Author: Varosian Antranik

PRESSURE GROUP INDIGNANT OVER OSCE RAPPORTEUR’S STATEMENT

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Oct 13-19 2005

The statement made by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur on
the Garabagh conflict Goran Lennmarker in Yerevan is ‘far from reality’
and shows his pro-Armenian position, the hard-line Garabagh Liberation
Organization said.

During his visit to Armenia, Lennmarker said both sides to the conflict
should make concessions and recommended to forget ‘who Upper Garabagh
belonged to earlier’. “Lennmarker’s trying to divert attention from
the fact Upper Garabagh is an integral part of Azerbaijan serves the
interests of aggressor Armenia.

We demand the OSCE Baku office to invalidate his status”, the GLO
said in a statement.

“IRAN SYMPHONY” TO BE PERFORMED BY HONAR ACADEMY OF CULTURE

Payvand, Iran
Oct 11 2005

Tehran, Oct 11, IRNA-The Iranian composer of “Iran Symphony”, Shahin
Farhat, said in Tehran on Tuesday that Honar Academy of Culture is
commissioned to perform the “Iran Symphony”. The symphony represents
the national glory, history and folk music, while old melodies have
been included in the piece in a modern way. He told IRNA that the
symphony has been written based on Iranian themes.

Not making any reference to the expected date the piece will be
played , he said, “Following the successful performance of Persian
Gulf and Damavand symphonies in Armenia, which was hailed warmly,
I decided to repeat the concert on the domestic scene due to its
purely Iranian themes.”

The musician referred to the performance of the symphony in Iran as
a privilege and expressed his constant interest in presenting his
works on the domestic scene.

Farhat also pointed out that one of his musical pieces will be
performed by Ali Rahbari in the near future.

Turning to the difficulties facing the performance of orchestral works
in Iran, he said, “Lack of proper musical instruments and equipment
as well as secondary facilities such as synchronous recording make
the conductor of the orchestra unable to arrange the rhythms.

“Nowhere in the world are classical musical pieces played in such an
order as to start with string instruments, proceed with recording
percussion instruments and eventually mix the resulting tunes,”
concluded Farhat.

I AM 29 AND INFECTED WITH HIV, TAKE CARE, PEOPLE

Armenpress
Oct 6, 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS: “I am 29 years old. I was infected
with HIV when using a syringe to inject drugs in Russia. I began
having health problems caused by infectious hepatitis and went for
a medical examination.

After examining me the doctor suggested that I also undergo an
HIV test.

When they told me the test was positive I did not want to live,
I wanted to shut myself off from people, I was afraid that I could
infect my family. I was pacified only after learning how HIV or AIDS
is transmitted from one person to another. I do not want people to
know about my disease because I am afraid of their discrimination,
of being rejected by the society that considers it ‘shameful’.

This is one story from a book compiled by HIV/AIDS carriers, called
‘We Too Want to Live’. The stories are all different but the plight
and fears of these people are the same – how to live with HIV, how to
pacify their hearts, especially when they have children, but are afraid
to have them examined fearing they may also test positive. HIV/AIDS
carriers in Armenia lead a secret life and often even their closest
relatives are unaware of their disease. The majority are men who became
infected through intravenous drug injection, but statistics show an
alarming tendency of growth in the number of women with HIV. This
situation is a result of women’s physical and social vulnerability,
lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the high-risk behavior of their
husbands and partners, many of who come home from Russia where they
had gone looking for work.

A local non-governmental organization called ‘Real World, Real People’,
established in 2003, has brought together volunteers who want to help
people living with HIV. Members of this organization provide them
with social, legal and psychological assistance. Hovhannes Madoyan,
the chairman of the organization, says: “The more we worked with
these people the better we began to understand that people with HIV
could provide psychological assistance to others like themselves. At
the moment, we have three mutual assistance groups – two in Yerevan
and one in the province of Lori.”

The organization is working with 50 people, most of them men. Women
find it harder to adapt to their new situation and are more likely
to fall into deep depression than men. The major problems of these
people are social.

Many of them used to work outside Armenia and when they came back they
were reluctant to look for jobs here. Though the people around them
are unaware of their condition, the infected people shut themselves
off from society.

Madoyan says they have a feeling of disgrace, finding they are worth
nothing and that no employer would give them a job. Besides there
is a change of roles in families with the burden of the bread-winner
shifting to women, this is also a heavy psychological situation for
Armenian males, considered traditionally the main bread-winners. Though
there is no record of a man or a woman being sacked because of HIV,
this is because its carriers keep it secret.

“We talk about the history of the disease,” Madoyan says “and how
it is spread, what effect it has on the immune system as well as
the biological and psychological developments. Later, they will pass
on that knowledge by talking with other people living with HIV.” He
says this type of assistance is effective in reaching a group that
might otherwise not listen to someone else from a different social
background. No cases of suicide caused by HIV were reported, but many
people lead a life that is tantamount to a slow suicide. The reason
is that HIV is still the plague of the 20th century and people have
no hope and do not believe they can lead an active life for another
7-8 years more.

There are also problems concerning primary health availability
for people with HIV. Hovhannes Madoyan says many people with HIV
complained about doctors who refuse to examine them after learning
they are HIV-positive. He says the reaction of doctors could be
understood as they are not protected enough against the disease. The
anti-retro-virus is applied in many countries as a preventative
medicine in case of contact with infected blood.

It reduces the risk of being infected ten times. The organization
plans to ask the health ministry to register this medicine and once
doctors are immune from HIV, cases of their refusal to treat people
with HIV/AIDS would be considered a violation of the constitutional
right of all citizens to medical care.

If previously infected women were avoiding having children, according
to Madoyan, their chances of giving birth to healthy babies are
higher now.

They can get a course of an anti-retrovirus treatment before
delivery. But Madoyan also says neither society, nor HIV/AIDS sufferers
are prepared today to raise and debate the problem of HIV/AIDS. He
argues that all such programs will prove effective only with the
participation of those infected.

“They are not ready to openly speak about their problems,” he says.

Cynthia Backley, who coordinates an HIV/AIDS program for the three
nations of the South Caucasus, says the main problem is peoples’
poor knowledge about the disease and their intolerance towards
infected people.

Studies showed the intolerance is caused by misperceptions of how it is
transmitted, the level of its danger and how it can be prevented. She
says when people have no information about these issues they are prone
to discriminating against HIV or AIDS victims. Discrimination against
HIV/AIDS carriers is present in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. A
survey showed that one third of respondents said they would reject
friendship, contacts or communication with such people. In this sense
education programs for the three republics are important. Backley
highlighted a program called ‘Equal to Equal’ which is implemented
by Armenian AIDS Prevention Center.

Samvel Grigorian, head of the National AIDS Prevention Center,
says the number of people with this disease is on the rise, but he
attributes this to higher accessibility of examination rather than to
their real increase. The first case of HIV was registered in Armenia
in 1988. According to official statistics, between 1988 and 2005,
the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Armenia, a country with
a total population of around 3 million, is 344.

The HIV/AIDS situation assessment, however, has shown that the
estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS is about 2,400-2,800.

The economic crisis, unemployment, labor migration and the rapid growth
of HIV rates in the region contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in
Armenia, where an unprecedented 53 new cases of HIV infection have been
registered this year. Out of the officially registered 344 carriers
325 are men, 72 are women and 6 are children. The first children with
HIV were registered in 2001, and virtually all of them were infected
by their mothers, but this does not represent the full picture as
many mothers refuse to have their newborn babies tested for HIV.

The majority of HIV/AIDS carriers are in their 20s. Most infection
comes about through the intravenous injection of drugs – 53.6 percent –
and through heterosexual contacts – 38.2 percent. Ninety-one of these
people have AIDS, 17 are women and 4 children. Sixty-seven people
with AIDS have died, including 10 women and 2 children. Those who
were infected by drug injection were all men, some of who had worked
or studied in Russia and Ukraine.

It is very expensive to treat HIV sufferers in Armenia. Twenty people
have been receiving anti-retrovirus treatment this year and they
will have to take the medicine for the rest of their lives. The
medicine was brought to Armenia thanks to a $7.2 million grant
donated to Armenia by the Global Fund to Fight Against Malaria,
TB and AIDS. Though many scientists are skeptical about Armenicum,
a drug developed through Armenian research, it is said to strengthen
the immune system. Armenicum is being applied now in Zambia, Liberia
and India. Officials from Armenicum Center say it is now being tested
in 20 countries and Russia is likely to register it soon. At the
initiative of the Armenian health ministry 50 patients are being
treated with it free of charge.

These projects are being carried out as part of a national program for
the prevention of HIV/AIDS with the support of government agencies,
non-governmental and international organizations. Every year on
World AIDS Day, local organizations in partnership with Armenian
churches organize a number of events aimed to raise awareness on
HIV/AIDS. Memorial services for the victims of HIV/AIDS are held
in the churches in Holy Etchmiadzin and in the regions. The church
leaders address the importance of focusing on women and girls and
their vulnerability to HIV. They also stress the role of women in
preserving traditional family values, which is crucial in the battle
against HIV/AIDS.

The HIV/AIDS situation in the world and in Armenia, its impact on
women and girls, the issues of HIV education, prevention, treatment
and care are discussed during the live TV program dedicated to the
World AIDS Day.

UNITY FAIR TO OFFER BLEND OF CULTURES, FOOD, FUN
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Oct 6 2005

GLENDALE – The city’s multicultural character will be on display
Sunday at the fourth annual Unity Fest, featuring singers and dancers
and ethnic food.

City Councilman Bob Yousefian started the festival in 2002.

“There were some conflicts (then) because the makeup of the city was
changing and it was shifting, and a lot of the people who had been
here for many, many years didn’t know what the Armenians were about
and they were very suspicious (of) them,” Yousefian said.

“Armenians didn’t know about the Hispanic culture or the Filipino
culture or the Korean culture. I thought this would be a good way of
introducing the different cultures to each other.”

The city-sponsored Unity Fest will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday at Verdugo Park. Thirteen groups will perform everything from
traditional Indian dance to Celtic music throughout the day.

Seven booths offering a variety of ethnic foods, including Korean
barbecue and Armenian food, will be set up. Fifteen arts and craft
booths with custom jewelry, costumes, books and pottery, are planned.

Unity Fest usually attracts 3,000 to 5,000 visitors, said Zizette
Ayad, senior administrative analyst with the city and an organizer
of the festival.

“It’s like a big, huge carnival or county-fair type of environment,”
Ayad said.

City Councilman Ara Najarian is the chairman.

“It’s just a chance to invite and entice residents with different
ethnic backgrounds to come together and meet as one … in a beautiful
park setting,” he said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304

[email protected]

IF YOU GO

Unity Fest 2005 will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Verdugo
Park, 1621 Caada Blvd., Glendale. The event and parking are both free.

ARMENIA, GREECE DISCUSS CLOSER MILITARY TIES
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 5 2005

Greece’s Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos pledged on Tuesday
to boost long-running Greek military assistance to Armenia which
Armenian leaders said stems from “common strategic interests” of the
two nations.

“The Greek people and the Greek Defense Ministry always stand by the
Armenian people and are ready to help them on any issue,” he told
reporters at the end of an official visit to Yerevan.

Spiliotopoulos gave few details of his meetings with President Robert
Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and Defense Minister
Serzh Sarkisian, saying only that they touched upon Greek-Armenian
military ties both within the bilateral and NATO frameworks.

Spiliotopoulos was reported to tell Kocharian that Greece is ready
to “continue and reinforce” its military cooperation with Armenia,
which includes “material assistance” to the Armenian armed forces. The
presidential press service also cited him as promising to assist in
Yerevan’s growing involvement in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.

“Greece is a friend and partner of Armenia,” Kocharian said, according
to his office.

The praise was echoed by Markarian. “Andranik Markarian and Spilios
Spiliotopoulos stressed that Greece’s and Armenia’s interests in the
region converge because they are based on common approaches to the
existing problems and the realization of the need to maintain its
stability and military-political balance,” read a statement by the
Armenian government’s press service.

“They noted that the expansion and development of the ongoing military
cooperation between the two countries in the military-technical,
military-educational, military-information and other fields will
enable our countries to protect their common strategic interests in
a more effective manner,” the statement said.

The two Christian nations share a long history of troubled relations
with their common Muslim neighbor, Turkey. That might explain why
Greece is Armenia’s closest NATO partner, having provided its military
with non-combat equipment and trained scores of Armenian officers.

Greece’s financial and technical aid was also instrumental in the
creation in 2001 of a special peace-keeping battalion of the Armenian
army which has contributed troops to NATO’s peace-keeping mission in
Kosovo and the U.S.-led occupation force in Iraq. Incidentally, the
Armenian soldiers serve in Kosovo as part of a Greek battalion. Their
track record was praised by Spiliotopoulos.

Officials in Yerevan said the Armenian military plans to substantially
increase the size of its peace-keeping detachment and counts on Greek
assistance to the effort.

DIPLOMACY – SUCCESSION OF POSSIBLE MOVES
Nane Makuchyan

A1+
| 14:38:37 | 01-10-2005 | Politics |

This is the opinion of head of the department of political programming
Sarmen Baghdarasyan. Any work targeted at the elaboration of foreign
political trajectory starts usually in this department.

-How many poles of forces to lead complimentary policy with does
official Yerevan see at present?

-Complimentarity does not imply the essential presence of various
poles. We should support this policy towards all the countries that
show interest in our republic.

-Do these interests cross within our state?

-Certainly politics is the presence of contradictory positions. But
there are problems of common nature and they cannot hinder cooperation.

-Do you have the possibility to separate contradictory and reconcilable
interests in order to unite the positive ones.

-The complimentary policy pursued by our state should be viewed
in the context of international global processes. For example,
many countries have different attitude towards Iran though all are
unanimous on stability.

Common issues are peace and stability, anti-terror processes, poverty
reduction, etc. The realization of these objectives by common efforts
implies complimentary policy. We should cooperate with all the forces
under the circumstances that coincide with our own foreign political
interests.

-What priorities do we have?

-First of all it is the consolidation of the economic element. What
does it mean? The settlement of energy issues, establishment of
communications, foreign trade and investments. Then comes the
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and relations with our
neighbors followed by the relations with Turkey and the Armenian
Genocide recognition. Membership in various international structures
is as well important.

-Do you think complimentary policy is the absence of orientation?

-I can say it a multi-vectorial orientation. It means that we will
speak out against any initiative that will draw a separating line
not only between the states of the regions but also before the states
adjacent to the region.

Complimentarity is a working principle. It means that we should become
a reliable and predictable partner, capable of attracting investments
and cooperation.

-Can we say that Armenia has not oriented itself precisely yet over
the geopolitical processes within the country.

-Yes, of course.

-Can we mark out any positive results achieved via the complimentary
policy?

-These are several security lines including Armenia-Russia,
RA-CSTO member-states, RA-NATO. From economic viewpoint it is energy
cooperation with Russia and Iran, transport cooperation with Georgia,
stimulation of trade and investments with the U.S. The list can
be continued.

-Is the European Union the final goal of Armenia or adoption of
European values is enough?

-Europe did not invite us to join its union. We cooperate with it
to adapt to the European system of values. I do not rule out that we
can join the EU.

IS CSTO A BLUFF?
Lena Badeyan

A1+
| 14:42:49 | 01-10-2005 | Politics |

“Today our republic is like a fireman who tries to blow off fire in
various places simultaneously”, political scientist Aghasy Yenokyan
says. According to him, complimentary policy is essential, however
in Armenia it is applied not as a principle or norm but as a mere term.

“Our policy is not complimentary, it can no orbit. First our
policy serves to the foreign policy of Russia, not Armenia,
second we just see a problem and immediately try to solve it. I
mean the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline,
Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, decisions taken against Armenia during
various conferences. Consequently we just react to activities but do
nor act ourselves”, the political science says adding however that the
Armenian foreign policy has already achieved certain goals and the RA
cannot be perceived as a weak state. “The Armenian foreign policy has
trumps, these being our geopolitical position and strong Diaspora,”
he says.

According to Aghasy Yenokyan, the Armenian leaders have made mistakes
and the incumbent leadership is not an exception. Diplomacy is the art
of deceit. This the only fact Armenians cannot master so far though
our official are rather keen on deceiving. “They promise to give air
to A1+ but they do not, they say we are close to the Karabakh conflict
settlement but the reality shows it is not so,” he notes.

According to his assessments Armenia lacks security system as well,
since Collective Security Treaty signed by several CIS member-countries
is not a security basis but a mere bluff. “Collective security means
that that a threat for one country is a threat for other CSTO member
states. However during the Islamic Conference Tajikistan votes for
a resolution that jeopardized Armenia’s security”, he resumed.

Aravot (Morning), Armenia
Sept 27 2005

DO THE COCHAIRMEN LIVEN UP?

We got 3 news about the cochairmen of OSCE Minsk group. All three are
from the Azerbaijani sources. First the Foreign Minister of the
neighbor country E. Mamediarov informed that the meeting of Stiven
Mann, Bernar Fasie and Yuri Merzlyakov was held in Vienna in these
days during of which «the place and format of next negotiations of
the Karabakh conflict will be determined». Then the US Ambassador in
Azerbaijan Rino Harnish informed that the American cochairman of the
OSCE Minsk group Stiven Mann would arrive Baku. And finally the
Russian cochairman of the same group Yuri Merzlyakov according to the
Azerbaijani source declared that the cochairmen seriously worried
about increasing expenses of Armenia and Azerbaijan
for military proposes.

AsiaNews, Italy
Oct 1 2005

Armenians, Hebrews and Christians urge the EU: hasten Turkey’s entry
negotiations

by Mavi Zambak

The Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II has written to Shroeder, Merkel and
all European parliamentarians: Turkey’s entry is the way to
reinforcing East-West dialogue and to building peace against
terrorism.

Ankara (AsiaNews) – The Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, spiritual
leader of Turkey’s largest non-Muslim community, has written an
anxious letter for help and intercession to Gerhard Schroeder and
Angela Merkel, asking them to hasten the process for Turkey’s entry
into the European Union. The letter was also addressed to 732
European members of parliament and to ministers of European nations.

The patriarch’s letter was prompted by the absence of reasonable
agreement between EU foreign affairs ministers and Turkey two days
before negotiations are set to start. Austria – up against the
unanimous consensus of 24 member states – is opposed to giving the
green light for negotiations, which have been stalled for some time
now on its demand not to offer Turkey more than privileged
partnership.

To find a solution to satisfy Vienna’s reluctance, an emergency
meeting of foreign affairs ministers of the 25 was called Sunday in
Luxembourg.

Meanwhile, all national newspapers in Turkey are talking about
sabotage and high treason.

`A Damocles sword’, which appears never to go on forever, creating
tensions and aversion with regard to Europe. Running titles in red
letters, many newspapers – fearful that Europe is backtracking –
claim events show the `European Christian club’ is not to be trusted;
the club which does not keep its promises and stabs you in the back.

The nationalists, who until a few days ago, had not hesitated to slam
Prime Minister Erdogan for being too friendly with the Europeans and
of selling Turkey and leading it to suicide, seem to be the only ones
to rejoice about the situation.

Christian Turks fear a refusal to start the entry process of Turkey
into Europe could lead to negative repercussions for them.

The Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II wrote his letter, which was made
public today, even before he got to know about the verdict of the 25
European ambassadors. In the letter, he claims to speak in the name
of the Armenians as well as the Hebrews, Syrians, Greeks, Chaldeans
and Protestants, who strongly desire that Turkey becomes a member of
Europe for the following reasons.

`At this important juncture of the history of mankind,’ writes the
Patriarch, `we believe this decision is important not only for
European policy, but that it has global implications too.

`In these days, when we hear talk about clashes between the
civilizations of East and West, between Christians and Muslims, when
we see how terrorism is destroying peace among civilizations, we
think that the most basic objective of the European Union should be
that of seeking to cultivate a `reconciliation between civilizations’
and a multi-cultural society, as we – especially Christians of the
East – ardently desire.

`We Christians of the East, who for centuries have lived in a Muslim
word, can testify to this endeavour, and fortified by long
experience, we can affirm that this event could be significantly
enriching for Christians in the West who have started to live with
Muslims and to experiment a multi-ethnic lifestyle only recently.

`Our experience tells that the entry of Turkey – which has a majority
Muslim population – in the European Union, is a vital step towards a
world of peace. Turkey’s aspiration to be part of Europe is an
opportunity – not for Turks alone, or for Europeans, but for world
peace – which we should certainly not allow to pass us by.

`We are aware Turkey must yet face difficult trials in entry
negotiations, but we know they are indispensable and necessary for
world peace.

`And you, as one who works for western peace, must help us.

`The pressure recently exerted to postpone Turkey’s entry
negotiations worries us and we fear that those who oppose it and who
nurture attitudes of suspicion, may disrupt the road to democracy,
making Turkey turn in on itself.

`We pray for the success of the process of civilization and peace in
the European Union and so that Turkey and the Armenian Christians,
who make up the country’s largest non-Muslim community, may find
their right place in it.’

Helsingin Sanomat, Finland
Sept 30 2005

President Halonen calls for honest elections in Azerbaijan

“I wish you an honest and lively election”, said President Tarja
Halonen, on Thursday as she said farewell to the Speaker of the
Parliament of Azerbaijan. The Azeri capital Baku was the last stop on
the Finnish President’s visit to the South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan holds Presidential elections in just over a month,
and observers around the world are wondering if the same kinds of
accusations of fraud will arise that were prevalent in connection
with the Presidential election of 2003 and the referendum on the
country’s constitution in 2002.
It was on the basis of these votes that Azeri strongman Heidar
Aliyev transferred power to his son Ilham Aliyev in the face of
opposition riots and boycotts.

President Ilham Aliyev was the official host of the visit. Heidar
Aliyev, who died in late 2003, has become the focus of a personality
cult of sorts; during Halonen’s visit, he was repeatedly referred to
as “our great leader” and “our national leader”.
Streets in Baku are full of posters depicting the late
President, and Halonen had to lay a wreath of red roses at the statue
of Heidar Aliyev, located in front of the Heidar Aliyev Centre.
President Halonen did not appear to be bothered by the matter.
“It would not seem to be a completely strange phenomenon in Finland’s
past either. We do have quite a few statues of presidents in our
country”, Halonen pointed out to Finnish journalists.

President Halonen appealed for honest elections at every possible
turn on Thursday. Sitting next to Ilham Aliyev at a press conference,
she emphasised that it is the responsibility of the government and
the President to see to it that the elections meet all criteria set
by the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
She also pointed out to the Azerbaijan opposition that it needs
to exercise proper conduct as well.
A large opposition demonstration is scheduled to take place in
Baku during the weekend, and President Aliyev expressed concern that
the opposition would try to provoke clashes, because it knows that it
will lose the elections.
Halonen would not make any predictions about the honesty of the
election, but she did predict that Aliyev’s party would win. At 43,
the younger Aliyev is a very popular figure in the country.

There was discussion on Thursday on increasing trade between Finland
and Azerbaijan, on possible investments, as well as over the conflict
in the ethnically Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Halonen urged the three countries of the Southern Caucasus,
Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, to work together to find a
solution. According to her calculations, “1+1+1 equals more than
three”.
President Halonen returns to Finland on Friday evening.