ARKA News Agency – 04/15/2005

ARKA News Agency
April 15 2005

The Council of Europe responsible for Education issues and RA Prime
Minister discuss programs on intercultural and inter-religious
cooperation

Armenia’s authorities have not resources to settle Karabakh problem:
Aram Sargsyan

Session of state commission on organization of events dedicated to
90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide held in RA Government

`Genocide: Reality and Denunciation’ conference to be held in RA
National Academy of Sciences April 18-19

Peace and stability very significant to Armenia

Armenia’s law enforcement bodies announce reward at $100 thousand for
information about direct perpetrators of attempt against Chairman of
State Customs Committee

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THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATION ISSUES AND RA PRIME
MINISTER DISCUSS PROGRAMS ON INTERCULTURAL AND INTER-RELIGIOUS
COOPERATION

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. The Council of Europe Responsible for
Education issues Gabrielle Matsa and RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan discussed programs on intercultural and inter-religious
cooperation, as stated Matsa in the course of the press-conference
devoted to the results of the visit of the CE representative to
Armenia. According to him, the sides discussed the orientation of
education programs implemented in Armenia with the support of CE, as
well as issues connected with the policy of Armenia in the area of
education.
This is the first visit of the CE Responsible for Education Issues to
Armenia. A.H. –0–

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ARMENIA’S AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT RESOURCES TO SETTLE KARABAKH PROBLEM:
ARAM SARGSYAN

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Armenia’s current authorities have not any
resources for settling the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Aram Sargsyan, a
member of the Board of the opposition party Republic, stated at the
party’s congress today. According to him, Armenia’s foreign policy
has reached a deadlock in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement process, as
`no country in the world agrees to discuss the issue of the NKR
people’s self-determination. On the contrary, all countries are
inclined to defend the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity.’
According to Sargsyan, `the current authorities are illegal, and no
agreement signed by them can be considered valid.’In this context he
pointed out that a revolution in the country may considerably change
the situation, as `a pro-Armenian settlement of the conflict is
possible provided Armenia and NKR are more democratic than
Azerbaijan.’ `It is the lack of democracy that is the reason for
Armenia’s remaining outside the regional developments and programs,’
Sargsyan said. P.T. -0–

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SESSION OF STATE COMMISSION ON ORGANIZATION OF EVENTS DEDICATED TO
90TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN RA GOVERNMENT

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Session of state commission on
organization of events dedicated to 90th anniversary of Armenian
Genocide was held today under the chairmanship of RA Premier in RA
Government. According to the Public Relations and Press Department of
RA Government, the process of the accomplished preparatory work was
presented at the session. In particular, an international scientific
conference dedicated to Armenian Genocide and protection of human
rights will be held on April 20-21 in Armenia, a concert dedicated to
victims of Armenian Genocide will be held in the RA National Opera
and Ballet Theatre on April 23. According to the program, devoted to
the victims of the Armwnian Genocide. Aslo, conferences, exhibitions,
publication of books, dedicated to the Genocide will be held.
L.V.–0–

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`GENOCIDE: REALITY AND DENUNCIATION’ CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN RA
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES APRIL 18-19

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. `Genocide: Reality and Denunciation’
conference will be held in RA National Academy of Sciences on April
18- 19. According to RA Foreign Ministry’s Press Service Department,
the conference comes as part of events, dedicated to 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire. Scientists from Armenia
and Armenian Diaspora will take part in the event. The conference
will be concluded with a round-table discussion focused on the issue
of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
>From the second half of 19th century to 1920, Ottoman Empire, today’s
Turkey being its successor, had carried out regular persecutions and
victimizations of Armenians. Over one and a half million Armenians
were massacred as a result of the policy of elimination of Armenians
in different regions of Western Armenia which was a part of Ottoman
Empire at the time,. April 24 is officially marked as Day of Genocide
Victims Commemoration.
Uruguay was the first country to officially recognize the Armenian
Genocide in 1965. To date, the fact of Armenian Genocide has been
recognized , in particular, by Russia, Switzerland, France,
Argentina, Greece, Lower Chamber of Italian Parliament, Canada, the
majority of U.S. States. Parliaments of Slovakia and the Netherlands,
as well as the Canadian House of Commons have voted for the
recognition of Armenian Genocide. In addition, the European
Parliament readopted its resolution of 1987 concerning the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 in the newly adopted resolution `Policy of European
Union in respect to South Caucasus’. L.V. –0 –

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PEACE AND STABILITY VERY SIGNIFICANT TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. Peace and stability is very significant to
Armenia, Armenian Defence Ministry’s Spokesman Seyran Shahsuvaryan
reported quoting Armenian Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General
Arthur Aghabekyan as saying in his address to Armenian peacekeepers
heading to Kosovo. According to him, these words attach sense to
freedom and independence. `Carrying out the peacekeeping mission, you
help to maintain stability in your Motherland’, he said.
A unit made up of 34 Armenian peacekeepers came back from Kosovo to
Yerevan today. And a new group of Armenian peacekeepers will be sent
to Kosovo today.
The Memorandum on participation of an Armenian Armed Forces unit in
peacekeeping operation in Kosovo as part of the Greek battalion was
signed on Sep 3, 2003, in Yerevan and ratified by Armenian National
Assembly on Dec 13, 2003. M.V. -0–

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ARMENIA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES ANNOUNCE REWARD AT $100 THOUSAND FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT DIRECT PERPETRATORS OF ATTEMPT AGAINST CHAIRMAN OF
STATE CUSTOMS COMMITTEE

YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. State General Prosecutor’s Office and RA
National Security Service have announced a reward at $100 thousand
for any information about the direct perpetrators of attempt against
Armen Avetisyan, the Head of RA State Customs Committee attached to
RA Government.
According to the announcement published in the press, the law
enforcement bodies of Armenia searching for a handsome man, 55 to 60,
of a medium height, looking as a clerk or retired military.
A bomb exploded on March 24, 2005, outside the State Customs
Committee’s Office right at a moment when the car of the Committee
Chairman Armen Avetisyan came close to the building doorway.
Avetisyan survived the accident, but his car vas damaged. The
Committee Administration connects the incident with the crackdown on
shady dealing it started earlier this year as well as with tightening
customs administrating. M.V. -0–