Month: November 2006

GOVERNMENT APPROVES PLAN OF ACTIONS TO PREVENT BLINDNESS DEVELOPMENT
Armenpress
Nov 02 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: The government of Armenia gave its
OK today to a national strategic plan of actions drafted to prevent
development of blindness. This plan envisages that causes of blindness
will be eliminated by 2020.
Local experts say 75 percent of blindness cases can be avoided in
case of timely and qualified medical intervention. Vahan Poghosian,
an official of the health ministry, said one of the causes prompting
the authorities to turn to this problem was the growing number of
people with poor eyesight and blindness cases.
Cataract, glaucoma and diabetes remain major causes of blindness. Thus,
0.5 percent of adult population over 50 is completely blind and
another 50,000 people have poor eyesight.
The Union of Armenian Blind People registered last year 255 blind
children. The health ministry has set up a national committee to
prevent development of blindness to steer the work.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMED COLLISION NOT RULED OUT IN JAVAKHK
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 15:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ United Javakhk leader Vahagn Chakhalyan does not
rule out the opportunity of an armed collision in Samtskhe-Javakheti
Armenian-populated province of Georgia, taking into account the
similarity of the situation in that region with that in Nagorno
Karabakh in the soviet epoch, Chakhalyan stated at a news conference
in Yerevan November 2. At that he reminded that the issue is not on the
agenda today. As for cooperation with Georgian authorities, Chakhalyan
noted, “that cooperation is equal to cooperation with Young Turks in
early past century.” He outlined matters that are priority for United
Javakhk: inadmissibility of the building of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi
railway, the issue of the status of the Armenian Apostolic Church in
Georgia, the question of studying the Armenian language and history at
schools, the founding of the Georgian-Armenian University. Chakhalyan
also denied opinions that events in Javakhk are linked to exacerbation
of Russian-Georgian relations. “It is strange that Armenian media
call anything happening in this region a crisis in Russian-Georgian
relations,” Chakhalyan stated, reports IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MAY BE INCLUDED IN DUTCH TEXTBOOKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 15:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenians of Holland intend to include the topic
of the Armenian Genocide in textbooks. Minister of Immigration and
Integration of Holland Rita Verdonk, known for her strict policy
regarding foreigners, along with Armenian organizations has proposed
to include the topic of the Armenian Genocide in textbooks, as well
as to introduce a punishment system for websites, which would deny
Armenian Genocide, reports the Yerkir.
Representatives of the Federation of Armenian Organizations in
the Netherlands (FAON) met today with Minister of Immigration and
Integration Rita Verdonk.
As the FAON told the PanARMENIAN.Net earlier, the reason for this
meeting was connected with the commotion after the removal of three
MP candidates of Turkish descent from the candidates’ lists of CDA
(Christian Democrat Party) and PvdA (Labor Party) for publicly
denying the Armenian Genocide. In response to that Minister Verdonk
underlined that in the international context the Dutch government
has raised the Armenian question repeatedly, both in EU framework
and in the bilateral contacts with Turkey and will continue to do
so. The Armenian Federation, that got the ball rolling on the matter
of the MP candidates through a letter to the CDA, expressed concern
towards the minister on the one-sided way in which particularly Turks
in the Netherlands are informed about this episode of the history,
which hampers their integration into Dutch society. Moreover, because
of current Turkish legislation, it is in fact impossible for Turks,
also those living in the Netherlands, to give other opinions on the
Armenian Genocide than the official Turkish point of view. The FAON
for this reason urged the minister to adapt the education program
on this subject. By means of objective material, attention should
be paid to this history on different levels, as is the case in
neighboring countries, in one package together with the Holocaust and
other genocides. The Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in
Amsterdam can play an important role in this matter. Minister Verdonk
promised that she will transmit the request of the FAON concerning the
adaptation of the history curriculum on this subject to her colleague
of Education, Culture and Sciences. The minister subscribes to the
need of sound provision of information on the matter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MERZLYAKOV: NO DECISION ON MEETING OF AZERI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS YET
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 15:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ No decision has been made yet as for the next
meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents, Russian Co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov stated when commenting on the
statement of a possible meeting of the presidents within the November
28 Summit of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). According
to him, organizing the meeting of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham
Aliyev, and President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, was discussed on 24
October in Paris during the consultations of Minsk Group Co-chairs with
the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers. But as yet no decision
has been made. On 14 November, the next round of consultations between
the mediators and ministers will take place in Brussels and a decision
may then be made, Merzlyakov added. In addition, the date of the next
visit of co-chairs to the region will be agreed on 14 November.
Answering the question: “were the ways of regulating the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict discussed at the recent meeting of the Armenian
and Russian Presidents in Moscow and will this issue be discussed
during the expected visit of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
to Moscow”, Merzlyakov replied that “The Karabakh topic is one of
the blocks of the negotiations and is always present”. Touching
upon the upcoming talks between the Presidents of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev and Russia Vladimir Putin in Moscow, he stressed that “it is a
bilateral visit,” but is not linked only with Nagorno Karabakh talks,
reports Trend.

RUSSIA AND GEORGIA DEMAND POLICY RADICAL CHANGES OF EACH OTHER
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 16:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgian FM Gela Bezhuashvili has held talks with his
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of Security Council
Igor Ivanov in Moscow. These are the first talks at that high level
between Russia and Georgia after the latest differences poured into
an open diplomatic conflict in September. In an interview with the
BBC Bezhuashvili said, “We are interested in Russia’s stance over
the provinces that seceded from Georgia. We want Moscow to be our
partner in that issue and help Georgia reunite.
This is the essence of the issue in the Russian-Georgian relations. And
the blockade and economic sanctions against Georgia will do no
good and should be canceled.” However, Ivanov accuses Georgia in
escalation of the crisis and believes the relations will change when
the Georgian leadership change their policy. Georgian MP, European
Integration Committee Chair David Bakradze said, “It should be noted
that Mr. Bezhuashvili arrived in Moscow from Baku, not from Tbilisi
owing to Russia’s sanctions. And the Minister going that way shows
his readiness to dialogue.”
Moscow Institute of World Economy expert Alexander Krylov says Russia
is not afraid to damage relations with Georgia: “It is important not
only to gain new allies, but not to lose old ones. Moscow will first
of all be guided towards countries, which showed themselves as our
reliable allies. These are Armenia and the unrecognized republics,”
reports Golos Rossii.

GUAM WORKS TO ATTAIN MAXIMALLY POSITIVE UN RESOLUTION ON FROZEN CONFLICTS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The inclusion of the issue of frozen conflicts
in the territory of GUAM member states in the UN GA agenda is huge
success,” Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zurab Gumberidze told
journalists November 2. “It is a huge positive for organization member
states for the international community to have a more impartial
acquaintance with issues in our countries,” he underscored. GUAM
member countries actively work now for attaining a maximally positive
UN resolution at the discussions, reports Trend.

BAKU: AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT AGREE TO ANY COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 16:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The solution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue does
not depend on other countries but is the own business of Azerbaijan,
which has to solve it on its own,” Azeri Deputy FM, former Ambassador
to the US Hafiz Pashayev stated November 2. “Azerbaijan, which has
already proved to be as a stronger state, will solve the conflict on
its own,” the diplomat said. When commenting on the opportunity to
form the Caucasian House, the Deputy FM reaffirmed the position of
the country’s leadership, stating that under the current conditions
Azerbaijan will not agree to any cooperation with Armenia, Azeri
media report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REFERENDUM ON NKR CONSTITUTION SCHEDULED IN DECEMBER
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 17:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NKR National Assembly has adopted the NKR draft
Constitution at the plenary session on the second reading. The draft
was adopted with the support of overwhelming majority, one against
and one abstained. The MPs also decided to provide the document for
a nation-wide vote scheduled December 10.
The draft specifically notes that the NKR is a sovereign, democratic,
legal, social state. The names NKR and Artsakh are identical. The
power belongs to the people, who exercise their power via elections,
referendums, etc. The state ensures basic human and civil rights and
liberties. Before restoration of the unity of the state territory
of the NKR and specification of the borders the public authorities
is executed on the territory under the NKR jurisdiction in fact,
reports IA Regnum.

EU CANCELED EXTRA MEETING OF TURKISH AND CYPRUS FMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 17:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The EU today canceled the talks between Turkish and
Cyprus FMs scheduled Sunday. The extra meeting in Helsinki was to be
held to prevent failure of the talks on Turkey’s accession to the EU.
Mikko Norros, who is Speaker during Finnish presidency at the EU,
stated that the meeting will not be held as “gathering everyone at
the same table is impossible,” reports RFE/RL. Next week the European
Commission will publish the basic report on the reforms implemented
in Turkey, which according to informed sources, will be extremely
critical.

FORMER PILOTS’ COMPLAINT
A1+
[12:53 pm] 02 November, 2006
Today, the former pilots of “Armenian Airlines” Ltd initiated a rally
of complaint opposite the RA Government.
They assemble in the same place every Thursday, on the day of the
government’s session, and demand their salaries.
Reminder: 343 ex-workers of “Armenian Airlines” haven’t got salary
(over 186 million AMD) for 6 months. “Last time we were received
by Manuk Topuzyan, the head of the Personnel. Mr. Topuzyan claimed
that our demand was justified and supported us. In his words, he had
turned to the RA Prime Minister in this connection but the latter
didn’t reply to him.”
“We believe none of them. They all deceive us,” said one of the
pilots. Edik Revazyan, board engineer, added that as far as they
know the company has 200 million AMD but Mr. Gambaryan, head of the
bankruptcy committee, doesn’t give it saying, “Though we have money
we haven’t been ordered to distribute it.”
Under Article 5 of RA government’s decision (March 27, 2003),
“Armenian International Airlines” Company was to pay back the debts of
“Armenian Airlines” from the sum allocated by the RA government to the
pilots. The debt was to be repaid by December 31, 2003. “Three years
have passed since the government’s decision but nothing has changed,”
complain the strikers.
By the way, the pilots have turned to the RA President and Justice
Minister with the same request but so far they have got no answer to
their concern.