian George

THE PROCES OF RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY CZECH REPUBLIC NOT GOING TO BE SIMPLE

Public Radio of Armenia
Sept 19 2006

The process of recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide
in the Czech Republic will not be simple, RA Ambassador to Czechia
Ashot Hovakimyan told "Armenpress." The Ambassador clarified that
recently parliamentary elections were held in the country, while the
process of government formation is rather complex. In a few weeks
elections to the Senate are expected in the Czech Republic, and it
is not clear whether Senator known for their pro-Armenian position
will be elected to the Senate or not.

To remind, several members of the Czech Parliament, including Senator
Yaromir Shtetina, intend to present a bill on condemnation of the
Armenian Genocide to the consideration of the Parliament.

EU DIPLOMAT (PRETENDS TO BE) DETAINED BY BORDER POLICE
By Keti Sikharulidze

Messenger.ge
Tuesday, September 19, 2006, #177 (1197)

Torben Holtze gets hands on experience of newly reformed border police

Since spring 2006 the Border Police have undergone something of a
transformation. The ongoing reforms, supported by the international
community, have turned the former military border guards into a
civilian border police service, in line with European practice.

In the latest of these reforms, the Georgian Border Police Department
opened a new faculty at the Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal
Affairs on September 18.

"Before the end of this year, the Border Police will be fully
transformed into a contract-based professional body," said head the
faculty Giorgi Merabishvili.

"Our reform process is coming to its end, of course, training
professional staff is paramount in this reform," head of the Georgian
Border Police Badri Bitsadze told The Messenger.

The academy also signed contracts with international experts, who
will train future instructors from Border Police, these trainings
are scheduled to start this autumn.

"These instructors are skilled officers from border police forces,
who will train our border police staff," Kakha Khizanishvili,
director of the Police Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
told The Messenger.

The EU has contributed EUR 1 million to establish the faculty, out
of which EUR 150 000 was spent on computer equipment.

"The establishment of the border police faculty is a great step
forward…we are moving forward in our cooperation to establish the
Georgian Border Police, which will be up to EU standards…Georgian
borders will be guarded by professional police forces, which will
benefit everybody, except the criminals," said Torben Holtze, head
of the European Commission delegation to Georgia and Armenia.

The project is also developed with the help of the Finish Border
Police, who are considered one of the best and most modern forces in
the world.

"We are very glad to share our experience with our Georgian colleagues,
but we are all in this together…

We need more international cooperation and a basis for that is an
efficient border management system," Tehri Hakala, Ambassador of
Finland, told The Messenger.

At the end of the presentation the guests witnessed a truly
extraordinary event, which could have led to a major international
incident, had it not been a reconstruction: the head of the Delegation
of the European Commission was caught in action by border policemen
conducting an illegal border crossing, trafficking human beings and
illegal goods.

"I am not an expert and have never tried this before…

I think that training is going very well and when I look at American
movies it looks like that. But of course, in reality, it is probably
different, you have to start to show what it is about. They are getting
the idea of what to do in the field," Holtze told the journalists
after the reconstruction.

REPLICA OF 13TH-CENTURY SHIP COMES TO LANDLOCKED ARMENIA

International Herald Tribune, France
The Associated Press
Published: September 19, 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia A replica of a 13th-century trading ship has gone
on display in the main square of the landlocked country’s capital as
a reminder of the era when Armenia stretched from the Mediterranean
to the Caspian Sea.

The "Kilikia," which was built by Armenian craftsmen following
traditional techniques, came to Yerevan after a series of sea voyages
in which it visited ports in 26 countries.

The display in Yerevan’s main square is part of the commemorations
of the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s declaration of independence from
the Soviet Union, which will be marked Thursday.

Next spring, the "Kilikia" is to be taken to Lake Sevan, where it
will be anchored

HAYASTAN FOUNDATION INAUGURATES RENOVATED HOSPITAL WARDS AND SWIMMING POOL

Armenpress
Sept 19 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Two wards of the Nork-Marash
isolation hospital, one for rehabilitation of patients and the
other for treatment of infectious diseases of children were reopened
today after a massive repair on a donation of the Armenian community
of Brazil.

Speaking at the opening ceremony the executive director of Hayastan
Foundation, Naira Melkumian, praised the community in Brazil for their
active participation in annual telethons organized by the Foundation
to raise funds for supporting various development and charity projects
in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Overall 54 million drams were spent
on the repair of the two wards.

The Foundation will also inaugurate today a swimming poll in Armenia’s
second largest town of Gyumri that was built with the strong support
of the government of the Hellenic Republic, Hayastan Foundation and
the Gyumri municipality.

Before the 1988 earthquake Gyumri had three swimming pools. This will
be the first pool in the town since 1988.

noticias.info (press release), Spain

OSCE Office supports launch of Armenian Chamber of Advocates website

/noticias.info/ YEREVAN, 15 September 2006 – The official website of
the Armenian Chamber of Advocates was launched today with support from
the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The website, , will ensure everyone who needs qualified
legal aid will be able to receive it. Information on the website will
be available in Armenian, English and Russian. It will feature legal
documents, membership opportunities, links to international and local
organizations, contact details of all registered advocates, as well
as, public defenders who can provide free legal aid.

"Raising public awareness of the activities of the Armenian Chamber of
Advocates will give citizens the opportunity to benefit from
professional legal assistance, in line with OSCE commitments and
European standards," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the
OSCE Office.

Ruben Sahakyan, Chairman of the Armenian Chamber of Advocates, added:
"The website will serve as a useful tool for informing the public
about our activities and enhancing our co-operation with other similar
organizations abroad."

The Chamber was established in 2005, and is the only professional
legal association in Armenia, currently bringing together 476
advocates and 28 public defenders.

A1+

DISORDERS IN SARATOV
[07:48 pm] 15 September, 2006

The Russian Mass Media have spread information according to which
there is a conflict between Russians and Caucasians in the town of
Volsk, region of Saratov.

The conflicts started several days ago in `Galaxy’ club where about 10
youngsters were involved in a fight. Russian young people who had
their military service in Chechnya attacked Armenians. The incident
continued for the other few days too as the young people of the
Armenian community were persecuted all over Volsk. The beatings
continued yesterday too. When the law enforcers arrived at the site,
there were three injured young people there who were taken to
hospital. One of them, a Russian boy, died there from injuries.

The activities of the Russian Nazis harmed other `Caucasians’ too. The
law enforcers have decided to isolate the migrants not allowing them
to visit markets. There is no official explanation about the
incidents.

OPPORTUNITY TO SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON DISCUSSED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.09.2006 18:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated in a conversation
with journalists that sending peacekeepers to Lebanon is discussed
at present and the final decision depends on a number of factors.

Armenia got an official invitation. For the final decision we need
to clear out the mandate and the deployment location," Oskanian
said. "These missions should not be an end it themselves, but should
have a goal. As soon as the latter is made clear, the final decision
will be made," the Minister underscored.

He reminded that before the latest Israeli operation Lebanon asked
Armenia to send sappers to the country.

"When Israel provides maps of minefields, the situation will be fully
controlled. Armenia may take part in the mission in Lebanon in that
area," the Minister said.

Oskanian also reported that Armenian community of Lebanon has urged
Armenia to send peacekeepers to the country. "We take into account the
community opinion and keep in touch with them. However, there are many
other factors. I am sure a correct decision will be made finally,"
the Minister said, reports Novosti-Armenia.

WAY BACK HOME SEEMS SHORTER
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/09/2006

It’s for already several days that "Cilicia" sailing vessel returns
home by land. Zory Balayan informed that the vessel ship is on the
way to Bagratashen.

"Every time the ship gets farther from the shore and the weather
becomes rainy, we say that even the nature is crying for that,"
he said.

The day when the ship left the sea and began its way back home by
land. The ship has to pass 7 kilometers to get home.

Before leaving the port, Zory Balayan turned to Hayk Harutyunian,
head of RA Police, with the request to secure the safety of their
expedition’s last part. The Georgian policemen accompany the sailors
till the border of Armenia.

"Cilicia" reached Poti from Yerevan in 10 days. But the sailors
should spare no efforts to shorten the way by two days. This is how
they planned their way. "We should take into account the fact that
the way back home always seemed shorter," Zory Balayan said.

We want to wish good luck to our sailors and to say that we look
forward to the meeting with them in Armenia.

10 SUPREME CONGRESS OF ARF DASHNAKTSIUTIUN COMPLETES
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
13/09/2006

On September 8, the 10th Supreme Congress of ARF Dashnaktsiutiun
launched in Armenia. The representatives of the party discussed
the report of the Supreme Body of ARF Dashnaktsiutiun in Armenia,
the social-economic situation of the country, the home and foreign
political developments, the national problems, as well as the issues
concerning the coming parliamentary elections.

In the course of the congress, the party members elected 21
representatives of the Supreme Body of ARF Dashnaktsiutiun in Armenia.

TURKISH OFFICIAL: TURKEY’S RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE ISN’T EXCLUDED IF …

AZG Armenian Daily
12/09/2006

According to Azeri mass media, Ali Babajan, Turkish economy minister,
special representative of Turkey in the negotiations with EU, said
in the interview to a Dutch newspaper that "Ankara may recognize
the Armenian Genocide, if the joint Armenian-Turkish commission of
historians comes to such a conclusion."

Commenting on the decision of the European Parliament concerning the
issue of the Armenian Genocide, Babajan stated that the deputies are
no historians, while the European Parliament is no proper institution
to find out what had really happened.