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ABKHAZIA TO PRESERVE INDEPENDENT STATUS

TBILISI, March 31 (RIA Novosti) – The political status of Abkhazia was
determined once and for all, Abkhaz President Sergei Bagapsh said at a press
conference in Sukhumi on Wednesday.

According to him, at the referendum of 1999 Abkhaz people voted for the
country’s independence.

Sergei Bagapsh denied the information that the leaders of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia (self-proclaimed republics in Georgia) were ready to negotiate with
the Georgian side on the formation of a federative union state, etc.,” the
Novosti-Georgia agency reports.

“Talks on Abkhazia’s political status with Georgia are out of the question,”
Bagapsh said.

He does not rule out his meeting with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili
but believes that it should be seriously prepared.

“This meeting cannot be held either in Tbilisi, or in Batumi. I will not go
there,” Bagapsh stressed adding that the agenda of this meeting should be
thoroughly drafted, as well.

Speaking about the statements by Georgian leaders claiming that “Abkhaz
people would like the republic to join Georgia,” Sergei Bagapsh said.
“Georgian politicians are making conclusions having no idea of real moods of
Abkhaz people.” In his opinion, this can put an end to Georgian-Abkhaz
talks, which have not started yet.

The Abkhaz leadership is ready to discuss with the Georgian side nothing but
mutually beneficial economic projects on the basis of Sochi agreements
signed in March 2002, he stressed. The agreements imply the restoration of
through railway traffic via Abkhazia to Georgia and Armenia, the restoration
and development of the Inguri hydroelectric power plant and the return of
Georgian refugees to Abkhazia’s Gali district.

“Other issues are out of the question,” Bagapsh said adding that the
above-mentioned problems were usually discussed with representatives of the
UN mission.

According to Sergei Bagapsh, the Abkhaz delegation will attend the session
in Geneva on Georgian-Abkhaz settlement on April 7-8

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOTHING KNOWN YET ABOUT ROMANIAN JOURNALISTS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ

YEREVAN, MARCH 31. ARMINFO. Nothing is known yet about the fate of the
three Romanian journalists kidnapped in Iraq Mar 28, reports Armenia’s
FM.

To remind, one of them is 36-year-old Armenian Ovidiu Oganessyan
working with the Romania Liberia newspaper. The journalists were
kidnapped the day after Romanian President Traian Basescu visiting the
Romanian peacekeeping forces in Iraq. Basescu says that Romania will
do its best to have the journalists back. The kidnappers have not yet
laid any claims.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 25-31, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

EIGHTEENTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

JOURNALISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS GETTING READY FOR “A1+” SUPPORT
ACTIONS

COMPETITION TO FILL IN VACANCIES AT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION
AND RADIO ANNOUNCED

EIGHTEENTH “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

On March 28 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
eighteenth “Press Club show was issued. The cycle is organized by Yerevan
Press Club under a homonymous project, supported by the OSI Network Media
Program.

The representatives of the leading media and journalistic associations of
Armenia discussed the results of the visit of the Russian President Vladimir
Putin to Armenia. As the program participants expect, this week the Armenian
media will focus on the hearing at the RA National Assembly on the problem
of Mountainous Karabagh, the results of the mayor elections in Ijevan, the
investigation of the explosion on March 24 by the building of the State
Customs Committee in Yerevan. Of the international affairs the media will
continue discussing the events in Kyrgyzstan, the “Press Club” participants
suppose.

JOURNALISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS GETTING READY FOR “A1+” SUPPORT
ACTIONS

On March 31 at Journalists Union of Armenia a press conference of the
representatives of the country’s several journalistic and human rights
organizations was held. The event announced the start of “A1+” support
actions, devoted to the three years of the TV company’s loss of air. On
April 2, 2002 National Commission on Television and Radio did not provide
“A1+” with the broadcast license, and the numerous attempts of the TV
channel (taking part in licensing competitions) for regaining air failed
over these three years.

At the meeting with the journalists, initiators of “A1+” support actions
called for participating in the procession and rally on April 2, 2005. The
procession will start at 12.00 from “A1+” TV building (15 Grigor Lusavorich
St., Yerevan) and will end up in a rally at the Yerevan Freedom Square. A
campaign will be held there on gathering signatures for the petition to RA
Ministry of Transport and Communication to allocate a vacant frequency for
conducting a new broadcast licensing competition.

On March 31, Journalists Union of Armenia, Yerevan Press Club, Internews
Armenia public organization, Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression and
Helsinki Committee of Armenia adopted a joint statement. The statement noted
in particular that assessing “A1+” bids in all the eight competitions as
lower than competitive ones, National Commission on Television and Radio
proceeded not from their content or professional level of the TV company,
but complied with the political order of the authorities. The signatories
supported the demand of “A1+” action initiators urging the NCTR and RA
Ministry of Transport and Communication as well as other competent bodies to
allocate a vacant frequency and conduct a new – open and transparent –
licensing competition. The statement of the five public organizations ended
with the call for supporting this civil claim and filing similar addresses
to the National Commission on Television and Radio.

COMPETITION TO FILL IN VACANCIES AT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TELEVISION
AND RADIO ANNOUNCED

On March 24 the RA President Robert Kocharian signed a decree on conducting
a competition to fill in vacancies at the National Commission on Television
and Radio. The competition commission includes: the chairman Armen
Harutiunian (the Rector of the RA State Administration Academy); the
secretary Irina Ghulinian (Deputy Head of the Public and Media Relations
Department of the Administration of the RA President); commission members –
Naira Manucharova (Deputy Chief Editor of “Novoye Vremya” newspaper), Arthur
Yezekian (President of “Shant” TV company) and Elinar Vardanian (Executive
Director of “Center of Public Dialogue and Development” NGO). The
competition can accommodate citizens of Armenia who have many-year
experience in journalism, broadcasting, technology, culture, arts, science
and law, higher education and command of Armenian language. The deadline for
applications is April 4, 2005.

The competition to fill in vacancies in the National Commission on
Television and Radio was announced due to the expiration on March 19, 2005
of the four-year terms of three NCTR members – Simavon Andreasian, Mushegh
Hovsepian and Ara Tadevosian.

The competition for NCTR vacancies is announced in Armenian for the first
time and is due to the amendments into the RA Law “On Television and Radio”,
adopted on December 3, 2003 by the RA National Assembly. According to the
amendments, the formation of the broadcast regulating bodies should be
formed by a competition. However, the members of these bodies are still
appointed by the President of the country – now from the competition
winners. In February 2005 a similar competition was held for vacancies in
the Council of Public TV and Radio Company.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ethnic Armenians protest against closure of Russian base in Georgia

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
31 Mar 05

The Armenian population of Akhalkalaki [southern Georgia] is
protesting against demands for the withdrawal of the Russian military
base there. They have gathered in the centre of the town and are
supporting the Russian military base. Their demands include the
opening of a passport office in Akhalkalaki and repairs to local
roads, but the main issue is Russian military support for the
town. The protesters are waving banners in the street.

Armenian defence minister, NATO chief praise ties

Mediamax news agency
31 Mar 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said in Yerevan today that
“relations between Armenia and NATO are rapidly developing, which is
very useful for our country”.

Sarkisyan said this at a meeting with the NATO assistant secretary
general for political affairs [and security policy], Gunther
Altenburg, Mediamax reported.

During the meeting, Altenburg thanked the Armenian minister for
Yerevan’s active participation in the fight against international
terrorism.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan, Armenia appeal to UN over ceasefire violations

Baku, March 30, AssA-Irada

Azerbaijan has appealed to the United Nations over the frequent ceasefire
violations by Armenia. Yerevan has appealed to the UN with the same allegation
against Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told local
ATV channel.
The OSCE chairman’s special envoy Anzhei Kaspshik has said he is concerned
with the persistent ceasefire breaches on the frontline. Kaspshik said he would
hold talks with Minister Mammadyarov in the coming days and another monitoring
will be held on the frontline soon.
The monitoring is aimed at preventing the ceasefire violations. Talks are
currently underway on returning the three Azeri soldiers held in Armenian
captivity, the OSCE chairman’s envoy said.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan-Georgia border delimitation talks turn out fruitless

Baku, March 30, AssA-Irada

The meeting of Azerbaijani and Georgian state commissions on border
delimitation held in Tbilisi March 28-29 turned out fruitless, as the
parties did not reach a general agreement due to differences over a
number of areas and sub-territories.

The parties decided to hold meetings between experts and research
relevant documents in order to continue the discussions on the
disputed areas. Azerbaijan was represented at the meeting by Deputy
Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov.

Only 5 out of 24 disputed sub-territories on the Georgian-Azerbaijani
border have been agreed upon so far.

Georgia has lately proposed to exchange land, claiming that the
ancient Alban temple located in the territory of Azerbaijan is a part
of the Georgian monastery. The Georgian side also claims the
Keshishdagh hill in Aghstafa District, proposing to exchange it for
another territory.

Azerbaijan rejects the proposal, as Keshishdagh is of great importance
for the country, which allows to keep the territories of Georgia and
Armenia under surveillance.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NGO AND MASS MEDIA HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO FORCE BODIES’ ACTIVITY

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS: Alvard Barkhudarian, an expert of
the Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), a
think-tank headed by a former foreign minister Raffi Hovhanesian,
claimed today that local non-governmental organizations and mass media
have now a broader access to what is going on within law-enforcement
bodies and the armed forces.

She was speaking at round table discussions on civil supervision
over armed forces, convened by a non-governmental organization, called
partnership for Open Society. She, however, added that there is still
a great deal of work to be done to make armed forces as transparent as
possible.

Ms. Barkhudarian said heads of force bodies have come to understand
that the more transparent a force agency is the bigger public’s trust
in it. She also commended the Armenian defense ministry for launching
its web site at , which she said is the sole such web site
in the South Caucasus,but argued that Armenia, which is still formally
at war with Azerbaijan, has tokeep part of information closed to
public.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IF AZERBAIJAN STARTS NEW WAR IT WILL LOSE IT, ARMENIA DM SAYS

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, ARMENPRESS: “If Azerbaijan resumes hostilities
in an effort to take Nagorno Karabagh back it will sustain a heavy
defeat,” Armenian defense minister Serzh Sarkisian said today during
parliamentary hearings on possible ways of resolving the conflict, but
added that the price of the victory would be contingent on the extent
of ordinary Armenians and political party’s determination to support
the army.

“If Armenia appears in a situation that was in Azerbaijan in
1992-1994 we may face a complete collapse,” he warned. Sarkisian did
not deny that a new war may start. “I did not deny such a possibility
in 1995, 1998 and in 2000and I do not deny it now. There is always the
threat of a new war and there areno guarantees against it,” he said.

Sarkisian went on to argue that the conflict regulation would be
painful for both nations, as only a compromised solution is
possible. “Compromise means that you have to give in part of what you
have, which is always a painful process. The compromise solution must
be first of all backed by Armenians and not only by the political
elite,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR POPULATION TO GET NKR PASSPORTS SOON

YEREVAN, MARCH 30. ARMINFO. Shortly the NKR Parliament will adopt a
law on NKR citizenship, NKR FM Arman Melikyan said during today’s
Armenian Parliament hearings of the Karabakh problem.

He says that the fate of the Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan is in
the center of the NKR Government’s attention. A recent survey has
shown that 45,000 Armenian refugees have got Russian citizenship,
1,500 Armenian one with the rest having no citizenship at all. The
above law will solve the problem of thousands of Armenian refugees.

Being unrecognized internationally NKR will give them passport of
internal use only with foreign trips to be made by Armenian
passports. The NKR passports will be in Armenian with the second
language not determined yet.