Month: March 2007

HIGH CONTENT OF ARSENIC IN ‘JERMUK’ MINERAL WATER MEETS RA GOST: EXPERT

Arminfo
2007-03-14 11:59:00

High content of arsenic in the "Jermuk" mineral water meets RA GOST,
deputy Head of the Sanitary and Antiepidemic Inspection under RA HM,
Marietta Basilisyan, said at yesterday’s press-conference in the
"Urbat" club.

She noted that the "Jermuk" mineral water had dot a status of an
"arsenious mineral water" even at the time of the USSR because of a
high content of arsenic. According to RA GOST, the content of arsenic
in the mineral water should not exceed 0,7 mg per liter. At the same
time, she said, the document, published by FDA, states about 0,5-0,6
mg- content of arsenic per liter. Thus, the expert noted, the content
of arsenic in the "Jermuk" under investigation was even lower than the
GOST-allowed standard. M. Basilisyan underlined that the information
about the investigation, carried out by FDA, was sent to the RA Health
Ministry by the World Health Organization. The expert stressed that
despite the FDA’s statement, saying that "a long use of the "Jermuk"
mineral water may cause a development of cancerous diseases", the WHO’s
statement proves the absence of an information about the cases of the
population’s morbidity with cancer as a result of using the "Jermuk".

Such an ambiguous situation was commented by the Director of the
Scientific-Research Institute of Balneology and Physical Medicine Benik
Harutiunyan. In his opinion, the main reason of FDA’s veto on "Jermuk"
is the absence of a GOST of medical mineral waters in the USA. Thus,
the "Jermuk" under investigation was considered in the category
of a "table water" that, in his opinion, is a gross violation. As
B. Harutiunyan noted, both Armenia and the USA have to revise the
present GOSTs. In particular, the Institute of Balneology had already
came out with an initiative to classify the mineral waters per the
following categories: a natural mineral water, a medical mineral water,
a table water and a spring water. Thus, according to Harutiunyan,
Armenia will talk to the USA in one language.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND CONTINUES THE ARTSAKH REVIVAL PROJECT

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 13:30:30

As part of the Artsakh Revival project The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
continues its projects in Mardakert and Hadrout regions of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic (NKR). Within the framework of the Artsakh Revival
Project the fund has been addressing numerous health care projects.

Funds gathered during the 2005 Hayastan All-Armenian telethon were
directed towards the revival of the Mardakert region in NKR.

Then, Project C.U.R.E. a non-profit, humanitarian relief organization
that collects medical supplies and equipment and donates it to
developing countries donated one million dollars worth of medical
supplies to the Mardakert Regional Hospital. The Fund is pleased to
announce that the donations have recently reached their destination.

With the 2006 telethon donations, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
continues the second phase of its Artsakh Revival project directed
towards Hadrout revival project.

In March 2007, 4 ambulance cars were donated to the Hadrout
region. Three ambulance cars (donations of the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund, Los Angeles chapter) will serve the Hadrout central hospital,
and one (provided by the Hayastan All-Armenian fund, Argentina chapter)
will serve the Dogh village primary health care center.

The Fund will also reconstruct the Hadrout central hospital and has
already announced a tender for it implementation.

The Hayastan All- Armenian Fund, with the beginning of spring and with
renewed momentum is continuing its project in Mardakert and Hadrout
regions including water pipelines, reconstruction of the Kochoghot
School, the Upper Hoghatar community school, the renovation of the
Haterk kindergarten, etc.

"KARABAKH-IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT’S CHAIR"

A1+
[06:21 pm] 14 March, 2007

"Robert Kocharyan must dismiss office for state treachery and a series
of brutal crimes. He must bear full responsibility for his deeds",
"Impeachment" Alliance claims.

"Robert Kocharyan has sold Karabakh to preserve his post" Nikol
Pashinyan, member of "Alternative" Public-Political Initiative
announced today at the "Armat" Club.

"In its annual report on human rights protection the U.S. State
Department qualified Karabakh as a territory occupied by Armenia. This
implies that the USA deems the Karabakh issue as Armenia’s demand
towards Azerbaijan. On the other hand, the USA didn’t take notice of
the fact that no one participated in the November 27 constitutional
referendum", he says.

"The U.S. officialdom once claimed to recognize the territorial
wholeness of NKR and Azerbaijan. Later they announced that the NKR
status must be specified during the negotiations," says Mr. Pashinyan.

Pashinyan thinks that the international community, namely the USA,
seek to transfer the Karabakh conflict to the UNO Security Council.

Alternative Initiative is worried as it is already 10 days the
U.S. State Department has made an announcement whereas it has found
no response among the RA official circles. "We find it strange that
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan calls it a misunderstanding an
error whereas this is a real matter of concern", adds Mr. Pashinyan.

OVER 600 FAMILIES OF REFUGEES IN KARABAKH RENT APARTMENTS

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 12:25:22

In 2007 about 1700 people will be granted a status of refugee. In
2006 1449 families (5651 people) were registered as refugees, who
have already got government aid to refugees.

According to the head of the Department of Migration, Refugees and
Settlement Serge Amirkhanyan, this year the program of one-time aid
to refugees will continue.

The department will focus on housing of refugees who still live at
the dormitory of Artsakh State University. Presently 33 families
live there. They were offered to move into the 14 houses built in
Ajapniak, an outskirt of Stepanakert. However, the refugees refuse
to move into the new houses because Ajapniak is outside the city,
they say. Serge Amirkhanyan says the refugees were offered other
options. The department offers to build a house on the land bought or
rented by refugees or provide 7 million dollars to buy an apartment
(this much is provided for the construction of a house).

Serge Amirkhanyan said about 600 families still live in rented
apartments. " The program estimates providing all the refugees with
apartments until 2010.

Of course, with our budget we cannot afford to build houses for
600 families, besides we get no assistance from international
organizations. But we will try to find a way," Serge Amirkhanyan said.

WHO NEEDS NEW CLASH BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS?

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 12:22:48

The French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier confirmed
that the mediators do not put the return of the Azerbaijani refugees
at the basis of the settlement. According to Fassier, to start the
settlement from the issue of refugees is the same as to build a house
without a roof.

The Armenian side shares this opinion. A few days before the meeting
of the foreign ministers on March 14 in Geneva Vardan Oskanyan, the
Armenian minister of foreign affairs, said the issue of the refugees
should be the last issue to discuss.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan vigorously urges this issue as a priority in
the settlement. It has every reason to do. First, during the talks a
referendum on the status of Karabakh is proposed to hold, and according
to the mediators, the people of Karabakh should decide. Consequently,
the more Azerbaijanis return to Karabakh by the time the referendum is
held, the better for Baku. Besides, Azerbaijan knows that the Armenian
refugees will not agree to return to their homes in Azerbaijan,
whereas they can always "persuade" their refugees (or non-refugees)
to go anywhere. They are keeping their refugees in tents for so many
years now! The impression is that the Azerbaijani refugees are not
living in their homeland but in a hostile country where nobody cares
for their problems.

Azerbaijan has yet another reason. In Baku they cannot understand that
the return of the Azerbaijanis said to be aggressive would inevitably
lead to clashes with the Armenians. An everyday fight may grow into a
bloody slaughter which will be impossible to stop. And nobody will
wish to stop it. Everyone who "wants" stability in the region at
any price will benefit if one of the sides slaughters the other,
they may even be "lucky" if the scared Armenian population leaves
the region. And all the problems will be solved at once.

Would the international community allow this happen? Would it support
Azerbaijan or Turkey which perpetrate a new bloodshed instead of
solving the problems of their compatriots? Will this question be
discussed on March 14 in Geneva? And will it lead to failure in
the talks?

THE GOVERNOR OF KASHATAGH REPLACED

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 11:59:20

We have learned from the press service of the NKR government that the
governor of the region of Kashatagh was replaced. Ernik Guevondyan
was appointed head of the regional administration. NKR Prime Minister
Anushavan Danielyan presented the new head of the administration to
the members of the administration.

By the way, during Hamlet Khachatryan’s office emigration of
population, arbitrariness and general dissatisfaction was reported. The
NKR Council of Security held a special meeting. However, it is already
a tradition that the head of the administration is not dismissed
because he fails to perform his duties but because he is appointed
to another position.

THE AKHTAMAR CHURCH HAS NO ANALOGS IN THE WORLD’S ARCHITECTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2007 GMT+04:00

The international legislation stipulates that the original should
serve as a sample in monument reconstruction; consequently a cross
should be placed on the dome of the Holy Cross Church.

In 2005 in Beijing law on reconstruction of the Holy Cross Church
situated on Akhtamar Island in Turkey was adopted. According to the
law Armenian restorers and architects must also take part in the
reconstruction works. But as these two countries are not in healthy
diplomatic relations with each other, the Armenian party had to appeal
to UNESCO for assistance.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the Turkish Press, the Church is ready
for its opening ceremony, where the Turkish Prime-minister Redgep
Erdoghan and Members of the Cabinet will be present. It was also
stated that the Representatives of the Armenian Diaspora and the
Armenian Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs are also invited,
though the Ministry doesn’t seem to have received any official
invitation yet. The date of the opening ceremony has been postponed
more than once. At first it was supposed to be held on April 24,
but later under the pressure of the Armenian Diaspora the date was
changed and was fixed on April 15, at present it is said that the
opening ceremony is going to be held on April 11.

However the Holy Cross Church is reconstructed. In the opinion of the
Armenian historian Samvel Karapetian Akhtamar is a universal property
that is why the Turkish government decided to reconstruct it. The
Akhtamar Church has no analogs in the world’s architecture. "Akhtamar
is unique, and the Turkish government will have great profits from the
flow of tourists. The matter of the contents of the inscription on the
wall of the temple is a question of minor importance. Presently Greek,
Armenian and Assyrian monuments are being reconstructed throughout
Turkey and the Turks will decide themselves which monument will carry
writing about its belonging," Karapetian said.

Over the past two years, Turkish authorities have raised loud
clamors over the restoration of a 10th century Armenian Church on
Akhtamar Island. Until now it is not clear whether this restoration
project is a gesture of peace or a crude gloss over the reality
of the Armenian Genocide and the destruction of Armenian cultural
properties. Komitas Institute in London quotes the words of the Head
of the Turkish Historical Society, Yusuf Halacoglu from New Anatolian,
"We have nothing to hide… Opening of the Agdamar Church will be a
gesture towards the Armenians and the whole world…"

Meanwhile, debates about placing a cross on the belfry of the Church
are being held. According to the Minister of Culture Attila Koch
"if the cross indeed existed, it should still be there", Hurriyet
writes mentioning that the Holy Cross Church was built by King Gagik
I Artsruni (915-921 A.D.) of the Vaspurakan kingdom. In its turn
the Armenian Marmara mentions, that the issue of placing the cross
on the belfry of the Church itself has become a vexed question for
the Turkish Government. "Engineer Yagub Hazan, who has taken up the
responsibility of the reconstruction of the Church, mentioned that
during the research they have found one picture only, where the cross
is not distinctly marked, and the engineer doesn’t think it worthwhile
to place the cross on the dome of the Church.

Meanwhile, architect Zakaria Mildanoglu, who has been selected by the
Armenian Community to control the reconstruction works, objected to the
engineer’s point of view and appealed to the international legislation,
which stipulates that the original should serve as a sample in
monument reconstruction. He mentioned that by his initiative a group
of specialists has designed a cross of 2.5 meters of height. Besides
an official involved in the works; Dzhahid Zeinadli has announced
that they don’t want to place the cross on the dome of the church
avoiding fire in the church that may be caused by the lightening",
Marmara writes.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

INSTITUTE OF WAR AND PEACE REPORTING LAUNCHED SOUTH CAUCASIAN PROJECT

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 11:57:57

Over the next three years the journalists of the recognized and
unrecognized countries of the South Caucasian region will report on
the events together.

An arrangement was made in a recent meeting of journalists from
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Ossetia, Karabakh and Abkhazia
in Tbilisi.

Lusineh Musayelian, a participant from Karabakh, said In Tbilisi
seminars on conflicts as well as meetings with Georgian experts and
representatives of the government were held.

The project is implemented by the Institute of War and Peace
Reporting. In the framework of the conflict the journalists can have
6 visits to different parts of the region and prepare reports on the
topics they are interested in. A website will be set up where the
reports will be available.

STRANGE STATEMENT BY ARKADY GHUKASYAN

KarabakhOpen
14-03-2007 11:54:13

NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan thinks Samvel Babayan’s nomination for
the Armenian parliamentary election and Arthur Aghabekyan’s possible
nomination for the presidential election in NKR and generally similar
political movement from Armenia to Karabakh and back cannot affect
the settlement of the conflict over Karabakh and the international
recognition of Karabakh. "The sphere is open in Karabakh. Everyone
can run in the election in Karabakh if they are eligible. It is
quite normal," Arkady Ghukasyan stated. "This kind of talks are not
grounded. There are worthy candidates in Karabakh. If there are people
in Armenia who think they are worthy, they can run in the election
if it is in accordance with the law. If it contradicts to the law,
we are ready to attend to and help these people."

This statement is very strange. If according to the law some people
are not eligible for the presidential election, what will they discuss
or how will they support them? Did the president mean that they will
change the law?

Meanwhile, the chair of the Central Electoral Commission assured that
the provision on ten years of residence of the candidates in Karabakh
will not be changed.

What are they doing to discuss in this case? The ways of passing by
the law?

Ghukasyan also stated that he will not set up his political party
although after his office ends he will state in Karabakh.

SAMVEL BABAYAN IS IN FREEDOM

A1+
[06:37 pm] 14 March, 2007

The correspondent of A1+ was received by security guard of the
"Dashink" Party. The latter claimed that the party members were
holding a sitting, and none of them could receive us. He advised us
to retire as it would be waste of time to wait for the head of the
press secretary.

On the whole, the general atmosphere seemed to be quiet in the office;
there was no bustle and hustle.

But we were forbidden to take any photos or to see Samvel Babayan. The
guard stated that Samvel Babayan was in the office and presided over
the sitting.

Nevertheless, we managed to talk to Gnel Ghlechyan, member of the
party’s board, who refrained from commenting on the rumors about
Samvel Babayan’s arrest. He only refuted the rumors on Samvel Babayan’s
detention.