Author: admin

BOMB EXPLODES OUTSIDE CUSTOMS SERVICE BUILDING, NO CASUALTIES REPORTED

ArmenPress
March 24 2005

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: An explosive device planted into the
trunk of a tree outside Armenia’s customs service building in central
Yerevan went off today morning at 10 am right after the chief of the
customs service, Armen Avetisian, entered the building.

According to preliminary information, no one suffered. The explosive
was planted just in front of the entrance, where Armen Avetisian’s
car is parked usually.

The explosion broke the left window glass of Avetisian’s BMW car.
Police is now examining the site. Customs service said it will issue
a statement.

The government-affiliated customs service committee was swift to
attribute the bomb explosion to its policy of crackdown on tax evasion
and toughened customs administration.

A statement issued by the service’s press office said the committee
will hence be more persistent in identifying tax evasion instances
through introduction of a range of measures to drastically improve
tax administration.

“Today’s morning incident is yet another evidence that improved tax
administration and tougher measures are effective,” the statement said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AllAfrica.com, Africa
March 24 2005

Nam Diamonds Aplenty, But Few to Polish

New Era (Windhoek)
March 24, 2005
Posted to the web March 24, 2005

Catherine Sasman
Windhoek

Israeli-based LLD Diamonds Namibia appointed its first Namibian
managing director, Kombadayedu Kapwanga, on 21 March, and he will
take over the reins of the local company from Yaaqov Adir.

The company, which is currently the biggest diamond cutting and
polishing factory in Africa, complained that it at times finds it
difficult to buy Namibian diamonds for value addition. It is
currently the only cutting and polishing plant that adds value to
Namibian diamonds, which it buys from the Samicor marine diamonds
ploughed from along the coastline. Namdeb’s cutting and polishing
factories get their diamonds from the London open market.

The company, which is currently challenging Namdeb’s monopoly in
diamond mining and cutting and polishing, is a subsidiary company of
the Leviev Group/Samicor.

While the Leviev Group holds 70% shareholding in Samicor, government
holds 10%, 10% by various black economic empowerment groups, and 4%
by Samicor employees. The Leviev Group, however, wholly owns LLD
Diamonds, putting in N$100 million investment into the company over a
period of 10 months.

The LLD factory started its operations in June last year with 250
trainees. It currently has 430 trainees, whose training programme
will come to an end shortly. The company thus anticipates starting
with production soon thereafter. It has its markets in Japan, the USA
and Europe, with seven marketing agents globally. The factory was
designed to employ up to 550 people. The Leviev Group has deployed 67
Armenian trainers to oversee this training.

“The localisation of managing the company will mean that management
will know more about the local employment and environmental
conditions,” said Kapwanga from his office yesterday.

Kapwanga said that the factory has resulted in a spin-off effect in
the SADC region, where countries like Botswana, South Africa and
Angola are considering opening their own cutting and polishing
plants. Currently, there are already 27 Angolans trainers and 40
trainees being trained at the Wind-hoek factory.

The LLD Diamonds Namibia company has been given a diamond cutting
licence as per the Diamond Act, and Samicor given a number of
prospecting and mining licences. Equally, Namdeb has an exclusive
prospecting and mining rights, as well as a cutting licence under
Namgem.

“It is time that we do value addition to our diamond products instead
of exporting our raw materials,” said Kapwanga, adding that where the
company falls short in supplies of Namibian diamonds for its factory,
it is forced to buy diamonds from the Leviev Group factories in
Russia or from the Katoma diamond mine in Angola.

“Why do we have to settle importing from Russia and Angola while
Namibian diamonds, the best in the world, are exported to the UK?”
questioned Kapwanga.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy, in response, pointed out that the
government has “an agenda”, whose roots are growing and stabilising,
to maximise revenue from diamonds, in addition to value addition and
manufacturing. “In fact, government policy and a pro-active
legislation were the catalysts for the creation of Samicor and the
coming to Namibia of LLD Diamonds,” the ministry pointed out. This,
the ministry stated, is “unheard of in some of our neighbouring
countries that produce many more carats, been independent for many
more years and are now trying to emulate Namibia”.

The ministry stated that the Namdeb licenses are protected as per
agreements between its shareholders – the government and De Beers.
More, the Namibian laws protect the licenses, as well.

“In the near future, the government shall enter into negotiations
with its partners on a myriad of issues. It would therefore be unfair
and prejudicial to government, at this critical juncture, to be
coerced to prematurely tip its hand and disclose issues that would be
thrashed out at the negotiating table,” the ministry responded when
asked what plans the government has in mind to maximise value
addition in the country, and how much the country is losing out for
exporting its rough diamonds to the Central Selling Organisation.

“The government has plans that it is busy fine-tuning. These plans
would be finalised once the new government sits comfortably in its
place, and once the new Minister Erkki Nghimtima is fully briefed and
has sufficiently acquainted himself with the issues and the industry.
When the time comes the industry and the nation will be informed of
results and developments.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
March 23 2005

REGULAR CEASEFIRE BREACH DELAYS RELEASE OF CAPTIVE AZERBAIJANI
SOLDIERS
2005-03-23 20:48

Intensive breach of ceasefire on the front line between Armenia
and Azerbaijan causes problems in release of 3 captive Azerbaijani
soldiers. Member of international working group on hostage, captive and
missed persons Berhard Klazein informed ANS that at defense ministries
of the both sides are negotiating to provide a corridor for release
of the captive soldiers. Besides state committees on hostages and
the missed persons of Azerbaijan and Armenia met in Tbilisi through
mediation of the international working group.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian customs boss survives attempt on his life

A1+ web site
24 Mar 05

Yerevan, 24 March: There was a blast near the building of the Armenian
State Customs Committee at 1015 today. The blast happened right under
the tree where the car of the head of the State Customs Committee,
Armen Avetisyan, was parked a few seconds before that.

Having checked the scene of the crime, the chief of the Armenian
police, Ayk Arutyunyan, refused to say anything definite.

The head of the police department of Yerevan, Nerses Nazaryants, told
us that by the time of the explosion, Armen Avetisyan had already
left the car but his driver and aide were hurt.

The head of the city police department said that they have already
spoken to Avetisyan, but the latter said that he does not know whom
to suspect.

The group, which is conducting the preliminary investigation, cannot
yet say what kind of an explosive device was used.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/24/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) ARF Lebanon Condemns Recent Attacks against Population
2) Amnesty International Voices Concern about New Turkish Penal Code
3) Russia’s Putin in Armenia
4) Armenia’s Customs Chief Survives Bomb Blast
5) Kyrgyzstan Uprising Forces President to Flee
6) Pascal Message of the Armenian Catholic Exarch

1) ARF Lebanon Condemns Recent Attacks against Population

BEIRUT–In a strongly worded statement issued on March 25, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of Lebanon condemned the
violent outpour that has rocked the country in recent weeks, ending over a
decade of relative peace following a debilitating fifteen year civil war.
Criticizing the bombings and shootings that have occurred since the
February 14
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the statement called for
an immediate end to acts such as the March 23 bombing of the Alta Vista
Shopping Center of Kaslik.
“We reaffirm our stance on this issue, and condemn the detrimental
position of
those who believe that acts of terror aimed against a peaceful Lebanese
population will help address the country’s political problems,” the ARF
statement noted. “The abuse of internal political issues in an attempt to
create an unsafe and unstable environment is totally unacceptable to us.
“Abhorrent acts of violence can only serve to further aggravate the political
divisions that exist in Lebanon. We reject any attempt that endangers the
country’s internal security and endangers its economic stability.
“We call on the people of Lebanon to stand with us in solidarity against any
act that threatens the well-being of this country and its population,” the
statement concluded.

2) Amnesty International Voices Concern about New Turkish Penal Code

In recent days, various press groups and professional bodies in Turkey have
articulated their concerns regarding the new Penal Code, due to come into
effect on April 1, and called on the government to urgently review the new law
which they believe will restrict press freedom. Amnesty International has
joined in these concerns and urged the government to take further steps in
bringing Turkish law into line with international human rights law and
standards related to freedom of expression.

(AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL)–In a public statement, Amnesty International
addresses Turkey’s new Penal Code, noting that though it has introduced many
positive changes–most notably in the removal of gender-discriminatory
articles–it still contains numerous restrictions on fundamental rights.
The statement says that some provisions, which the authorities had used
before
to breach international standards related to freedom of expression, were
carried over from the old Penal Code. For example, Article 159 which
criminalized acts that “insult or belittle” various state institutions–and
which Amnesty International has repeatedly called for to be
abolished–reappears as Article 301 of the new Penal Code in the section
entitled “Crimes against symbols of the states sovereignty and the honor of
its
organs” (Articles 299–301). Amnesty International is concerned that this
section could be used to criminalize legitimate expression of dissent and
opinion.
In other cases, new articles have been introduced which appear to introduce
new restrictions to fundamental rights. For example, Article 305 of the new
Penal Code criminalizes “acts against the fundamental national interest.” The
written explanation attached to the draft, when the law passed through
Parliament, provided as examples of crimes such acts as “making propaganda for
the withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from Cyprus or for the acceptance of a
settlement in this issue detrimental to Turkey…or, contrary to historical
truths, that the Armenians suffered a genocide after the First World War.”
Amnesty International considers that the imposition of a criminal penalty for
any such statements–unless intended or likely to incite imminent
violence–would be a clear breach of international standards related to
freedom
of expression.
Many of the provisions in the new law envisage higher sentences if the
“crime”
has been perpetrated through the press and raise the possibility of custodial
sentences for journalists. Chair of the Press Council Oktay Eksi has evaluated
the new law as “an unfortunate reversal from the point of freedom of
expression
and of the press.”

BACKGROUND

The new Penal Code was presented by the government as a less restrictive and
democratic piece of legislation and hastily passed by Parliament in September
2004 as a result of pressure from the European Union. This pressure appears to
have resulted in insufficient consultation with members of civil society, such
as press and human rights groups, and may have contributed to the continuing
problems in the law.
Amnesty International is also concerned about aspects of the Penal Code which
are related to areas other than freedom of expression. For example, Article
122
of the draft of the new Penal Code, which forbids discrimination on the basis
of “language, race, color, gender, political thought, philosophical belief,
religion, denomination and other reasons,” was amended at the last moment so
that “sexual orientation” was removed from the draft. The organization is
concerned that discrimination on the basis of sexuality was not
criminalized in
the new law.
In addition, Amnesty International is concerned that the statute of
limitations still applies in trials in which individuals are accused of
torture. While the new law has extended this time limit, trials against
alleged
torturers are frequently deliberately delayed and subsequently dropped through
this provision, thereby contributing towards a climate of impunity. Given the
frequency with which this happens and the status of torture as a peremptory
norm of general international law, Amnesty International considers that there
should be no statute of limitations for the crime of torture.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for
internationally recognized human rights. Its mission is to undertake research
and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to
physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and
freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all
human rights. Amnesty International is independent of any government,
political
ideology, economic interest or religion. It is concerned solely with the
impartial protection of human rights.

3) Russia’s Putin in Armenia

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Russia’s President Vladimir Putin arrived in Armenia late
Thursday on a brief working visit which, according to Armenian officials, will
cement the close relationship between the two allies.
Putin will meet with President Robert Kocharian on Thursday to discuss mostly
economic issues, notably Russian-Armenian cooperation in the energy sector,
according to a Kremlin official cited by the Russian Itar-Tass news agency.
Further development of bilateral military ties will also be on the agenda, the
official said. It is unclear whether the two plan to sign any agreements.
The Armenian side is expected to again raise its concerns about the
implementation of a 2002 swap agreement that settled Yerevan’s $100 million
debt to Russia. Armenian officials have repeatedly complained that the
Russians
are slow in revitalizing the five Armenian enterprises that were handed
over to
them in payment for the debt.

4) Armenia’s Customs Chief Survives Bomb Blast

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–A car belonging to the chief of the Armenian customs Armen
Avetisian, was rocked by an explosion early on Thursday in what
law-enforcement
authorities see as a botched attempt on the influential official’s life.
President Robert Kocharian called an emergency meeting of his top
law-enforcement officials, asking them to take “all necessary measures to
solve
the incident,” and keep him informed about the course of the investigation.
The blast occurred outside the building in downtown Yerevan housing the State
Customs Committee just minutes after Avetisian entered his office.
Investigators said an explosive device was planted under a tree next to which
his car was parked.
The car was not seriously damaged. An aide to Avetisian and another customs
official who stood nearby were said to have sustained minor injuries.
Still, residents of nearby apartment buildings said the blast was powerful.
The chief of the Armenian police Hayk Harutiunian, and the first deputy head
of the National Security Hrachya Harutiunian, personally inspected the scene
but declined to comment on the incident.
“Nothing is known yet,” the head of Yerevan’s police department Nerses
Nazarian, told reporters. He said Avetisian has told investigators that he
does
suspect anyone of seeking to assassinate him.
The Office of Prosecutor-General launched criminal proceedings under an
article of Armenia’s Criminal Code that deals with attempted assassinations of
senior government officials and public figures. The Customs Committee also
characterized the explosion as an attempt on Avetisian’s life in a statement
issued later on Thursday.
The statement attributed it to a crackdown on smuggling and tax evasion
announced by the authorities earlier this year. “To all those who hope to
weaken the committee leadership’s will to fight against the shadow [economy]
with such terrorist acts we find it necessary to say that the State Customs
Committee will continue to be consistent in identifying violations of customs
rules,” it said.
Prime Minister Andranik Markarian also condemned the blast as he opened a
weekly cabinet meeting. “Nobody should hope that they can hamper the work of
the bodies collecting state revenues with such actions,” he said.
The crackdown was announced after Kocharian’s high-profile meetings with the
management of the customs and tax agencies. In particular, Kocharian decried
widespread corruption among customs officials, accusing them of helping
large-scale importers avoid taxes in return for kickbacks.

5) Kyrgyzstan Uprising Forces President to Flee

–Parliament elects interim leader; protesters seize state-run TV

BISHKEK (AP)–President Askar Akayev fled Kyrgyzstan on Thursday after
protesters stormed his headquarters, seized control of state television, and
rampaged through government offices, throwing computers and air conditioners
out of windows.
A leading opponent of the Akayev regime, Felix Kulov, was freed from prison
and praised the “revolution made by the people.” Kulov said Akayev had
signed a
letter of resignation, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
Members of the parliament–that was in power before February’s disputed
election–met Thursday night and elected former opposition lawmaker Ishenbai
Kadyrbekov as the country’s interim president.
Sitting in Akayev’s chair surrounded by supporters, another opposition
activist, Ulan Shambetov, praised the latest uprising to sweep a former Soviet
republic.
The takeover of government buildings in Bishkek followed similar seizures by
opposition activists in southern Kyrgyzstan, including the second-largest
city,
Osh. Those protests began even before the first round of parliamentary
elections on Feb. 27 and swelled after March 13 runoffs that the opposition
said were seriously flawed.
Another opposition leader, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, appeared on state TV and
declared: “Akayev is no longer on the territory of Kyrgyzstan.”
Bakiyev also said the prime minister had resigned but that those in charge of
the Security, Interior and Defense ministries were working with the
opposition.
The whereabouts of Akayev, who ruled Kyrgyzstan for 15 years, were not clear.
The Interfax news agency, without citing sources, said Akayev had flown to
Russia but later said he had landed in Kazakhstan.

6) Pascal Message of the Armenian Catholic Exarch

The Feast of Victory

The resurrection of Jesus is the central event of Christianity and the basic
truth of our faith.
It is true that without the nativity of Christ we would not have the Messiah,
the Savior of the world. But if the Gospels had ended with the end of Jesus’
life by his death, all the content of the Gospels would have vanished. The
message of salvation of Christ would not have had any sense, because it was
based on the affirmation that he was the master of life and death, and
specifically the eternal death, which is the result of sin.
All the preaching of the apostles, especially that of St. Paul who developed
the teaching of Christ in his epistles, is based on the certitude that Jesus
has triumphantly risen from the sepulcher. The angels who announced the
resurrection said to the women, the first visitors to the tomb, “Why are you
searching the living amidst the dead? He is not here, he has risen!”
Departing from this event that became an evidence for all the followers of
Christ, we have been celebrating for twenty centuries the resurrection of
Jesus. If Christmas is for us the feast of joy, Easter is the feast of
victory.
If Jesus has triumphed over death, we also will triumph over it, and we will
share his glory. So that when we are submitted to trials and sufferings of
life, we have strong conviction that all this will have a happy end. No
suffering can be senseless or overcome our faith, for we share the
suffering of
Jesus who has predicted it as a precondition of the success of his mission as
the savior of mankind.
Concerning the credibility of resurrection, some argue that it is based on a
negative evidence: the empty tomb. Could we deduct from it, they say, that
Jesus really has risen alive from dead or that his body was not fraudulently
took away by the disciples? This is a nonsense, when we know from the Gospels
that these poor men were so despaired of the tragic end of Jesus’s life that,
terrified and disoriented, they escaped one after the other, not ever
daring to
accompany him during his passion and crucifixion. Yet, after the resurrection
became a certitude for them, they were radically transformed, they proclaimed
it courageously, and witnessed it at the cost of their lives, shedding their
blood for it. Who would sacrifice his life for a phantasm or a legend?
We are not asked today, but in exceptional circumstances, to shed our
blood to
testify to the resurrection of Christ. Yet we are called to proclaim it in
sometime difficult conditions: when we have to respect our engagement as
followers of Christ, in the face of enemies of our faith who despise or deride
it, or when we must make critical choices between our interests and our
spiritual and moral convictions, or when we are asked to sacrifice our time or
goods for the improvement and growth of the Church’s mission.
As we celebrate the resurrection of Christ with all Christianity, we must
consider our own resurrection as the fruit of his resurrection. Not as a
historical glorious event belonging to the past, but as a permanent
presence in
our daily life, inspiring our acts and thoughts, guiding our steps and our
decisions according to the plans God has for each of us, until our final
victory on sin and death.
Christ has risen from the dead.
Let us share the joy and hope of all who share our faith!

Bishop Manuel Batakian
Armenian Catholic Exarch in United States

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTS BILL ON AMENDMENTS TO RA LAW ON EXPORT AND
IMPORT OF CULTURAL VALUES

YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. The Armenian Parliament adopted today
a bill on amendments to the RA Law on export and import of cultural
values in the first reading.

MP Hranuysh Hakobyan says that the bill proposes establishment of a
government body which will determine the list of the authors who died
during the last 50 years. Their works can be exported from the country
only in case of a state certificate for export. Head of the United
Labor Party Gurgen Arsenyan stated that the bill did not proceed
from the interests of our culture and that artists themselves were
against it.

To note, the law approved by the parliament in late 2004 was not as
tough as the former law. It reduces the state duties for the export
of cultural values and simplifies the procedure of their temporary
export-import. Also simplified is the uncertified export of pictures
and works of art if they are no more than 50 years old except for
the works by dead authors included in the government’s list. The bill
mentions the works that are not subject even to temporary exportation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN NGONEWS IN BRIEF

Volume 2, No. 52
January-February, 2005

*** EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE

*** DICTIONARY OF ARMENIAN SIGN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED

*** VETERINARY ASSISTANCE TO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

*** NGOS MONITOR ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

*** CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES IN ROA MARZES

*** ARMENIA DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY PORTAL: IMPLEMENTATION PHASE YEAR II

*** WEBSITE OF THE ROA ECONOMIC COURT WAS CREATED

*** GYUMRI YOUTH ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

*** EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE

On January 27, 2005, the Association of Investigative Journalists NGO
addressed the issue of street people. Photographs taken by their
photojournalist and the Nameless Tombs documentary were presented, showing
the everyday life of street people. Yerkir-Media TV Company and Association
of Investigative Journalists NGO produced the documentary. The goal was to
draw the attention of the Government, international structures and the
public-at-large to the problems faced by street people and beggars and seek
support (food and shelter) for them. Results included: financial assistance
from the USA, material assistance from Yerevan, and medical assistance,
which will be provided to all of the street people in Yerevan, by three
physicians from the USA. The action contributed to the ROA Government’s
reviewing the draft Law on Social Support. The Law will take force in 2006.
However, as stated by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Issues,
providing street people with shelter may be realized now in case of relevant
financial assistance.

Contact: Edik Baghdasaryan
Association of Investigative Journalists NGO
2 Mashtots Ave., #40
Tel.: 56-31-49
E-mail: [email protected]

*** DICTIONARY OF ARMENIAN SIGN LANGUAGE PUBLISHED

This dictionary has been developed through the efforts of the Kamk and Korov
NGO of Young Disabled, with funding support received from OXFAM. The
dictionary will play an important role in improving the quality of education
for those with hearing impairments. Better application of signs will
contribute to the beneficiaries’ easier integration into and communication
with society. It will also help educate the public-at-large on these
opportunities. Young people with hearing impairments translators for the
deaf and dumb, and pedagogues of the deaf and dumb participated in the
development of the dictionary. The dictionary is also a training handbook,
certified by the National Institute of Education of the ROA Ministry of
Education and Science. The dictionary is intended for professors and
students of the Defectology Department of the Armenian State Pedagogical
University, those employees of special and secondary schools, who interact
with children with hearing impairments, their parents and the
public-at-large. The Dictionary of Armenian Gesture Language contains 1,118
signs, classified by topics. The signs are presented by photographs and word
explanations.

Contact: Mary Pahutyan
Kamk and Korov NGO Of Young Disabled
69 Y. Koghbatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 53-85-41, 53-85-23
E-mail: [email protected]

*** VETERINARY ASSISTANCE TO VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

On January 31, the Strategic Development Agency NGO presented the findings
of its recently completed Basic Veterinary Services Model project. The
program goal was to assist farmers of Syunik’s Noravan village community in
contributing to the food safety and development of the livestock sector. A
local veterinary service center was supplied with the necessary equipment,
medicines and a veterinarian.. The center carries out mandatory and ad hoc
preventive and medical activities. A revolving drug fund was created
enabling the farmers to utilize services of the veterinarian, free of
charge. Instead of the planned 30% community participation, 66% involvement
was registered. The project results are apparent: improved sanitary and
hygiene conditions of cattle-sheds, possible prevention of parasitical
diseases (particularly those transferred from animals to people), and more.
Based on the gaps revealed during one year of the project implementation and
specific needs of the village community, the NGO plans to apply its
successful experience in other communities of the republic as well,
replenishing the project with a number of new components. The project was
financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Contact: Karina Harutiunyan
Strategic Development Agency NGO
29 Khanjyan St., #8
Tel.: (374-1) 54-09-96
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

*** NGOS MONITOR ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

On February 16 and 18, the second sessions of the Protection of Economic
Competition (preventing anti-monopoly and conflict of interest) and the
Healthcare working groups of the ROA Commission on Anti-Corruption Strategy
Monitoring were held. The first working group unites 17 NGOs and the second
27. Representatives of interested departments and the ROA Ministry of Health
participated in the sessions. Draft laws on the Protection of Economic
Competition and Healthcare were presented and plans of the NGO working
groups for the first half-year of 2005 were discussed. Activities of the
working groups include: implementing anti-corruption strategy and monitoring
implementation of departmental anti-corruption projects; studying the
experiences of international organizations in anti-corruption efforts,
developing suggestions to improve the mechanisms used, conducting expert
review of legislative drafts, suggesting amendments and submitting those to
the Commission on Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring.

Contact: Abgar Yeghoyan: Commission member; Coordinator of the Protection of
Economic Competition working group
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Greta Mirzoyan: Commission member; Coordinator of Healthcare working group
E-mail: [email protected]

Marianna Stepanyan: Commission exptert
E-mail: [email protected]

*** CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES IN ROA MARZES

To raise the level of civic activism of the populations in Shirak and Syunik
marzes, the A. D. Sakharov Human Rights Protection Center NGO is
implementing the Civil Society Initiatives project, within the framework of
which Civil Society School #2 is operating. It will function as an
educational, consulting and resource center, increasing the professionalism
of representatives of NGOs, mass media, local self-government and regional
government bodies in Gyumri and Goris. The school will work towards creating
a cooperation network of NGOs and other players of the civil society. Within
the framework of the project, an institute of experts will be formed, which
will reveal and analyze problems in Armenia and specific marzes. Situation
reports and analyses on Shirak and Syunik marzes, as well as methodic
handbooks on organizing training of NGOs will be published.

Contact: Seyran Martirossyan
Sakharov Human Rights Protection Center NGO
1 Sarmen St.
Tel.: (374-1) 58-78-64, 54-29-36
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

*** ARMENIA DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY PORTAL: IMPLEMENTATION PHASE YEAR II

The Electronic Armenia Foundation NGO (EAF: www.e?armenia.am) is launching
the Implementation Phase II of the Armenia Development Gateway Project
(AmDG: ). The major priorities for the first six months of the
project implementation are: AmDG portal content (Community Gateways,
Knowledge Center, etc.) and functional development, and e-Development
initiatives, including DG market: localization (Armenian)
and the BIT@E newsletter development (Russian/English). The project goal is
to make the portal an effective information resource to contribute to
e?Development issues and present Armenia’s potential in using ICT tools.
During project implementation, the AmDG team will again connect with its
previous partnership network of project stakeholders, including Community
representatives presented on the portal (State, Civil Society,
International, Business, High-Tech and Diaspora). The project team is open
to cooperate with all interested counterparts to enlarge the network and
provide its target audiences with a comprehensive view on development
opportunities in Armenia.

Contact: Vahand Danielan
Electronic Armenia Foundation NGO
Tel: (374-1) 57-02-60
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

*** WEBSITE OF THE ROA ECONOMIC COURT WAS CREATED

The web-based information center of the Economic Court of Armenia
was created by the Armenian Public Relations
Association and Youth for Achievements NGOs with the assistance of the EU
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. The goal of the website
is to ensure accessibility of information on management and activities of
the judiciary system, particularly of the Economic Court, and enhance the
efficiency and quality of the information exchange between society and the
Economic Court. The authors of the project hope that this initiative will
contribute to increasing public awareness on court functions and raising the
legal awareness of the public.

Contact: Anush Begloyan
Armenian Public Relations Association NGO
7 Khorenatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 53-79-55
E-mail: [email protected]

*** GYUMRI YOUTH ISSUES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

In response to the lack of information available for Gyumri’s youth, the
Youth for Peace and Development NGO now publishes the Youth Initiative
bi-monthly electronic newsletter. It presents information on events taking
place in universities, other educational institutions, cultural structures,
NGOs and other spheres. Student journalists collect materials for the
newsletter. The newsletter also contains creations by gifted young people of
Gyumri. The publication is disseminated to young people throughout the
republic. To subscribe to the newsletter send your e-mail address to
[email protected].

It is worth noting that the Youth for Peace and Development NGO has
established a permanent commission to deal with youth issues and functions
by the Gyumri Avagani (local self-governing body.) Representatives of six
interested NGOs, members of Gyumri Avagani and state officials are
commission members. It is their responsibility to ensure the civic
participation of young people in decision making processes and that the
interests of various vulnerable groups of youth are represented in local
self-governing bodies. The two most urgent problems being addressed by the
commission today are youth employment and providing leisure activities for
youth.

Contact: Hovhanness Bayburtyan
Youth For Peace and Development NGO
Gyumri, 4 Gayi St., #4
Tel.: (374-41) 2-38-34
E-mail: [email protected]

__________________________________________________________________________

Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for
the NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is
provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Individual NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the
NGOC. The NGO Center is not responsible for the clarity of information
provided by individual NGOs.

Dear Readers,

The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector per any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.

Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.

Thank you.
NGOC staff.

Contact Information:

In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St., Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (3-741) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
Fax: (3-741) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

In the United States:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia, Armenia should give attention to economic affairs
By Suzanna Adamyants, Natalia Simorova

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 23, 2005 Wednesday

MOSCOW, March 23 — Ara Abramyan, the president of the Union of
Armenians in Russia, believes “Yerevan and Moscow have very close
and warm relations in the political and military areas.”

He expressed the hope that much attention would be given to economic
matters when Russian President Vladimir Putin is on a working visit
in Armenia on March 24-25.

Abramyan believes Armenia could also state its viewpoint on the
problems of Russo-Georgian relations. “It is necessary to create a
balance of forces in the Caucasus. If Russia and Georgia have good
relations, this will also be beneficial for Armenia,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sverdlovsk governor discussing economic ties with Armenia
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 23, 2005 Wednesday

YEREVAN, March 23 — The coming working visit by Russian President
Vladimir Putin to Armenia and opening of Year of Russia in Armenia will
be a new impetus for the further development of bilateral relations
which are already at a high level. This idea was repeatedly emphasized
at meetings which Governor of the Sverdlovsk Region Eduard Rossel
held here on Tuesday.

Receiving the guest, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan advocated
“combining the economic potential of the republic and the region”. He
suggested specifying in what directions the two sides can enter markets
of each other, to think of restoring contacts between machine-builders
and machine-tool builders of Armenia and similar enterprises in the
Sverdlovsk Region.

The governor proposed at a meeting with Armenian premier Andranik
Margaryan that an Armenian Trade House should be opened in
Yekaterinburg, the administrative center of the Sverdlovsk Region. To
encourage cooperation, he voiced support for mounting exhibitions of
goods from Armenia and establishment of joint ventures.

Armenia established active trade and economic relations with 25
subjects of the Russian Federation in the past few years. For instance,
it concluded agreements on cooperation with the Leningrad, Saratov,
Astrakhan and Kirov regions as well as with the Krasnodar Territory
and the Moscow city government.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RENE GROUSSET’S “ARMENIAN HISTORY” PUBLISHED IN TURKISH

ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. These days “Aras” publishing house
published in Turkish the “Armenain History” by Rene Grousset, a
famous French historian, a member of the French Academy of Sciences.
The book represents to Turkish reader’s attention the Armenian
history from the time of the Armenian people’s origin to 1071.
Grousset represents the Armenian people’s origin, culture, the stages
of origin and development of the Armenian language, the history of the
countries created by Armenians, the history of adopting Christianity
by Armenians, development of the Armenian church, the Armenian heroic
epics and Armenians’ political and cultural relations with different
nations and countries of the region. The volume having about 750
pages includes maps and photoes, too. According to “Marmara” daily
of Istambul, Sosi Dolanokhli translated the book from French. The
photo of of Ani Mother Cathedral is on the book-cover.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress