Spring call-up begins in Armenia
Arminfo, Yerevan
16 Apr 04
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has signed a regular decree
calling up citizens who have turned 18 for active military service,
Arminfo news agency reported on 16 April.
Under the decree, servicemen who have completed their active service
will be discharged.
ARMENIA TO JOIN INTERNATIONAL ANTI-SMOKE CONVENTION
YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: About 1 million 200,000 people die
of smoking in Europe annually. Doctors project this number to reach 2
million by 2020. Mortality rate from cigarettes makes up 14 percent
of total deaths. According to official statistics, 67 percent of men
and 3.1 percent of women smoke in Armenia. Specialists say cigarettes
cause 30 percent of cancer and 20 percent of heart diseases.
Members of World Health Organization which comprise 192 countries
have developed International Anti-Smoke Exchange Convention. Some 102
countries have already signed it. The convention aims to fight smoking
disease. Armenia also intends to join the convention. Armenian Health
ministry discussed the details during a round table yesterday. The
convention will be signed on June 29, 2004 at UN office.
It envisages certain legal and administrative responsibilities,
such as prohibition of promotion of cigarettes, sale of cigarettes to
teenagers. Currently both the foreign ministry and the health
ministry have positive attitudes to the convention but it is being
discussed with other agencies as well. The convention also proposes
control mechanisms. Every 2 year the implementation of convention
requirements are conferred.
NAIRIT PLANT HAS NEW OWNER
YEREVAN, APRIL 16, ARMENPRESS: All shares of one of the biggest
inEurope synthetic rubber manufacturing Nairit plant in Yerevan went
to an international Volgaburmash holding with mainly Russian
capital. The relevant agreement was signed today at the Armenian
Central bank by Volgaburmash’s representative in the Central bank,
Mikhail Zavertyaev and the acting head of Armenian Haykap bank, which
took hold of the plant’s shares in 2003 April after an Indian Ransat,
the former owner of the plant, failed to meet its commitments. The
deal is expected to be finalized in 3-4 days.
Armenian trade and economic development Karen Chshmaritian said the
holding has “a promising” past record of successful operation. He
added that the holding that was granted the trust management of the
plant last year has already invested $3.5 million to pay back wages
and accumulated utility debts.
The minister said under the takeover contract the holding is to
make big investments to replace the outdated equipment. Zavertyaev
said part of investments will be directed to increasing the output and
reach gradually the projected capacities.
SENIOR POLICE OFFICER DEFENDS USE OF FORCE AGAINST RALLY PARTICIPANTS
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS: A senior police official defended
today police claims that the protesters themselves assaulted security
officers with stones and petrol bombs, despite repeated warnings that
their unlawful actions would be met with adequate reaction. Hovhaness
Kocharian, deputy head of a police department, argued today that the
crackdown on the demonstrators in early hours of April 13 did not go
beyond the boundaries, envisaged by the law on police. He was speaking
at a roundtable discussion at American University of Armenia, called
for an in-depth look into last two days’ developments.
Citing a clause from the law, the senior police officer argued that
police have the right to use physical force when arresting a suspect
or preventinga crime, but admitted that in some cases innocent people
may suffer. Kocharian said family members of all people detained on
April 13 morning were informed about the detainees whereabouts. To
conclude he again cited a provision of the Constitution that envisages
restricting some of citizens’ rights in the event of threats to other
people’s freedoms and safety.
Earlier a spokesman for president Kocharian defended the use of
force, saying that the opposition actions amounted to `political
extremism.’ He warned that further attempts to force the president
into resignation would be countered in the same way. The spokesman,
Ashot Kocharian, said the opposition disrupted `the normal work’ of
the president and the parliament, thereby `endangering the country’s
constitutional order.’ `The demonstrators did not obey the legitimate
orders of police officers,’ he said.
A senior member of Orinats Yerkir party, a component of the ruling
coalition, said today the disagreements between the opposition and
authorities erupted after the parliament majority refused to put on
its agenda an opposition motion calling for a referendum on confidence
in the president. He said only strict adherence to the rule of law
would allow Armenia to move ahead towards fuller integration with
Europe, adding also that his party stands for a dialogue between
forces to ease tension and avoid new clashes.
The discussion was mainly attended by representatives of
non-governmental organizations, who all condemned use of force on the
path of democratization.
More Than 10,000 Protest in Armenia
By AVET DEMOURIAN
.c The Associated Press
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – More than 10,000 protested Friday in the heart
of the Armenian capital to demand the resignation of President Robert
Kocharian, defying a ban on the rally.
Two opposition parties that organized the peaceful protest accuse
Kocharian of rigging last year’s elections, corruption, systematic
human rights abuses and mismanagement of the economy.
Stepan Demirchian, a leader of the Justice Party, said the opposition
parties would not negotiate with the president until parliament
accepts their demand that a bill be submitted calling for a referendum
on the current leadership.
“This can be a good opportunity for the president to resign in a
civilized way,” Demirchian said.
After a smaller opposition rally on Monday, officials banned the
Friday gathering.
But one television report said police were instructed not to try to
disperse the demonstration unless it became disorderly, and Friday
police did not interfere with the rally.
Kocharian won a second term a year ago in elections that sparked mass
protests, including near-daily demonstrations between the first round
of voting in February 2003 and a runoff in early March.
Opposition groups alleged widespread violations in both rounds of the
election, which was followed by a parliamentary ballot won
overwhelmingly by the pro-government party.
In April, Armenia’s Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the
vote but suggested a referendum be held within a year to gauge public
confidence in the nation’s leaders.
04/09/04 16:09 EDT
PRESS RELEASE
Office of Sarkis Assadourian M.P.
120 Confederation
House of Commons, Ottawa, Canada
Contact: Daniel Kennedy
Tel: 613 995 4843
Ottawa April 6, 2004
M.P. Sarkis Assadourian, to Host Reception Honouring Sara Corning
Saviour of Smyrna’s Orphans
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian (Brampton Centre, Lib.): Chairman of the
Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group announced today that he
would host a reception on Parliament Hill, to honour the memory of
Sara Corning, who was responsible for the rescue of thousands of,
Armenian children, from the port of Smyrna in the summer of 1922. The
orphans, survivors of the Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
were evacuated to Greece with the assistance of Corning, a native of
Nova Scotia.
The reception will be held on Parliament Hill, April 21st. 2004, at
3:00pm. Guests will have the opportunity to view photographs and
documents from The Yarmouth County Museum in Nova Scotia illustrating
the valiant efforts of Sara Corning on behalf of the Armenian
orphans. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholocos of All Armenia, will
honour the relatives of Sara Corning with the presentation of an
appropriate citation.
“The remarkable story of Sara Corning’s efforts on behalf of the
orphans of Smyrna is a little known chapter of Canadian history that
deserves the recognition of the Canadian Armenian Community”, said
Assadourian.
Friends of the Canada Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group are
invited to pay tribute to the memory of a great Canadian and a great
friend of the Canadian Armenian Community. Supporters interested in
attending are asked to RSVP to M.P. Assadourian’s. Ottawa office no
later than Monday April 19, 2004.
-30-
For further information contact: Daniel Kennedy 613-995-4843
Minneapolis Star Tribune , MN
April 2 2004
Sunday’s film festival highlights
[parts omitted]
OAK STREET:
“The Documentarist,” 9:45 p.m. (Armenia, 62 min.) Black-and-white
portrait of Armenia, a country that throughout history has been
ravaged by war, poverty, substance abuse, emigration and crime.
Azerbaijan, Armenia hinder peace process – Russian mediator
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
1 Apr 04
[Presenter] The Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy
Merzlyakov today [1 April] made a new statement about the current
state of the [Karabakh conflict] settlement process. Saying that the
Minsk Group has prepared new proposals and ideas, Merzlyakov said that
they had not been discussed through the fault of the conflicting
parties. He also said that it is not possible to produce a proposal
which would satisfy both parties.
[Correspondent] The OSCE Minsk Group is trying to decide a place and
date for the talks on the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. However, no agreement has been reached with the parties so
far. This is what the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Yuriy Merzlyakov, told ATV.
Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that the
OSCE Minsk Group had not made concrete proposals, Merzlyakov said that
there were new ideas and proposals, but the co-chairmen could not
obtain the parties’ consent to meet and discuss them.
[Merzlyakov, by phone, with superimposed Azeri translation] It is
impossible to produce a proposal which will satisfy all the
parties. Therefore, the talks must continue. The Minsk Group has new
ideas and proposals; but unfortunately, we fail in our attempts to
organize a discussion of the proposals with the parties.
[Correspondent] As for other complaints about the Minsk Group’s
activities, Merzlyakov said that it was the fault of the parties, not
the Minsk Group, that consultations had not taken place.
[Merzlyakov] We have been working since January 2004 to have the
consultations held. But we cannot achieve this as either one or other
party insists that the date of a meeting should be changed. We first
received Armenia’s proposal to postpone the Prague meeting. Then the
other side came out against the meeting.
[Correspondent] Merzlyakov went on to add that one cannot say that the
peace process has reached a deadlock. We are optimists and hope that
we will be able to start consultations with the sides soon, end quote.
Kamran Hasanov, “Son Xabar”.
Armenian National Committee of New Jersey
461 Bergen Boulevard
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Tel: 201-945-0011
[email protected]
April 2, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Kim Arzoumanian
[email protected]
NEW JERSEY ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— Remembrance Program and Memorial Service to be held on April 24; BBC
Documentary “Armenia: The Betrayed” to be shown on April 18
RIDGEFIELD, NJ–The Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New Jersey is
organizing a program marking the 89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The remembrance will take place on Saturday, April 24, at Sts. Vartanants
Armenian Church in Ridgefield. A Memorial Service at Sts. Vartanants will
begin at 6:30 pm, and will be followed by a bilingual program in the
adjacent Church Hall.
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau Member Hagop Der
Khatchadourian will offer a keynote address in Armenian. Professor Henry
Theriault, Director of Worcester State College’s Center for the Study of
Human Rights, will also deliver an address in English. Members of the
Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) New Jersey “Arsen” chapter will also offer
remarks during the commemoration.
In addition to the remembrance program, the New Jersey ARF “Dro” Committee,
the New Jersey Hamazkayin, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, and the
Tekeyan Cultural Association are cosponsoring the showing of the BBC
documentary “Armenia: The Betrayed” on Sunday, April 18. The viewing begins
at 2:30 pm at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New Milford.
Joining those in attendance will be BBC reporter Phillip Wearne, who will
field questions from the audience at the conclusion of the documentary. In
addition, Armenian Genocide survivor Rahan Kachian will be honored.
“Armenia: The Betrayed” details efforts to pass the Armenian Genocide
Congressional resolution in October of 2000. Despite garnering wide
bipartisan support, the resolution was pulled at the last minute from floor
consideration by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), who cited a letter
from President Bill Clinton expressing opposition to the legislation. The
documentary features interviews with Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA)
and Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Armenian Genocide survivors, and senior Turkish
officials.
Both programs are free and open to the public. Further information can be
obtained by contacting Kim Arzoumanian at [email protected].
The Armenian National Committee (ANC) is the largest Armenian American
grassroots political organization in New Jersey and nationwide. The ANC
actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.
####
Azeri ministry concerned at UK reporter’s visits to breakaway Karabakh
Ekho, Baku
1 Apr 04
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry intends to look for verification of
the reports carried by Kavkazskiy uzel news agency and some other
sources that British journalist Thomas de Waal, coordinator of the
Caucasus project of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, has
visited Stepanakert. The visit’s objective was familiarization with
preparation for the first edition of the new “public Karabakh
newspaper Demo”, sponsored by an international foundation.
Armenian sources maintain that Thomas de Waal, author of the book,
Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War, on the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, was an informal intermediary in this
process between the British grant-givers and the newspaper. The
sources said that in addition to material about life in Karabakh, Demo
will carry reports about other countries of the Caucasus region.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
De Waal said that over the past eight years he has visited Nagornyy
Karabakh 10 times. Certainly, he visited the occupied Azerbaijani
territories without the official permission of the Azerbaijani
government.
The head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press service, Matin
Mirza, said that if the reports are confirmed, then the ministry will
tell the UK embassy in Azerbaijan about its concerns. As for de Waal’s
private visits to Stepanakert, this issue must be looked at from
different perspectives, Mirza said.
“The Armenians may, as usual, hype up the information about de Waal’s
visits to Stepanakert and his objectives. They mainly do this to
attract more attention from the international community. However, it
must be noted that foreign citizens do not have the right to visit
Nagornyy Karabakh without permission from the Azerbaijani
government. This is unacceptable and jeopardizes the notions of
territorial integrity and inviolability of Azerbaijan’s borders, as
well as threatens peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict,” he
said.
In addition, Mirza described the assistance of a UK citizen in the
publication of a newspaper in the separatist entity as “an attempt of
blatant intrusion in the process of peaceful settlement of the
conflict”. De Waal’s stance on this issue has to be interpreted as
assistance in the dissemination of Armenia’s anti-Azerbaijani
propaganda, Mirza said.
Yesterday [31 March], Ekho newspaper managed to get in touch with de
Waal, who was in Tbilisi. In response to a question about the
Azerbaijani government’s permission to visit Stepanakert, he said that
he “never even thought about making such a request to the Azerbaijani
authorities”.
In his words, he is a man monitoring developments in Karabakh,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. “In my job, I advise the press
publishers on how to organize their work. I have paid many visits to
Karabakh,” he said.
De Waal confirmed to Ekho that he had recently visited Stepanakert. “I
have visited Azerbaijan and met high-ranking officials here for many
years. I have never concealed and will not conceal that I visit
Karabakh. When in Azerbaijan, I inform the officials that I was in
Karabakh. For this reason, I never ask for permission to visit that
region. I am a foreign correspondent who often visits unrecognized
territorial entities, such as Karabakh, Abkhazia, Chechnya and
others. This is the duty of foreign reporters.”
He told Ekho that he intends to continue visits to Karabakh skirting
the Baku government. “I consider myself a neutral person and can make
such visits.”
In conclusion, de Waal said that he will soon visit Azerbaijan. He
hoped that Azerbaijani officials will not obstruct his visit to Baku.