Author: Virabian Jhanna

ITF CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT ARMENIA AND NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmRadio.am
12.06.2006 17:00

June 17-22 Co-Chairs of the International Task Force (ITF) on missing
captives Bernard Klazen and Paata Zackareishvili will visit Armenia
and Nagorno-Karabakh.

During the trip they will be accompanied by Co-Chairs of the ITF
Karine Minasyan, Avez Gasanov (Azerbaijan) and Albert Voskanyan
(Nagorno-Karabakh).

Karine Minasyan told “ArmInfo” that the Co-Chairs are scheduled to met
with representatives of delegations of the International Committee
for the Red Cross in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the
State Committees on issues of the missing.

Issues of further cooperation are to be discussed. ITF Co-Chairs plan
to meet several families of the missing.

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER HAS MEETINGS IN BEIRUT WITH LEBANON PRESIDENT AND
FOREIGN MINISTER

BEIRUT, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Emil Lahud, the
President of the Republic fo Lebanon received on June 6 NKR Foreign
Minister Georgi Petrosian who was accompanied by the delegation of the
ARF Dashnaktsutiun Central Committee of Lebanon. RA Ambassador to
Lebanon Vahan Ter-Ghevondian participated in the meeting as well.

As the “Azdak” daily of Beirut informs, Georgi Petrosian presented the
President of Lebanon the present stage of Nagorno Karabakh and works
being done in the direction of solving problems of Armenian refugees
from Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The NKR Foreign Minister accompanied by ARF Central Committee of
Lebanon and Parliament Deputy of Lebanon Hakob Bagratuni visited his
colleague of Lebanon Fauzi Sallukh on June 5. Issues relating to the
Karabakh conflict settlement were discussed at the meeting in which RA
Ambassador Vahan Ter-Ghevondian participated as well.

RA FM: TURKEY IS NOT READY TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH
ARMENIA

Yerevan, June 9. ArmInfo. Turkey is not ready to establish diplomatic
relations with Armenia, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in an
interview to “Kentron” TV channel.

Commenting the statements of some Turkish figures on “non-recognition
of frontiers with Turkey by Armenia”, Oskanyan has reminded that there
is nothing of the kind in the RA Constitution. “There is a just a
reference there to the Declaration on Independence saying about the
historical past and values. There are no dangerous clauses for Turkey
in it”, Oskanyan said. According to him, Turkey uses the pretence of
“frontiers” for its purposes. “Turkey is not ready to establish
diplomatic relations with Armenia”, Oskanyan noted. In view of this he
reminded that the issue of frontiers is regulated by a Protocol on
diplomatic relations establishment. “This is a practice, accepted by
the international community. Then why Turkey wants us to make a
statement, meet their requirements, while we do not know if they are
ready for diplomatic relations with Armenia”, Oskanyan said.

ARMENIA CONCERNED WITH THE FACTS OF MURDER OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA

ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 17:01

Armenia is concerned with the facts of murder of Armenians in
Russia. In RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s words, the issue is
on the agenda and is being raised on all levels when there is such
opportunity. Armenia expresses concern and suggests its assistance
to jointly fight and exclude similar phenomena.

“We want to believe that these are individual cases and not a special
policy against Armenians by a group of people. But the phenomenon
exists and first of all the Russian authorities should be concerned,”
the Minister said.

According to Vardan Oskanyan, it can be inferred from the reaction
of Russia that the country is also worried and promises to prevent
similar cases if possible.

To remind, on May 25 ethnic Armenian Arthur Sardaryan was killed near
Klyazma station in Moscow, in a few days another Armenian young man
was killed in Saint Petersburg.

IS TRAFFICKING A NATIONAL PROBLEM?

Panorama.am
19:23 08/06/06

Americans Have Found New Way Of Spending Their Credits

In a recent US State Department report on Human Trafficking Armenia
has appeared in 2nd group. This ‘status’ granted by State Department
is stricter than last year. Jon Miller, US State Secretary Adviser has
delivered this “misfortune” to the Armenian government recently at US
Embassy in Armenia. The report supports why Armenia has appeared in
“specially monitored list”. One of the arguments says that “Armenian
authorities do not take necessary efforts to protect victims of
trafficking, do no punish those engaged in trafficking and do the
prevent the phenomenon.

“The report is based on information provided by several public
organizations (it must be said that some public organizations
exaggerate the figures in order to get bigger grants.) The State
Department has been more favorable to Azerbaijan and Georgia granting
them a more favorable status.

GOV’T TO SUE FOREIGN COMPANIES

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is preparing to take
legal action against the sale of Istisu mineral waters in Azerbaijan’s
Armenian-occupied Kalbajar District under the name of Jermuk, Minister
Huseyn Bagirov said Friday.

Bagirov said work involving experts has been carried out. The
ministry’s legal department has outlined a series of activities. The
minister declined to reveal the essence of the measures to be taken
to prevent the counter party from retaliating.

He only noted that third-country companies working in the occupied
territories, including those from the US, the UK, etc., would be
taken to court.

TRAFFICKING: DARK COLORS OF ARMENIA

Lragir.am
08 June 06

The Unites States has published the Trafficking in Persons Report
2005. Like the annual report on drug trafficking, the TIP 2005
Armenia’s country narrative is in dark shades. The shades are even
too dark, even threateningly dark. Americans say Armenia is on Tier
2 Watch List of countries of trafficking; the second is better than
the third but worse than the first. However, if anti-trafficking
efforts do not improve, Armenia may possibly appear on the dangerous
Tier 3. On June 7 the Armenian news reporters had an opportunity to
enquire about the cause and consequences of this description from
almost the prime source.

John Miller, U.S. State Department Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons answered the questions of Armenian journalists
via telebridge between Yerevan and Washington at the U.S. Embassy.

Mr. Miller did not add details to the report. He only repeated
that Armenia is a source of trafficking, the government efforts to
combat trafficking and investigate government officials complicit
in trafficking are insufficient. John Miller cited the UN estimate
that over 2000 Armenian women are trafficked to United Arab Emirates
and Turkey for sexual exploitation. John Miller says the outcome of
anti-trafficking efforts is insufficient to have the public trust
the government.

The State Department official says there are also problems with
protection of trafficking victims. Mr. Miller says a delicate
attitude to the victims is required for them to cooperate with the
NGOs and law enforcement agencies in prosecuting persons engaged in
trafficking. According to John Miller, the confidence of the public is
very important in combating trafficking, whereas the U.S. official says
the government efforts are anemic. If the situation does not improve,
it is possible that Armenia will appear on the Tier 3 Watch List. On
appearing on Tier 3 the country is given three months, if the country
fails to improve the situation, it becomes even worse.

John Miller says if the country appears again in Tier 3 after these
three months, American assistance, , including military assistance is
cut or stopped. The American government stops assisting the country in
the World Bank and the IMF. According to him, the aim is not penalty
but joint effort for improvement.

Hürriyet
June 08, 2006
US Defense Council report: 90 nuclear “B 61” bombs stocked at Incirlik

A report prepared by the US National Resources Defense Council called “US
nuclear weapons in Europe,” reveals that the US currently has 90 nuclear
bombs of the “B 61” variety in Turkey, all on the Incirlik Air Force base.

The report, put together by Hans Kristensen of the Defense Council, is based
on figures provided last February by the US Air Force. The report is being
discussed in the Turkish Parliament (TBMM).

In further details from the report, of the 90 nuclear bombs found at
Incirlik, 50 are kept ready to be loaded onto American bomber planes, while
40 are ready to be loaded onto Turkish planes. CHP MP Sukru Elekdag, who is
bringing the report to the attention of the parliament today, has pointed
out to his government collegues that, following the Cold War, Greece had all
the nuclear bombs being kept on its soil taken away. Elekdag has noted also
that Turkey’s allowance of the US nuclear bombs to be kept at Incirlik is an
act which could not be easily explained to its Muslim and Arab neighbors.

WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE ARMENIA WITH $6.25 MLN TO FIGHT BIRD FLU

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
June 5, 2006 Monday 1:20 PM MSK

The World Bank board of directors has approved providing Armenia
with a $6.25 million loan to implement a program to fight bird flu,
Roger Robinson, director of the World Bank’s Yerevan office, said at
a Monday press conference.

The loan will be provided on standard International Development
Association terms for 40 years at an annual 0.75% with a grace period
on payment for the first ten years.

The program is aimed at minimizing the risks of poultry coming down
with the disease, Robinson said.

If the bird flu virus is discovered in Armenia, a fund will be set
up to compensate damages for $750,000. These resources can be used
by small farmers that do not have more than 200,000 chickens. They
will also need to contribute a minimum amount to the fund. Large farms
that raise poultry and eggs will have to provide for their own safety
measures and will not receive compensation, Robinson said.

The credit resources will also be targeted at upgrading three
laboratories in the country and some of the resources will be used
to provide information to the public.

Japan is also providing a grant of $804,000 to Armenia.

The World Bank has provided Armenia with loans totaling $927.25
million since 1993.

THE OUTSIDE GAME

Boston Globe, MA
June 5 2006

PROSPERITY IS producing sloppiness in the budget process of the
Massachusetts Legislature. Both House and Senate versions of the
budget contain far too many outside sections, extraneous add-ons to
the financing plan of state government. The House-Senate conference
committee should severely limit them and produce a transparent,
fiscally realistic budget.

The Senate is the worse offender, with 439 in its budget passed last
week. Who could object to the Registry of Motor Vehicles offering Dr.

Seuss license plates to help pay for a museum to honor the author in
his native Springfield? But other outside sections would change policy
significantly, such as one that would shore up Matthew Amorello’s
authority as chief executive of the Turnpike Authority.

The Legislature was supposed to have settled that issue when it
strengthened Governor Mitt Romney’s powers over the turnpike board
in 2004. If lawmakers want to revisit it now, they should do so in
separate legislation.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi was proud last year that, at House
insistence, only 34 outside sections were included in the final
budget. But in April the House stuffed the economic stimulus and
supplemental appropriations bills, left over from last year, into
this year’s budget, making a total of 237 outside sections. The Senate
followed suit.

The stimulus bill and the supplemental are stalled because of
disagreement between the two branches. Including them in the
budget is supposed to force the conference committee to resolve the
differences. As it is, the Senate and House have enough disagreements
on core budget issues, such as local aid and healthcare, to keep the
committee busy for the next few weeks, and the budget is supposed to
be passed and signed by the governor before the start of the fiscal
year July 1.

The outside sections constitute a political wish list. The Senate
would revamp the school aid formula, provide incentives for the use
of hybrid vehicles, regulate the state treasurer’s ability to deposit
money in a single bank, discourage construction of an Armenian genocide
memorial on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, and offer a liquor license to
Isabella’s restaurant in Dedham. Some might constitute sound policy,
but all would benefit from separate consideration.

Some involve the expenditure of millions of dollars. Maybe it’s
important that Quincy get $12.1 million to convert its hospital to
a private, nonprofit facility or that payments to nursing homes be
enhanced, as the Senate proposes. But why tack these onto the tail end
of the budget? It’s a device to encourage legislators to throw money
at their favorite projects. To improve policymaking and discourage
overspending, outside sections are a temptation best avoided on
Beacon Hill.