PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
May 2, 2004

Six New Priests Ordained in Holy Etchmiadzin

On May 2, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin, with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, presiding. The celebrant was His Grace Bishop Abraham
Mkrtichian, Primate of the Diocese of Syunik (Armenia). During the
celebration of the Liturgy, six deacons of the Mother See were ordained to
the priesthood.

On the previous evening, prior to Evening Services, a public examination of
the orthodox faith of the six candidates was conducted. The two sponsoring
priests bore witness to the worthiness and spiritual preparedness of the
potential priests. The candidates unanimously rejected, renounced and
anathematized the heretics and schismatics, and stated their oath to remain
faithful to Jesus Christ, and the faith of the Holy Apostles, blessed
patriarchs and doctors of the Church. As a visible sign of their orthodoxy,
they recited the Creed formulated by Saint Gregory of Datev.

On Sunday, during the Divine Liturgy, the six deacons, ascended to the Main
Altar of the Mother Cathedral on bended knees as the sponsoring priests
recited psalms. Turning to face westward, the candidates raised their hands
with their palms open as a sign of their renunciation of the secular life.
Under the singing of hymns, the Holy Chrism was brought to the Holy Altar,
and the ordaining bishop individually consecrated each new priest’s
forehead, as well as the palms of their right and left hands, and called
them by their new priestly names.

Deacon Haroutiun Derderian became Father Tadeos; Deacon Vardan Isakhanian
was renamed Father Andreas; Deacon Sargis Kirakosian became Father Datev;
Deacon Arman Hakobian was renamed Father Zaven; Deacon Edgar Hakobian became
Father Makar; and Deacon Mushegh Sargisian was renamed Father Shnork.
Afterwards, Bishop Abraham handed each of them the communion chalice,
transferring to them the authority and right to celebrate the Divine
Liturgy, and distribute the Holy Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, to the faithful.

Following the conclusion of the ordination service, His Holiness Karekin II,
the bishops, members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, and all married
priests in attendance ascended the bema and congratulated the six newly
ordained priests by kissing their anointed foreheads and hands.

During Evening Services later in the day, three of the priests (Father
Zaven, Father Makar and Father Shnork) received their cowls and took their
oath of celibacy, promising to always remain loyal servants of the Armenian
Apostolic Holy Church, the Catholicosate of All Armenians and the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The six new priests of the Armenian Church have entered their forty days of
seclusion as they prepare to celebrate their first Divine Liturgy through
prayer, fasting and meditation.

##

TAJIK LEADER SETS OUT DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY PRIORITIES

Tajik Television first channel, Dushanbe
30 Apr 04

In a wide-ranging speech to a joint parliament session, Tajik
President Emomali Rahmonov has set out domestic and foreign policy
priorities. Central Asia has a geostrategic advantage, he said, but
needs cooperation to triumph over rivalry. He said action rather than
words was needed to forge real cooperation within Central Asia. In
foreign policy, CIS relations remain a priority, he said, but
Tajikistan will also be looking towards the EU. The phasing out of
Russian guards on the Tajik-Afghan border will go ahead, Rahmonov told
the session. He called for new approaches to fighting terrorism,
extremism and drugs, and condemned neo-fascism and the tainting of
Islam in political discourse. Rahmonov called for fair, transparent
elections and invited all political parties to participate in drafting
a new election law. The following is an excerpt from the speech on 30
April broadcast by Tajik television the same day; subheadings inserted
editorially:

Esteemed members of the National Assembly and deputies of the Assembly
of Representatives: Before presenting my speech to the supreme
legislative body, the Supreme Assembly, I would like to mention that
the government’s internal and foreign policies are not usually
implemented within a year, because the purposes outlined in the
president’s address, as a matter of fact, are programmes and prospects
for decades.

Tajikistan, as a sovereign country, is at the beginning of a big main
road and its people’s aim is to build a democratic, secular and
law-based state, as well as to set up a free civil society, and ensure
peaceful life and integration within the civilized world.

(Passage omitted: achievements in 2003)

The main purpose of today’s speech is to consider in detail the
country’s internal and foreign policies in ensuring sustainable
regular economic and social development, and the strengthening of
achievements in the spheres of legislation, the development of the
foundations of civil society, and the expansion of Tajikistan’s
international relations.

The continuation of the economic reforms is a necessary condition for
strengthening the country’s economic potential. The key aims of our
country’s economic and social policies are the implementation of
economic reform programmes, the development of a market economy, the
improvement of economic management and, on this basis, the maintenance
of sustainable economic development, a reduction in the poverty level
and the improvement of people’s living standards.

(Passage omitted: in 2003, the government’s work was mainly aimed at
implementing the poverty reduction programme)

Reforms failed to have “noticeable impact” on living standards

Although there have been some achievements in our country’s economy
they have failed to make a noticeable impact on increasing people’s
living standards. The current situation shows that some ministers and
heads of departments, regions, towns, districts, enterprises and
organizations have not yet paid serious attention to the
implementation of the poverty reduction programme. They have also made
mistakes in choosing projects and ignored advantages which would
directly assist economic growth and increase people’s living
standards.

Therefore, it is necessary to make effective the implementation of the
programme when choosing investment projects, and special attention
should be paid to advantages that can directly assist economic
growth. This process should be under the government’s constant control
because the Tajik government has received loans from international
financial organizations for the purpose of improving people’s living
standards, and is implementing many joint projects. The money that is
spent on their implementation is loans, and the government of
Tajikistan will repay them.

(Passage omitted: it should be explained to people that projects in
regions are being carried out with the help of credits; credits and
projects should be accepted under preferential terms; extra measures
are being taken; legislation should be improved in these fields; the
structural reform programme is under way)

Bureaucracy – “breeding ground” for corruption

Given that the living standards of the majority of our country’s
people are still low and some able-bodied people are unemployed, the
Tajik government’s primary tasks are to reorganize life, ensure the
observance of the rights of citizens, create new jobs, develop small
and medium-sized businesses and create favourable conditions for
setting up new enterprises which use modern technology.

The sphere of entrepreneurship, especially its small and medium-sized
forms, is developing in various sectors of the country’s economy, but
has not yet found its place, because there are many bureaucratic
barriers in its development.

Individual businessmen, farms and small and medium-sized enterprises
are facing many problems linked with receiving credits, customs
checks, export and import operations, taxation, getting licences,
certification, standardization, registration, banking services,
numerous inspection from various bodies, and unfair distribution of
land plots by the local authorities.

On the other hand, these bureaucratic barriers are a breeding ground
for the further spread of bribery and corruption in the
country. Therefore, the government is entrusted to strengthen the
fight against this undesirable phenomenon in all directions and
branches of the government and take necessary steps to reduce
obstacles in the development of entrepreneurship and introduce a
simple order in this field.

Moves to tackle corruption

At the same time, the fight against corruption will be improved by the
revelation of office abuse cases, the misappropriation of state funds
and the results of inspections by the state committee for state
financial control, and this will contribute to strengthening
discipline and order in all government structures.

The introduction of discipline and order, the elimination of
artificial obstacles and the maintaining of transparency in this
process will result in improving the entrepreneurship atmosphere,
increasing investments, strengthening the domestic market, creating
new jobs and conditions for the development of the small and
medium-sized businesses, which is an effective sector of the economy,
as well as in reducing bribery and corruption.

In this area, the law on licensing should be adopted and put into
practice. During the adoption of the law, issues relating to
simplifying the order of control and restricting the interference of
the staff of state control agencies in business activities should be
taken into account in order to clarify the authority of inspection
agencies.

At the same time, transparency in the rights of businessmen and the
authority of state inspection agencies should be ensured. Moreover, we
should create conditions by giving priority to the development of
entrepreneurship in the country.

The Tajik government should consider the issue of giving equal
privileges to foreign investors and to national investors who import
modern technology, create new jobs and start producing competitive
goods.

Good banking system – path to economic stability

The development of entrepreneurship depends on the effective activity
of banks. Therefore, the National Bank should seriously study the
process of banking reforms and the policy of loans and coordinate them
in order to develop the manufacture and export of goods.

At the same time, in line with the law of Tajikistan “On investment in
small enterprises” it (the National Bank) must start giving small
credits to rural entrepreneurs through setting up credit networks and
help to develop the manufacturing sector of the economy.

The banking system of the country now needs to be reformed since one
of the ma in problems of this system which has a direct negative
effect on budget revenue is the wider cash circulation in comparison
to non-cash circulation. This problem requires serious investigation
and taking economic, organizational and legislative measures.

In the first instance, the increase in the number of banking services,
the improvement of their quality, the protection of banking secrets,
and the banks’ financial stability, which will add to the people’s
confidence in them, must be ensured.

The introduction of modern communications technologies is one of the
factors to improve services being provided in a timely manner, the
ability to conduct operations immediately, the state of non-cash
circulation of banks as well as bank loans. It helps to strengthen the
state budget revenues.

At the same time, the establishing of non-cash relations, the use of
computer technologies and bank cards are amongst the demands of the
time.

The National Bank should set up credit establishments and bank
organizations taking into consideration, first of all, the financial
potential of these establishments and the benefits to the country.

(Passage omitted: Rahmonov hails government’s economic policy)

Reforms in government system

The improvement of the government system is still continuing in our
country. A number of measures have already been taken in this
sphere. However, a single strategy of reforms should be worked out for
further improvement of the government system.

The improvement of the country’s government system by way of choosing
the important tasks of the management of relations at various levels
of executive bodies should be carried out from budget funds.

Tasks which can be carried out successfully without the intervention
of the state should be given to the private sector.

It is worth mentioning that reforms in government administration are
impossible without changing the system of wages. All existing
resources within the limits of the budget should be used for the full
implementation of the law “On state service.”

The raising of the efficiency of state management requires an
improvement in the administrative system and in this process the trend
of putting private interests above national interests, which has
become a habit for officials at various levels, should be decisively
broken.

Esteemed participants, agriculture is one of the most important
branches of our economy. We are doing a lot in the way of reforms in
this sphere. It is very important that people are supporting these
reforms. However, unfair distribution of land and the existence of a
great number of shortcomings in structural reforms are causing serious
anxiety among farmers.

(Passage omitted: the president criticizes the situation in the
agricultural sector)

GDP to quadruple by 2015

The government has worked out a programme in the economic sphere up to
2015. It foresees the country’s GDP quadrupling over this period. The
main aims of this programme are ensuring the speeding up of the pace
of economic development; Tajikistan’s early integration into the world
economy and an increase in net profit per capita.

Energy

At the time of current development, the progress of every state is
bound to the sphere of energy. We have taken decisive steps to ensure
the independence of power engineering in our country. In particular,
the construction of hydroelectric power stations in the Pamirs, on
which 40m dollars has been spent, will finish next year. A new boost
will be given to the construction of the Sangtuda hydroelectric power
station.

We will also finish the construction of the Konibodom-Batken (northern
Tajikistan to southern Kyrgyzstan) power transmission line at the
state’s expense by the end of 2004.

By using grants and no-strings aid from international economic
organizations we are currently implementing the project for
reconstruction of the power-engineering system; modernization of the
Boyghozi (southern Tajikistan) hydroelectric power station; the
reconstruction of power transmission lines in the city of Dushanbe. In
addition to this, there the project of reconstruction of the Central
Asian states’ power (transmission) lines. Moreover, the Tajik
government is currently working out a project of construction of a
power transmission line linking the north and the south of the
country. Talks on continuing the construction of the Roghun
hydroelectric power station are under way.

Since Tajikistan is a mountainous country, it is necessary in
particular to increase the number of small hydroelectric power
stations. There are 25 small hydroelectric power station in our
country to date.

(Passage omitted: Rahmonov lists the places where small hydroelectric
power stations are planned to be built)

It is planned to construct 10 more small hydroelectric power stations.
Tajikistan has recently signed an agreement with the Islamic
Development Bank worth 10m dollars to finance the construction of
hydroelectric power stations.

(Passage omitted: more significant facilities and roads are under
construction)

Communications

The construction of the Anzob tunnel is under way and preparations are
being made to implement the project for the construction of the
Shar-Shar tunnel (central Tajikistan).

It is worth mentioning that one of the most topical issues of
Tajikistan is roads – or, to be more precise, lack of roads. We have
deeply felt this difficulty during the years of our independence.

It is difficult to imagine economic independence without the
construction of main roads, in particular main roads and bridges which
link Tajikistan to other countries. Therefore, we are currently making
efforts to build roads and bridges in three different directions in
order to bring Tajikistan out of its communication impasse and link it
with other states by opening roads and building bridges which would
have international importance. That is to say, the roads which will
link (eastern Tajik) Murghob District with China; (eastern Tajik)
Jirgatol with Kyrgyzstan and (southern Tajik) Panj with Afghanistan.

(Passage omitted: more about the importance of the roads in developing
Tajikistan’s economy)

Civil society

We value and protect the culture of peace and reconciliation which we
have attained. Because peace and national reconciliation is a great
achievement of our society, and moreover it is a basis for all
democratic processes. Nowadays in Tajikistan there is a legal
environment for a civil society, which means that the basis of civil
society has been established that takes into account the interests of
the whole of society and each person’s patriotic feelings.

It is known that the solid foundation of democracy is indeed civil
society. In our country there is scope for the creation of such a
society, which is represented in the most essential rights of the
citizens, who can set up public organizations that are truly
independent. Non-governmental institutions are successfully developing
in our country. They are most of all contributing to the resolution of
specific problems of vital importance to the people. Therefore, we
indeed positively assess the tendency for cooperation between NGOs and
the Tajik government, and we believe that this tendency should be
speeded up thoroughly. Because the main purpose of cooperation between
the government and public institutions is the human being and the
resolution of his problems. In its turn, the state will support this
trend and will provide scope for such cooperation.

(Passage omitted: Rahmonov repeats that the state and NGOs must
cooperate in order to improve the people’s well-being)

Human trafficking

Another illegal and immoral phenomenon called human trafficking has
emerged of late. Understanding the threat of this phenomenon and its
incompatibility with the exemplary behaviour of the Tajik nation, the
Tajik government has drafted a law on combating the buying and selling
of people and it has been submitted to the Assembly of Representatives
(the lower chamber of the Tajik parliament) for consideration. This
law will promote the tackling of this dreadful phenomenon, which
stains the dignity, morality and purity of the Persian and Muslim
peoples’ behaviour. All these undertakings that we have mentioned have
taken place within the framework of legal reforms. At the same time, a
series of other legal issues are yet to be resolved. The adoption of
other codes of the Republic of Tajikistan is one of these issues.

It is worth saying that over the past four years of its work, the
Tajik parliament has adopted over 90 new laws in order to advocate
legal reforms, and has amended 228 current laws and ratified 110
international agreements. Nevertheless, the development of society
demands the speeding up of legal reforms. The drafting and adoption of
laws is a very crucial activity but at the same time their
implementation and introduction is of a greater significance. These
responsibility lies with the executive structures, the law-enforcement
agencies and in particular with the courts.

One of the main factors for the provision of a human being’s rights
and freedom is the judicial authority, the legal position of which has
strengthened after the introduction of changes and amendments to the
constitution.

(Passage omitted: Rahmonov urges greater transparency in the country’s
judicial system)

Progress was observed in the activities of the law-enforcement
agencies last year. Thanks to the results of their efforts the number
of crimes committed in 2003 decreased by 12.6 per cent overall, and in
particular the use of arms fell by 40 per cent. (Break in reception)
Along with progress in the activities of the law-enforcement agencies
there are also many shortcomings. Sometimes criminal cases are being
launched or closed without any grounds.

(Passage omitted: Rahmonov calls on the law-enforcement law to be just
in handling criminal cases)

Boosting border control

The current situation demands the further strengthening of the units
and sub-divisions of the State Border Protection Committee. The
committee is needs to increase its staff. This issue must be resolved
by reducing the number of staff of the ministries of defence, internal
affairs and security, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the
National Guard (the Presidential Guard).

The Finance Ministry, while drafting the 2005 state budget along with
the aforementioned ministries and departments, should consider the
need to increase the necessary funding of the committee’s
requirements. The main purpose is that a decisive fight should be
carried out against drug traffickers, arms smugglers and border
violators, particularly against those forces that pose a threat to our
country’s security. Therefore, I think these are the priorities: to
enlist healthy young men into the border force ranks; to further
improve the service conditions of border guards; to provide them with
the necessary supplies, military equipment, ammunition, the means of
transport and professional military cadres.

(Passage omitted: the president calls on officials to observe the law)

Call for fair, transparent elections

The people of Tajikistan have set a major goal before themselves to
create a democratic, law-based, secular and social state. Perceiving
this goal, we must take decisive steps towards this path and create
conditions in order to introduce modern democratic elements widely
into society.

In this direction, the role and position of elections, as an element
guaranteeing the people’s direct participation in state management and
defining their present and future destiny in this way, is very
important.

Although the current law “On elections to the parliament of
Tajikistan” was drafted by the National Reconciliation Commission and
with the direct participation of representatives from influential
international organizations, including the UN, the OSCE, the guarantor
states to Tajik peace and the political parities, the five years the
law “On elections” have been in place and the political changes that
have taken place in society have created a need to improve it. In
fact, the law “On elections” must embody generally-recognized modern
values of a democratic society. The two alternative draft laws on
making amendments and addenda to the constitutional law “On elections
to the Supreme Assembly of Tajikistan” proposed by various
parliamentary factions are aimed at this. I am confident that the
Supreme Assembly of Tajikistan will comprehensively consider the
aforementioned issue and will pass a law meeting the requirements of
modern democracy and ensure fair and transparent elections. I would
also propose that the leaders of the registered (political) parties be
invited to participate in the discussion of this issue in the
committee of the Supreme Assembly. Neither you nor us will lose
anything from this. On the contrary (changes tack). Listen to their
proposals.

Favourable international situation in Central Asia

Esteemed members of the National Assembly and representatives of the
Assembly of Representatives, the main goal of our foreign policy is
the establishment of mutually-beneficial cooperation for the sake of
defending Tajikistan’s national and state interests.

Trends in the development of the world and analyses of mutual
relations between international legal bodies indicate that the
geopolitical and international situation have become inconsistent,
very difficult and complicated.

The activation of great states has been aimed at increasing their
influence on the development of international relations and at the
introduction of a new world order.

Despite the fact that the Central Asian states have become a
crossroads of global interests, they have become parties to
advantageous strategic cooperation. We hope that cooperation will
prevail over rivalry here. At this phase, the great powers’ increasing
interest in Central Asia, from the geopolitical and geo-strategic
point view, is caused by the desire to be in control of the central
space of Eurasia and the region’s natural resources and communications
networks. That is why we must always take into account the influence
of advanced states’ policy on the regional states’ policies.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that events which will take
place in Central Asia at the beginning of the 21st century will define
the essence of international relations. There has never been such a
favourable international situation in world history when all the great
states on the planet gave united in the fight against new threats and
dangers. This process is also important for the Central Asian
states. If this positive force of the world community strengthens, it
will undoubtedly be of great significance to both Central Asia and the
whole world.

Terrorism, extremism, drugs

On the other hand the world is now facing new threats and dangers like
terrorism, extremism, drug production and trafficking and arms
smuggling – the disastrous consequences of which are known to all. Not
a single state in the world, even powerful states, will be able to
resist this appalling phenomenon alone. In this sense, the
development of a new world order will be a historically lengthy and
inconsistent process. This is because as universal problems become
globalized, some aspects of the development of principles of
international relations cause concern.

First, the fight against terrorism in its current form and scale still
cannot meet the international community’s demands. That is why we
expect that influential international organizations, in the first
instance the UN and the OSCE, will formulate a clear definition of
terrorism and its signs and announce it to the international
community. This is because we think that the lack of an exact
definition of this and different views on this issue have brought
about a policy of double standards. We also call on the aforementioned
organizations to step up assistance in drawing up a single strategy
for the fight against terrorism. This is because Tajikistan, which has
felt the blow of the century’s new phenomenon on itself, has become an
active member of the antiterrorist coalition and will remain firm in
this position.

Second, taking account of the fact that drug trafficking is a
financial source of terrorism, we have repeatedly called from high
international podiums for the setting up of a union or a coalition to
fight drugs. The fact that this proposal from Tajikistan, along with
20 of the most important proposals from around the world, was accepted
by the UN indicates that the modern world has felt the necessity of
its implementation.

Islam, neo-fascism

Third, nowadays the notions of Islamic terrorism, Islamic
fundamentalism and Islamists are being widely used in the political
terminology of the international community and by political scientists
in some Western countries. This tendency will lead to the emergence of
hatred in the consciousness of the global population towards the holy
religion of Islam and the Muslim people. As you know, there are cases
of Muslims being subjected to pressure and violence or violation of
their rights and freedoms in various states. This is a very dangerous
policy. This is because sowing religious discord and the restriction
of Muslims’ rights on this basis may lead the world to religious
confrontation and even to the confrontation of civilizations. That is
why politicians must think about this issue.

Fourth, neo-fascist and nationalist movements have been strengthening
in some states in recent years. We are particularly concerned over the
spread of this dangerous political aspect in the CIS states. The world
has not yet forgotten the horrors and tragedy of racist and fascist
policy. Dividing people according to their racial or national origin,
playing with this political phenomenon or ignoring their threat can
lead us to a whirlwind of new disasters.

Foreign policy

In these conditions the foreign policy of Tajikistan, along with the
consideration of the country’s national interests, must be ready to
respond to the political changes of the world and the region. The new
qualitative phase of the development of international relations
determines the speed of tactical actions and initiatives that
Tajikistan is undertaking in its foreign policy. Therefore, important
tasks in our foreign policy are: the creation of favourable external
conditions in order to press forward with economic reforms, ensuring
the country’s sustainable growth, the strengthening and development of
a civil society, the protection of territorial integrity and the
country’s security, and also bolstering Tajikistan’s deserving
position on the international arena.

This policy will be conducted by fighting new modern challenges and
expanding relations with different countries in the world and
international organizations, and this should be done by promoting
pragmatic and multifaceted approaches. Last year we continued the
open-door policy in our foreign policy, which has contributed to the
further expansion and bolstering of our country’s relations with other
countries in the world. Our aim in conducting such a policy is to
respond to each friendship and assistance initiative, impartial and
unprejudiced cooperation, based on the very same principle. We will
have friendly and sincere relations with every country that
communicates on the basis of equal rights.

(Passage omitted: Rahmonov’s initiative on the Decade of Fresh Water
was backed by the UN)

The expansion and strengthening of our ties with developed and
developing regions in the world has a particular
significance. Relations with the CIS member states, with whom we
traditionally have historical relations, will remain one of the
priorities in Tajikistan’s foreign policy. In this direction, the last
year saw a series of specific initiatives to step up cooperation with
Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and the countries in the Central Asian
region.

We have continued to make efforts to further bolster and expand the
range of cooperation with the European countries. During the year the
Tajik president paid official visits to Germany, Poland and Belgium,
which resulted in very promising outcomes. We must say that in this
direction we have more and more expanding relations not only with
separate countries on that continent but with the EU, which is an
authoritative and influential organization at the beginning of the
21st century. The advanced experience of integration of the union’s
member states is a very bright example for every one of us.

In line with this, it is planned that the signing of an agreement on
friendship and cooperation with the EU will take place in a few months
time, which will raise the level of our relations to a higher
decree. Last year our relations with the developed countries in the
world, such as the USA, France, Japan and Switzerland further
strengthened. Currently, we have established beneficial cooperation
with these countries in various sectors, which is aimed at the
provision of a basis for the country’s sustainable economic
development and the state’s security. Political, economic and cultural
cooperation with these countries will be continued in the future as
well. The goal is to expand as far as possible the range of this
cooperation.

Russia

And now I think it is appropriate to touch upon our ties with the
Russian Federation in a clear and frank way, because the global media
has been dispatching numerous false and biased reports on this issue
of late. Once more I am officially stating that in the past 10 years
our foreign policy towards Russia has not changed essentially. The
people of Tajikistan will never forget Russia’s role in the
restoration of peace in the country. As before, we have
mutually-advantageous ties with Russia, who is one of our closest
strategic partners, in the political and military spheres. We have
close cooperation in such issues as the fight against terrorism, the
drug trade and extremism, as well as in the activities of regional and
international organizations, and we have similar views on the majority
of issues and problems. Our positions are similar.

As I have been repeatedly mentioning, despite our continuous efforts
over the past 13 years the level of economic cooperation between
Tajikistan and Russia has not yet reached the existing requirements to
meet both country’s interests. Nevertheless, the Tajik government will
be constantly making efforts to boost relations, first of all, in
attracting investment and bolstering economic cooperation with Russia.

About the Russian border forces in Tajikistan: these forces are in our
country in accordance with a 10-year agreement signed in 1993. They
have played a significant role in the protection of our borders and
ensuring the country’s and the region’s security over this period. But
the Article 9 of the agreement stipulates that with the formation and
strengthening of the Tajik border troops, the protection and securing
of the border areas will be transferred to Tajik border guards. In
accordance with this, the border forces of Tajikistan, as a sign of
the country’s independence, will gradually take over the protection of
all the sections of the Tajik border.

We must recall that of 4,183 km of the total length of Tajikistan’s
border – with Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Afghanistan – 2,912 km
is currently being controlled by the Tajik border forces. Last year a
500-km section of the border with China and a 73-km section with
Afghanistan were taken over by the Tajik border forces at the
initiative of the Russian side. In accordance with this agreement and
on the results of meetings between joint working groups, the remaining
part of Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan will step by step be
transferred to Tajik border guards in the future.

TO BE CONT.

AZERI ENVOY DISPELS ANXIETY OVER FAILURE TO BACK TURKISH CYPRIOTS

ANS TV, Baku
2 May 04

(Presenter) The Azerbaijani ambassador to Turkey, Mammad Aliyev, has
come to a conclusion that Turkey’s anxiety about Azerbaijani
parliamentarians’ non-participation in the Cyprus vote has been
dispelled. Baku’s position has been explained to the Turkish media,
Aliyev said. The Azerbaijani delegation’s failure to participate in
the voting on Cyprus in the Council of Europe was simply the result of
carelessness.

(Correspondent) Azerbaijani MPs did not participate in the discussions
of the draft resolution “On Turkish Cypriot MPs’ participation in the
Council of Europe on behalf of their own state” on 29 April due to
shortcomings in organization and carelessness. This is the conclusion
the Turkish media drew following Azerbaijani ambassador Mammad
Aliyev’s explanation.

(Mammad Aliyev, voice) We explained that deliberate non-participation
was absolutely out of the question. This was due to shortcomings in
organization and carelessness.

(Correspondent) Mammad Aliyev said that one should not allow
Turkish-Azerbaijani relations to worsen due to this misunderstanding.

(Aliyev) There are circles serving the Armenian lobby. Regrettably,
there are circles, particularly in Istanbul, which spend big money to
worsen relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. They want to present
this as a deliberate act, i.e. allegedly the Azerbaijani MPs did not
participate in the voting deliberately. We have exposed them.

(Correspondent) Aliyev said that only 70 of the 450 members of the
PACE joined the voting, adding that the results would not have changed
if the Azerbaijani parliamentarians had joined the voting. At the same
time, Azerbaijan has always supported Turkey on the Cyprus issue.

(Aliyev) I reiterated our president’s words that our support for
Cyprus would continue. If there are favourable international
conditions to end the isolation and lift the embargo, Azerbaijan would
be one of the first (countries to recognize independence of the
Turkish Cypriots), our esteemed president said. I reiterated this in
my statement.

(Correspondent) The Azerbaijani delegation’s failure to participate in
the PACE discussions on the aforesaid issue was covered thoroughly by
the Turkish media. In particular, Hurriyet carried a front page
article, quoting President Ilham Aliyev “We would have dismissed them
if they were government officials”.

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

April 26, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Ambassador Martirosyan speaks at the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
in the City Hall, New York

On April 23, 2004, Amb. Armen Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of
Armenia to the UN, made a speech at the New York City Hall gathering
commemorating the Armenian Genocide. In his speech he reflected on various
aspects of genocide as a crime against humanity, and touched upon questions
of the responsibility of the international community to protect people
threatened by genocide and ways to avert the repetition of this crime.

Please find below the text of the speech in full.

Speech of H.E. Ambassador Armen Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of
Armenia to the United Nations at the Armenian Genocide Commemoration in the
City Hall
April, 23, 2004, New York
Your Eminence, Reverend Clergy
Distinguished members of United States Congress,
Your Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, representative of a
country that officially recognized the Armenian Genocide,
I thank all of you for being today among us and with us.
Professor Balakian, Professor Melson,
Dear compatriots,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to thank the organizers for making this important forum and for
granting me the opportunity to address the participants. I am indeed
privileged to speak in this historical hall, which has hosted many
remarkable events of this great city.
We have gathered again, as we do every year, to pay our respect to the
memory of the 1.5 million innocent Armenians that fell victim to the first
genocide of the 20th century. We are looking for the ways to future, but our
thoughts go back again and again to the nearly century-old events of 1915
and we keep asking: “WHY?” Why did it happen to us? Why did the world keep
silent when all the signs of the looming tragedy were there? Why did the
great powers of the time turn a blind eye when the ethnic cleansing was
being carried out in broad daylight? Why did not they bring the perpetrators
to justice? Why are attempts made to try to push the memories of the
Armenian genocide into oblivion, which allows for rejectionist policies not
only to be contemplated but also implemented? Did we, Armenians, learn our
lesson from the tragedy of our grandparents? Did the world learn from the
tragedy of Armenians?
Presumably, one may say that the world has changed today. The international
community adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide in 1948 out of necessity “to prevent from happening again
that what had happened to Armenians during World War I and to Jews during WW
II”, as Rafael Lemkin, who coined the term “genocide” and co-authored the
Convention put it. “Never again”, was the basic message of the authors of
the Genocide Convention. Yet, about 2 weeks ago the world community was
commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.
It is ironic that the same questions were being asked by the international
community on the reach of the international justice, the roots of violence,
responsibility of the international community to protect people threatened
by genocide and ways to avert the repetition of this crime against humanity.
“If the international community had acted promptly and with determination,
it could have stopped most of the killing. But the political will was not
there,” stated UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in his message to the Rwandan
Forum organized in March. When I read these words, they seemed to echo the
outcry of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, the then US Ambassador to Turkey: “My
failure to stop the destruction of the Armenians made Turkey for me a place
of horror, and I found intolerable my further daily association with men
who, …were still reeking with the blood of nearly a million human beings.”
During the Armenian genocide the military and political establishment of the
world main actors allowed murder to take place without facing any
consequences. Thus cleansing became part of the political culture, an
“acceptable” way for solving problems.
The Armenian Genocide showed that it could be done: the policy of genocide
by the Ottoman Turkish Government went unchecked by other powers and in time
the possibility of such policy built up new brutalities. The vicious
developments did not stop at Auschwitz. The Holocaust and the tragic events
of WW II did not conclude the “age of genocide.” We, Armenians witnessed
another attempt in Sumgait, Kirovabad and Baku at the end of the 20th
century…
There was one lesson the international community did not learn from the
Armenian Genocide: impunity, indifference and inaction pave the way for
repetition of the most horrible crime against humanity. The world has
witnessed Rwanda, Cambodia, Balkans.
“The silence that had greeted genocides in the past must be replaced by a
global clamor and a willingness to call what has happened by its true name,”
I would gladly subscribe to these words of the UN Secretary General hoping
that this message of remorse for the past inaction and negligence on behalf
of the international community also reflects the resolve and sound
commitment to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
Pursuing this goal the international community during the second half of
20th century has undertaken necessary steps in the field of prevention of
genocide. 50 years after the adoption of the Genocide Convention, the
International Criminal Court was established to prosecute those responsible
for the crime of genocide, individual tribunals were established to punish
the perpetrators. Nowadays the United Nations is contemplating the idea of a
special rapporteur to analyze what further steps could be taken to better
equip the UN and member states to prevent genocide with resolve.
“There was a glaring and tragic lack of political will to intervene to stop
genocide, especially on the part of the UN most powerful members,” is the
resume of the messages repeated over and over by the speakers at the
commemoration of the Rwandan genocide. 90 years after the tragic events in
the Ottoman Turkish Empire we still hear the same words.
It is an awakening call. Unless the international community unanimously
acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, unless it accepts its responsibility for
negligence that allowed about 1.5 million innocent victims slaughtered for
their ethnic belonging, unless historical justice is done and selective and
politically-motivated application of the term of genocide stops, there will
be no guarantee for non-repetition and we may still hear the same words for
future atrocities: “If there was a political will…”
Armenian Genocide is an undeniable and incontrovertible fact. This is
absolutely clear not only for us, but is acknowledged by a large number of
countries that putting aside the sensitivity of their bilateral relations
with Turkey officially recognized and condemned the crime of Genocide
committed against the Armenian people. We are grateful to them.
It is vexing, however, that some states that exemplify democratic standards
and advocate protection and promotion of human rights worldwide, when faced
with the recognition of the Armenian genocide, still pursue their
geopolitical interests at the expense of universal human values. However,
reconciliation starts from the acknowledgement of the crime committed:
avowal is as vital for the victim as it is essential for the perpetrator. I
believe this moral ethics is particularly important for the present Turkey
striving to become a member of the European civilization at the same time
desperately avoiding of culpable pages of its own history.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Armenian legacy counts decades of centuries, during which we often had
to fight against different conquerors, paying a high price for our faith,
our geography, and sometimes our own mistakes. However, we have managed to
come out of all the ordeals and trials of the destiny hardened in their
flames and contributing to the world cultural heritage. And there would be
few nations on this sinful Earth to be as grateful to the Lord as we,
Armenians, for our dramatic but rewarding journey through the history.
We are given much, but the expectations are also high. We are responsible
both to the memory of our ancestors and to the future generations, and we
cannot evade either of them.
We have learned our lesson: We are the guarantee for the tragedy not to
repeat itself. We have to build a strong nation with a competitive economy,
a society based on democratic stability and respect for human rights, which
is actively and constructively engaged in world affairs. The foundation is
there.
For the last three years Armenia has been registering double-digit growth
rates in economy and exports. Notwithstanding the recent turmoil, Armenia is
still the most stable country in the region and is considered to be a
reliable partner. It is steadily moving towards establishment of democratic
and rule-of-law society. It is not easy. There are many challenges ahead.
And as the not-so-past history shows, the most dangerous ones may come from
within. They threaten to shatter the foundations of the country inevitably
affecting internal stability and weakening the country’s bargaining power
internationally. Some would do anything to achieve their narrow personal
gains shrouding it under political stance. They even try to use the
Diasporan sentiments to their advantage by manipulating the public opinion
through negative and sometimes fabricated propaganda.
We have no choice but to be resolved: state-building is not an easy task and
we all learn on the path to democracy. A society based on rule-of-law should
be built through legal and constitutional actions. Following the law is a
thorny path both for the government and the civil society. Nevertheless, it
is the only acceptable and most profound one. We have to take it to build a
prosperous nation to pay a tribute to the memory of the victims of the
genocide and due respect to survivors who suffered through enormous
hardships to lay the foundation for our future. I do think about such a
future with all the hope that can come out of the warmest feelings, deep
commitments and dedication towards our Motherland-Armenia.
Thank you
END

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

May 1, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Armenia’s Minister for Nature Protection participated at the 12th
session of the Commission on Sustainable Development

>From April 28-30, 2004, the delegation of the Republic of Armenia, headed
by H.E. Vardan Ayvazyan, Minister for Nature Protection, participated at the
High-Level Segment of the 12th session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The
High-Level discussion focused on the issue of sanitation and human
settlements.
During the session Minister Ayvazyan made statements on water and
sanitation, which are considered to be core elements for sustainable
development. In his remarks he noted that the United Nations and its
agencies and funds, as well as international financial institutions could
play an important role in the implementation of national programs aimed at
addressing water and sanitation challenges in the country. He urged to focus
on rehabilitating dated sanitation systems and providing for new
environmentally and ecologically sound technologies.
Speaking about water issues, the Minister noted that Armenia suffered some
serious water problems, including water quality. Much of the water came
from underground, and was of a good quality. By passing through obsolete
water supply systems it loses its quality. Moreover, 50% of the water
entering the system gets lost due to leakage. In 2002, the country had
adopted a Water Code, with a focus on basin management, the first to be
developed and implemented in the South Caucasus. It had helped to introduce
integrated water resource management in the country.

Full texts of Minister Ayvazyan’s statements:

Statement by H.E. Vardan Ayvazyan
Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia
at the High-Level Segment of the 12th session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
April 30, 2004
(Statements and interactive discussion focusing on “Water”)

Dear Chairman,
Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the Republic of Armenia, a mountainous country situated in an arid
region of the South Caucasus, the problems of the protection of water
resources, water quality, and access of the population to clean and safe
water are actual problems not only from ecological, but also from economic
and social perspectives.

In this regard it is worth mentioning here that the sustainable management
of the water resources remains one of the most important issues in Armenia.
The absence of an integrated approach to the management and use of water
resources in the period of economic crisis of the 1990s led to such negative
consequences as decline in the access to water supply, deterioration of the
water quality and gradual degradation of the corresponding infrastructure..

It should be mentioned that more than 90% of the drinking water used in the
country is formed out of the underground water sources. This water is of
quite a high quality, but as it passes through water supply systems, which
are very dated and do not correspond to sanitary requirements, the quality
of the water significantly deteriorates. Moreover, 50% of the water entering
the system gets lost due to leakage.

In the water policy of our country great attention is paid to the question
of financial assistance from international financial institutions for the
implementation of national water programs. In this connection I would like
to emphasize the activities of the UN Agencies, the World Bank, and other
financial institutions, as well as the donor countries aimed at assisting in
the implementation of environmental programmes, particularly in the field of
water resource protection, such as the restoration of the ecological balance
of the lake Sevan, which is one of the unique natural water reservoirs on
the planet. According to expert estimates, this freshwater mountain lake,
situated 2000 meters above the sea level, is the only perspective source for
drinking water in the South Caucasus. Starting from the 1930s, the water
resources of the lake were used for agricultural and energy purposes, which
resulted in the drastic decrease of the water level for about 19,5 meters.
Activities undertaken by the Government of Armenia during the last few years
led to the increase of the water level for about 1 meter.

In 2002 the new Water Code of Armenia was adopted. One of the main ideas of
the Water Code is the creation of basin management system that will
contribute to the sustainable use and integrated water resource management.
I would like to mention that Armenia is the first country in the South
Caucasus to introduce the basin management system. In the same year the
National Council on Water, headed by the Prime-Minster, became operational.
Since then more than 100 normative and regulatory acts have been elaborated
and adopted. The establishment of basin management bodies continues. The
articles of the Water Code are being vigorously implemented. Financial
assistance from our international partners in this phase could greatly
contribute to the sustainable water resource management.

One of the priorities of the Armenian Government is the elaboration of the
National Water Policy and the National Water Programme. In the National
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper special attention is paid to the
advancement of the irrigation system, which aims to increase the
effectiveness of the agricultural activities and mitigate the
desertification processes.

The improvement of the financial mechanisms in the water sphere would aim at
achieving a speedy resolution to the water problems in Armenia in the
context of country’s sustainable development. Armenia’s joining the
strategic partnership on water in Johannesburg was in compliance with that
approach. I consider the EU’s Water Initiative and its component for the
Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and the Central Asia, in particular, a
good basis for the development of real mechanisms of cooperation aimed at
the realization of both the decisions of World Summit on Sustainable
Development and the regional and national action plans. This would be our
contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in the
field of water resources.

In conclusion I would like to state that the Government of the Republic of
Armenia recognizes that the effective and comprehensive management of the
water resources could provide for the sustainable and environmentally
justified economic development of the country.

Statement by H.E. Vardan Ayvazyan
Minister of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia
at the High-Level Segment of the 12th session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development
April 30, 2004
(Statements and interactive discussion focusing on “Sanitation”)

Dear Chairman,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As it was stated in Johannesburg, ensuring availability of safe water and
adequate sanitary conditions is a core element for sustainable development.
Creation of a healthy environment and prevention of adverse impact of
unfavorable environmental factors on the health of the population are
several of the main goals that were duly reflected in the national
programmes and action plans adopted by the Government of Armenia in the
recent years. Water-resource management, water supply and sanitation are
considered to be determining factors. The implementation of these programmes
implies intersectoral cooperation and integrated planning. Support from
international organizations, and that of the UN agencies in particular, can
be very instrumental and play a positive role in implementing these
programmes.
It should be noted here that the economic mechanisms regulating the
reduction of water pollution are not yet sufficient in Armenia. We are
actively working towards the creation of appropriate legal and institutional
systems, which could provide for the allocation of financial resources to
the end of solving the acute problems in the water sector.
The 1990s were marked by economic crisis and decline of the industrial
production by over 70% in Armenia, whereupon the untreated or poorly treated
municipal and agricultural wastewater became the main source for the water
pollution.
In most of the human settlements, the wastewater drains into water objects
either bypassing the treatment plants or, if they go through treatment
plants, gets an inadequate treatment. The problem is exacerbated by the mere
fact that none of the existing 20 wastewater treatment plants in Armenia
function in full capacity. Wastewater undergoes a partial mechanical
treatment only.
All treatment plants were put into operation before 1990 and the
technologies applied there do not correspond to the actual demands. In
addition, these technologies were developed taking into account the low-cost
of the energy consumption at the time, and their utilization presently is
associated with colossal expenses.
It is also worth mentioning that with the projected economic growth and
recommencement of industrial activities the water quality can deteriorate
because of the absence of necessary infrastructure for wastewater treatment.
In this respect, I would like to draw your attention to a point which was
rightfully brought up in paragraph 46 of the Document on Sanitation
(E/CN.17?2004/5), stating that there is a necessity for shifting the
evaluation of sanitation system from the monitoring of the existence or
absence of appropriate infrastructure to the efficiency of its functioning.
As far as Armenia is concerned, the problem is not the absence of such
infrastructure, but rather its poor functioning and deterioration.
Accordingly, for countries like Armenia, the rehabilitation and
modernization of the wastewater treatment plants through the utilization of
modern technologies, as well as the construction of new ones are a priority
as far as the provision of safe water and quality of surface and ground
water is concerned. The latter is an integral part of our national policy in
the field of water resources. To solve these problems under current
conditions great financial resources are needed, and the Armenian Government
is creating stimulating economic mechanisms today to attract these
resources.
The problems existing in Armenia related to the condition of water resources
and sanitation can be solved gradually parallel to the economic development
of the country, the possible increase of the state budget capacities, the
creation and implementation of new mechanisms for a target-oriented
financing and with adequate environmental administration, as well as
significant financial assistance for the national programmes by
international financial institutions.

END

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

newBrainframes.org
KARABAKH: FIRST INDEPENDENT PAPER

Ashot Beglarian (01-05-2004)The first non-government publication in the
Armenian-controlled province aims to cover themes which previously went
unreported.

Setting up an independent newspaper for Nagorny Karabakh has long been a
dream of Gegam Bagdasarian, head of the Stepanakert Press Club. Now
it's happened, and Bagdasarian is editor-in-chief of a twice-monthly
paper called Demo.

The idea behind it was to create a newspaper that is not beholden to the
authorities or any opposition movement, but is a voice for the public at
large – hence the title Demo, as in “democracy”. The paper's 16 pages
are in Armenian and Russian.

“Every citizen should have the chance to know what is actually happening in
his motherland and not just from one source but from several,” explained
Bagdasarian. “We intend to become a really independent source.”

Founding an independent newspaper is a very delicate project in a society
which emerged from a devastating conflict ten years ago. Until now there has
only been one main newspaper, the government publication Azat Artsakh.

Bagdasarian says he is well aware of the sensitivities. “We understand what
a responsible mission we are undertaking, as there is virtually no precedent
in the Armenian information space,” he said. “Demo is trying to become a
free publication in the classic sense, meaning it depends only on the
reader. We are not forcing our views on anyone. When we have a free market,
the reader himself can choose what reason and conscience dictate.”

Karabakh president Arkady Gukasian, himself a former journalist, told IWPR
last month that he welcomed the project. “A free press is a sign of the
formation of civil society,” Gukasian said. “We are now facing the biggest
challenge – helping democracy to take root here.”

But the new paper will undoubtedly create controversy. The first issue
touched on sensitive issues such as the resignation of Karabakh deputy prime
minister Yury Gazarian and a property dispute over a collective farm in the
town of Stepanakert. A column by Boris Navadasardian expressed concern about
Armenian reactions to the recent murder in Budapest of Gurgen Markarian, an
Armenian army officer, by Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov.

Demo is supported by the British-based non-government organisation
Conciliation Resources, as part of a wider consortium which is beginning a
series of projects in both Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage with the Nagorny
Karabakh dispute, with funding from the British government's Conflict
Prevention Pool.

In this spirit, the paper has also set itself the goal of building bridges
across the ceasefire line with Azerbaijan. It is covering events in the
Caucasus as a whole, and is publishing a page of IWPR's Caucasus
articles in each issue.

“We will be publishing articles about events in Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Armenia, trying to fill the information gap that has formed,” said
Bagdasarian. “I hope this will help us find common points of agreement.”

So far, readers have responded positively to Demo. “The articles published
in the newspaper are not only interesting but relevant,” said Armen
Sarkisian, a civil servant. “The whole spectrum of socio-political life in
Nagorny Karabakh is reflected there.”

Albert Voskanian, a well-known local activist who heads Stepanakert's
Centre for Civic Initiatives, said, “It is a lively newspaper which touches
on and investigates topics which are not only interesting but also painful,
and which worry people. I have no doubt it has a future.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Assembly of Armenians of Europe
Rue de Treves 10, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 647 08 01
Fax: +32 2 647 02 00

The Armenian Community in Sweden paid homage to the memory of victims of
the Armenian Genocide of 1915

Stockholm, 02/05/04 – On April 24, 2004 in Uppsala, Sweden the Armenian
Community of Sweden and many foreign representatives paid homage to the
memory of the victims of Armenian Genocide. Many came to Uppsala from
far cities to take part in the commemoration soiree, organized by the
Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden, Swedish Armenian organizations
and the Swedish Church. The commemoration ceremony took place in the
main church of Uppsala.

The bells of this wonderful church rang to the memory of the victims of
the Armenian genocide and the Armenian flag fluttered over Uppsala from
the eminent highness of the church. The anthem of the Republic of
Armenia was performed and the service was given to the repose of
victims. The service was followed by a concert. The public admired the
recitals of Arpine Zakhinian with the piano accompaniment of Lilit
Soukiassian, the performances of Karine Sedrakian, Karine Gevrogyan,
Swedish singer Annette Taranton and the duduk of Hayk Hakobian. Sting
Lundstrom the Swedish poet recited his poems dedicated to Armenian
people, and Jan Gustavson performed the Armenian traditional song
“Krunk” on his trumpet.

Goran Gunner, professor at Faculty of Baptist Theology in Stockholm and
honored worker at the research department of the Swedish Church, author
of the book “Nostalgia for Ararat” reminded the public of the bitter
historical truth and the wishes of the Armenian people aspiring to
justice.

Garo Hakopian the chairman of the Union of Armenian Associations in
Sweden and Assembly of Armenians of Europe made a speech on the subject
“the present and the past”. He noted “to forget the past means not to
see the present, not to see the present means not to have future. We
believe that our people, in spite of all difficulties will create
brighter future. ”

Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden

Los Angeles Times
MAy 1 2004

Russians Again Foreigners in Latvia

As the Baltic state begins its integration with the West, resentment
of the past empire surfaces to close many doors to longtime residents.

By Kim Murphy, Times Staff Writer

RIGA, Latvia – Viktor Dergunov has lived in this graceful old city of
church spires and cobblestone streets since 1961, when the Soviet army
dispatched his father to this tiny Baltic republic that once formed
the forbidding edge of the Iron Curtain.

Over the decades, the Russian family came to see Latvia as their
home. Dergunov met and married Yelena, who was born in Riga. So were
their children and, last year, a granddaughter. But when Latvia
entered the European Union today along with nine other nations,
Dergunov and his family did not join other Latvians as new EU
citizens.

Their Latvian passports are marked “alien.” They will not be able to
travel through the rest of Europe, at least for the next few years,
without obtaining a visa. There are limits on the jobs they can hold
and the property they can own. They cannot vote, although a Spaniard
who establishes residence here is now eligible, as an EU citizen, to
vote in municipal elections.

When Dergunov, a 53-year-old anesthesiologist, was asked about
Latvia’s decision to join the European Union, he was blunt. “I can say
one thing: They didn’t ask us. We didn’t take part.”

The hundreds of thousands of Russians still living in Latvia, Estonia
and Lithuania 13 years after independence are among the most visible
reminders of the stunning transformation of the post-Cold War
landscape. In recently joining NATO as well as the EU, republics that
once were part of the Soviet Union are for the first time becoming
members of an alliance that for years was Russia’s sworn enemy.

In the Baltics, the Iron Curtain’s fault line still looms large. The
region carries the footprints of Hitler and Stalin’s armies, of five
decades of Soviet rule, of a grass-roots independence movement that
helped close the book on Russian dreams of enduring empire. In Latvia,
with half as many Russians as ethnic Latvians, there is little chance
of agreement on which is the greater cause for regret.

“To the majority of the Russian people, Latvia is something that was
ours and got away,” said Karlis Kaukshts, vice rector of the Baltic
Russian Institute. “It’s like an unfaithful husband.”

For Latvians, NATO membership represents security for a nation that
was subjected to Nazi and Soviet occupation. The tiny nation lost more
than half a million people to death, deportation and flight during
World War II, including more than 90,000 Latvians, Jews and Gypsies
who were killed in Nazi concentration camps.

Thousands more were deported to Siberian gulag camps after the war.

“It seemed peculiarly appropriate after the removal of the Iron
Curtain, and the whole of Eastern Europe finally being free of this
tyranny, to join a community of nations that had been totally
expanding, and at every wave of expansion had gained in strength,
gained in effectiveness and had shown visible benefits to every
country that had joined,” President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said in an
interview.

Moscow has watched the Baltics defecting to the West with
ill-concealed anxiety. When NATO F-16s began patrolling Baltic
airspace last month, a Russian jet illegally probed the edges of
Estonian airspace. Six Russian diplomats have been expelled from the
Baltics for alleged espionage since February, and Moscow has
reciprocated.

The greatest uproar occurred in March, when Vladimir V. Zhirinovsky,
the flamboyant Russian nationalist politician, predicted that NATO and
Russia would come to apocalyptic blows in the Baltics.

“Hatred of the Russians is pushing the Baltics into the paws of NATO,
and this puts them on the brink of death,” Zhirinovsky said. “The
conflict between NATO and Russia will be in the territory of the
Baltics. We will not be bombing Brussels. We will bomb Vilnius, Riga
and Tallinn.”

Leaders in those Baltic capitals issued furious protests.

“This is the head of a party who represents, what, 15% of Russian
voters? This is the vice speaker of their Duma. Make your own
conclusions,” Vike-Freiberga said. “What do you call it if someone
says they’re going to wipe you off the face of the Earth?”

The U.S. ambassador to Latvia, Brian E. Carlson, said there is no talk
of NATO bases in the Baltics. Yet he declined to downplay the fears
that drove Latvia into NATO’s embrace.

“The face of Russia seen up close is maybe not as benign as it looks
from a distance away,” he said. “People who are living here have
memories. Russia has marched into these countries before, and the idea
that people like Zhirinovsky are looking for an invitation to reoccupy
these countries to them is not that farfetched.”

Russia’s ambassador to Latvia, Igor Studennikov, said Russia “presents
no threat” to the Baltics. “We are proceeding from the assumption that
every country is entitled to join the alliances it wants,” he said.
“But we doubt it will enhance security in the region…. Humankind is
now faced with new kinds of threats – terrorism, illegal transborder
migration, drug trafficking – and these alliances do not protect
anyone from these threats.”

Many Russians in Latvia, like ethnic Latvians, opposed the Soviet
state and demonstrated for independence beside them in the streets of
Riga. They felt cheated after Latvia granted automatic citizenship
only to those who were citizens before Soviet occupation in 1940 and
to their descendants. For naturalization, residents must pass a test
on Latvia’s history and language, which many Russians see as an
insult.

“We grew up here. Our children grew up here. We buried our relatives
here. I’ve paid taxes. Do I really need to pass a test for that?”
Dergunov said. “Does the state really need this moment of palpable
humiliation to forgive me my origin?”

Conservative politicians have argued that Russians who do not wish to
learn Latvia’s language and history don’t belong.

“Most of the Russian people in Latvia are children or grandchildren of
the occupiers and colonizers of our homeland who invaded our country
in 1940…. After the war was over, their army was supposed to go
away, but they stayed,” said legislator Peter Tabunas, a member of the
nationalist Fatherland and Freedom faction.

“We made a very big mistake by going the long way of compromises with
them,” he added. “If they were really discriminated against, if they
really thought their life was so bad here, they’d be going back to
Russia. But they’re not.”

With EU membership likely to bring an influx of entrepreneurs lured by
Latvia’s low wages and prices, many Latvians see the preservation of
their language as a matter of national survival. The population is
dwindling at the rate of 1,000 a month – Latvia has the lowest
birthrate in Europe – and for many it is worrying that Russian is the
mother tongue of nearly 40% of the people.

Vike-Freiberga, who spent many years working as a psychologist in
Canada before returning to Latvia in 1998, began to understand the
problem when she went to a clinic for a vaccination.

“You arrive at the clinic speaking Latvian, in a country where Latvian
is the official language, and you find that nobody can answer you,”
she recalled. “It can be very distressing. And I think it could be
even more distressing for a Latvian to call up the fire station to say
there’s a fire, and be told, ‘Chto?’ ” – Russian for “What?”

Lawmakers ignited a firestorm in 1998 when they called for public
schools to teach only in Latvian. About 80,000 Russian-speaking
children attend school in Latvia, many at state-funded
Russian-language schools. Public universities already conduct all
instruction in Latvian.

Furious Russian teachers and parents appealed to the EU, arguing that
the move was an affront to European human rights standards. Latvian
officials compromised, backing regulations that will require secondary
schools to conduct at least 60% of their instruction in Latvian
beginning in September.

Karina Rodionova, a native of Armenia who met her Latvian husband
while attending college in Riga, sent her 14-year-old daughter,
Ruzanna, to a Latvian school for the first time last September. But
Ruzanna began failing all her classes and said the teachers refused to
help.

“Geography was a total humiliation,” the girl said. “The teacher
turned to me, looked me in the eye, and she said … ‘If Russians want
their education in Russian, why don’t they go the hell back to
Russia?’ All the children turned their heads. They were not laughing,
but they were looking at me. I rushed to the bathroom and cried.”

Rodionova scheduled a meeting with her daughter’s Latvian literature
teacher, who Rodionova said had repeatedly castigated the girl in
front of the class for being “stupid.”

The teacher spoke in Latvian. Rodionova speaks Russian, Armenian and
Georgian fluently but has never learned Latvian. ” ‘What’s the matter,
don’t you speak Latvian?’ ” Rodionova recalled the teacher asking. “I
said no. And she continued speaking in Latvian, even though she is
completely able to speak Russian. That’s the moment I began to
understand everything.”

Such stories are relatively rare in a country that has been
multiethnic through much of its history. The school debate has been
more political than personal, and in cities such as Riga, residents
seem to slide between the languages with little thought.

“I think it’s abnormal if a person is living here for 13 years and
can’t learn one language on an elementary level,” said Janis Olups, a
26-year-old waiter.

“But I think we young people, to continue to live a normal life, we
have to forget about the past. We should live in one nation. Because
we cannot resolve problems that were created by Stalin and Hitler.”

Times staff writer Sergei L. Loiko contributed to this report.

The Globe and Mail, Canada
May 1 2004

PM peeved at Pettigrew pronouncement

The Prime Minister blows a gasket

It was a furious Paul Martin at this week’s caucus meeting, according
to Liberal sources. His face was red; he was gesticulating angrily,
and some say he was shouting. All this because of remarks by Health
Minister Pierre Pettigrew, who had suggested to a Commons committee
that the government was prepared to allow the provinces to
“experiment” with private health-care delivery.

Mr. Martin told his caucus that he had watched his father, Paul Sr.,
work hard to bring in medicare and wasn’t prepared to stand by to
watch it all unravel, according to a source. He told his MPs that Mr.
Pettigrew was going to march out of the caucus and correct the
impression he had left about the publicly funded system. Following
orders, Mr. Pettigrew did exactly that. He marched out of caucus and
read his clarification from a (PMO?) prepared text.

Brian Mulroney

to be a grandfather

Last month the former Progressive Conservative prime minister, Brian
Mulroney, became a senior citizen. In October he becomes a
grandfather. And he and his wife, Mila, couldn’t be more excited.

Their daughter Caroline Mulroney, 29, who married Andrew Lapham in
September, 2000, is expecting a baby in October. This will be the
first grandchild for the Mulroneys. Meanwhile, the entire Mulroney
clan is off to Antigonish, N.S., where Mrs. Mulroney is to receive an
honorary doctorate from St. Francis Xavier University Monday in
recognition of her charity and volunteer work, especially for cystic
fibrosis.

Of cabinet solidarity

and genocide

Behind the closed doors of the cabinet room last week, Prime Minister
Martin singled out Revenue Minister Stan Keyes as a shining example of
cabinet solidarity after he voted against a private member’s motion to
recognizes as genocide the mass killing of Armenians during the First
World War.

There were reports after the controversial vote that Mr. Keyes was
cursing the fact that some of his colleagues had missed the vote while
he was forced to vote against the motion, a gesture that was not
without political cost for him. This was acknowledged by Mr. Martin,
who was angry with some of his cabinet ministers for abstaining or for
ducking the vote by leaving the House without permission. The Liberal
back bench voted with the opposition, and the motion passed.

Meanwhile, the rule, according to a senior Liberal, is that cabinet
ministers must seek permission in advance to miss the vote. Mr. Keyes,
who had sought that permission, was already in the chamber when the
vote began and decided not to leave because, as he told someone,
“[I’d] feel like a heel walking out.”

Hot and not

Not: The Prime Minister’s briefers who neglected to inform him what
the gift he’d received from President George Bush.

Foreign leaders always exchange gifts on visits. After a prompting by
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham, Mr. Martin told reporters he
received a “pen.”

The Martins gave the President a riding vest and Margaret MacMillan’s
celebrated book, Paris 1919.

Hot: Nova Scotia Liberal MP Scott Brison for trying to sell
U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice on a summer vacation
in his home province. Milling around the White House Rose Garden
yesterday, Mr. Brison did a hard sell on the breathtaking ocean views
of Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. Shameless.

Not: The White House. The U.S. President says the White House is nice
but his ranch is better. And he says this in front of Paul and Sheila
Martin. Was that an invite to the Crawford, Tex., enclave? Jean
Chrétien was never invited to the ranch.

Hot: Dennis Mills, the editor.

Not: Dennis Mills, the MP. NDP Leader Jack Layton thanks Dennis Mills
in the preface of his newly released book. Why? Dennis Mills and
Mr. Layton are already in a pitched battle for the riding of
Toronto-Danforth.

Coincidentally, however, Mr. Layton’s editor is also named Dennis
Mills. He clears up the confusion in his book, writing it’s the
editor, not the MP.

Hot: Conservative MP Brian Pallister is inducted into the Manitoba
Softball Hall of Fame today.

He’s a pitcher of some renown in the province. “There are a lot of
similarities between softball and politics,” he writes. “The bad: the
cutoffs, the put outs, the heckling . . . the clash of egos. The good:
The sacrifice . . . and as a pitcher, something I always appreciated
. . . when someone is caught stealing.”

Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
May 1 2004

Preservation order lifeline for Melkonian
By Jean Christou

THE government has slapped a preservation order on the Melkonian
Educational Institute (MEI) in Nicosia, giving the school, slated to
close next year, a temporary reprieve.

The preservation order, issued by the Town Planning Department, states
that `no alteration or construction be executed on the buildings,
group of buildings and areas … considered of special architectural /
historical / social importance’ and clearly marked in the relevant
government land surveys plans, an announcement from the MEI’s alumni
said.

`However, there are still no assurances about the school’s
continuation beyond June 2005, after which a good number of Armenian
students living in Cyprus would be left deprived of a
national-language school, while the boarding students are under threat
of being sent home,’ the announcement said.

The central board of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), in
New York said last month that the 78-year-old school would close in
June 2005, but the alumni says that the Melkonian brothers’ will does
not confer to the AGBU the right to `denature or destroy these
Armenian structures’.

The loss-making Melkonian is sitting on a £40 million plot in the
capital’s commercial district and reports are rife that it was up for
grabs by developers.

The AGBU said in November that the school was not for sale, but then
changed tack and announced the closure. The alumni are convinced the
foundation’s only aim is to `take the money and run’.

The preservation order covers the twin buildings of the school, which
was erected as an orphanage by the Melkonian brothers in 1926, the old
residence of the founders, the wooded area on the main Limassol road,
the boarding house and the teachers’ apartments.

`In effect, the school is now out of bounds for any developer or any
other school contemplating to take over the Melkonian grounds to
develop their own campus, as the preservation order forbids any
development or construction work beyond the present state of the
buildings.

The Town Planning Department in is decision took into account the fact
that the Melkonian buildings were characteristic or unique examples of
urban architecture of Nicosia.

`The preservation of the architectural or historical heritage, the
above examples of which are part of, regarding the important factor
for the successful evolution and development of the town planning
infrastructure of Nicosia,’ the order said.