Author: admin

Every fourth person maybe mentally ill in Armenia – web site

A1+ web site
6 Dec 04

“There are 30,000 mentally ill people in Armenia. Every fourth healthy
person may have a mental disorder. A lot of [mentally] ill people
are on the streets, but not all of them are registered,” the chief
psychiatrist of the Armenian Health Ministry, Samvel Torosyan, told a
roundtable on “Problems of the mental health policy in Armenia” today.

Forty-five Armenian public organizations set up a coalition “For
mental health” and are fighting for the health of the mentally
retarded. Statistics show that poverty is to blame for mental
disorders.

Armenia doesn’t have a law on mental health yet. “The main spheres
of preserving mental health are funding, purchasing and distributing
medicines, laws, human rights and organizing services,” the chairman
of the Mental Health Foundation, Arman Vardanyan, said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

British consul promises more boost to Armenian economy

Mediamax news agency
7 Dec 04

Yerevan, 7 December: The United Kingdom will continue to contribute to
the economic growth in Armenia both on a bilateral level and within the
framework of European Union projects, the British consul in Yerevan,
Richard Hyde, said, as he was addressing the ceremony to open an
exhibition of British companies operating in Armenia.

The business circles of the two countries have enough potential to
expand bilateral cooperation, boost trade and rejuvenate investment
policies, he said.

The main obstacles in the development of business in Armenia are
still the lack of transparency in the financial sector, corruption
and protectionism, Hyde said. At the same time, he noted, the Armenian
government is taking measures to tackle these problems.

The total volume of British investment in the Armenian economy is
around 50m dollars now, with 21 enterprises working with British
capital.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DAY OF CULTURE DEDICATED TO HAMSHEN IN FRANKFURT ON MEIN

Azg/arm
8 Dec 04

For the first time in history a conference dedicated to Hamshen
Armenians (around 1 million living in Turkey the rest in South Russia
and Abkhazia) launched in Frankfurt on Mein, Germany. Prof. Wolfgang
Vodestein specialized in languages and culture of South Caucasus with
the help of his colleague, historian Aliye-Alis Alti (Hamshen Armenian)
and Khachkar international organization lectured at Goethe University
in Frankfurt. Prof. Voerstein, Dr. Akhim Shibol and Hamshen Armenians
Nurettin Gyurman and Alt were also among the lecturers.

Discussions followed after the lectures unearthed undeniable historic
facts. Firstly, the Armenians of Hamshen have inhabited the region of
Hamshen (Northeast Turkey) for centuries and were always objected to
violence, forcible conversion to Islam but even the converted Armenians
still preserved their mother tongue and traditions up to the days of
the Armenian genocide in 1915. Secondly, Prof. Voerstein who visited
the Hamshen Armenians in Georgia and Turkey thinks 20.000 Armenians
living in their historic birthplace speak in their native dialect,
the others speak the language of Lazs or Turkish.

Thirdly, the Lazs call Hamshen Armenians “somekhs” (Armenians),
and Turks know very well the identity of Muslim Hamshen Armenians
especially in present case when there are many of them occupying high
positions in the country.

Fourthly, while the Hamshen Armenians of Russia and Abkhazia had
freedom in the spheres of education, culture and created “Baghramian”
armed squad, Hamshen Armenians of Turkey were kept under political
pressure and were not allowed to communicate with their brothers and
sisters in other countries. An old Hamshen Armenian put it right once
saying “weâ~@~Yll again turn into gyavurs (faithless)”.

The only thing Armenian historians and ethnologists can do today is
to organize workshops on Hamshen Armenians to search for the ways of
salvation for the biggest Armenian ethnic group.

By Hamo Moskofian in Frankfurt on Mein

–Boundary_(ID_/49v0E56T45Q8F0qPfZ+HA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERIS IN GEORGIA CAN UNDERTAKE MOST RADICAL MEASURES

PanArmenian News
Dec 7 2004

07.12.2004 18:13

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azeris residing in Georgia can undertake most
radical measures – up to announcing an autonomy in the areas of
their compact residence, if the Georgian authorities do not stop
their discrimination policy towards the Azeris,” stated Zumrud
Gurbanov, the Chairman of Heyrat non-governmental organization, which
represents Azeris residing in Georgia. Day.az reported referring to
Trend news agency. Gurbanov is former MP of the Georgian Parliament,
representing E. Shevardnadze’s party. It should be reminded that the
other day a 65-year-old Azeri woman died at hospital from firearm
wounds. Four Azeris were gravely wounded due to an armed incident
next to Kula village. In Gurbanov’s words, “the incident in Kula
village took place before the eyes of the police, which did not
undertake anything.” Azeris compactly live in the South-Eastern part
of Georgia, known as Kvemo Kartli. These are the descendants Borchalu
Turkic-language tribes, which were brought to the region by Abbas
Iranian shah – after he had undertook mass expulsion of Georgians and
Armenians from the region. Azeris, whom the Georgians traditionally
call “Tatar”, today are the second on the size national minority of
Georgia. Most of them do not speak Georgian and are slightly integrated
into the Georgian society. Increase of Islamist sentiments among them
is not ruled out.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Bush Signs Law on Miscellaneous Tariffs, Armenia Trade Relations

U.S.State Department
07 December 2004

Measure repeals 1916 U.S. dumping law rejected by WTO

Washington — President Bush has signed into law a broad trade
package that suspends tariffs on hundreds of products not produced
domestically, extends permanent normal trade relations to Armenia,
and repeals a 1916 dumping law ruled illegal by the World Trade
Organization (WTO). It also extends normal trade relations to Laos.

Although largely uncontroversial, the trade package stalled repeatedly
in Congress over three years due to a series of disagreements. The
measure was approved by the House of Representatives on October 8,
by the Senate November 19, and signed into law by the president
December 3.

The package aims to resolve a U.S. dispute with its trading partners
by repealing the 1916 Anti-Dumping Act, under which U.S. companies
could retaliate in court against importers of goods dumped on
the U.S. market. The policy has been ruled illegal by the WTO. The
provision in the bill does not overturn any cases already decided or
pending under the law.

Another section of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections
Act of 2004 allows the president to waive import duties on hand-knotted
and hand-woven carpet. The provision is primarily aimed at helping
Pakistan and Afghanistan, two countries that have joined the United
States “in the fight against global terrorism,” Senate Finance
Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said in a floor statement before
the Senate vote.

The measure also strengthens the president’s authority to bar imports
of looted Iraqi antiquities.

One of the controversies that stalled the bill was the extension of
normal trade relations to Laos, which will dramatically reduce the
average U.S. tariff on Laotian products.

Russ Feingold and Herbert Kohl, Democratic senators from Wisconsin,
objected to the provision on the basis of human rights violations
against the Hmong population in Laos. Wisconsin is home to a large
number of Hmong refugees. The two senators agreed to drop their
opposition to the bill after persuading their colleagues to adopt a
resolution calling on Laos to improve its human rights record.

In the case of Armenia, that country has had normal trade relations
with the United States on an annual renewable basis. Armenia’s recent
entry into the WTO required Washington to make the status permanent.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Catholicos Aram I replies to Erdogan’s statements

Yerkir/arm
07.12.2004  15:38    

YERE VAN (YERKIR) – The Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
recently inaugurated the first museum in Turkey to be dedicated to
the Armenian people. On this occasion he said that the museum would
refute the accusation that Turkey perpetrated a genocide against
the Armenians.

“Instead of looking at facts, people have distorted history through
suppositions and misinformation”, said Erdogan. He promised to protect
the rights of the Armenians living in Turkey. He said: “As the Prime
Minister of this country, it is my duty to protect the rights of
these citizens”.

In response to Mr. Erdogan’s remarks, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia, said:

“Mr. Erdogan, before you speak of so called “assumptions” and
“misinformation”, you should visit the “Cilicia Museum” of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia in Lebanon. At that museum you would see
irrefutable evidence of the genocide perpetrated by the Turks. The
remains of the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian
people rescued from Cilicia speak for themselves. You would see
manuscripts, church vessels, and other articles of spiritual value,
that the Armenians of Adana, Zeytoun, Hajen, Sis, and other places
in Cilicia and Western Armenia saved as they fled the horrors of
massacre. All these precious remains of our spiritual heritage reached
Antelias via Deir Zor. No one who sees these remains would talk of
“assumptions” and “distortion” of facts. They are clear evidence
of Turkish barbarism. Shouldn’t you ask why these are currently in
Antelias? Are they there by coincidence?

Moreover, Mr. Prime Minister, before speaking of “falsification” and
“misinformation”, you should also visit the relics of our martyrs
that lie in a monument not far from the Museum. Perhaps you would
ask yourself, where did these human remains come from..?

History is based on clear facts and not assumptions. As much as you
and others may deny, the Armenian Genocide is a fact of history.

Mr. Erdogan you consider it your duty to protect “the rights of the
Armenians living in Turkey”. However, as Prime Minister, shouldn’t you
admit the guilt of your ancestors, their well-planned and executed
Genocide? You cannot deny your history. Nest year will be the 90th
anniversary of the Genocide. Armenian communities all over the world
will demand with one voice the recognition of the Genocide perpetrated
by Turkey and will ask for their Human Rights thus far denied”,
concluded Catholicos Aram I.

–Boundary_(ID_b2k+9lBr4HVDxRhfBkTdRw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Armenian Prelacy of Canada
3401 Olivar Asselin
Montreal, Quebec H4J 1L5
Contact Name: Dania Ohanian
Phone: (514) 856-1200
E-mail: [email protected]

85 People Register as Donors at the Armenian Prelacy of Canada Bone Marrow
Drive

Montreal (Qc)_ 85 donors registered in the Armenian Bone Marrow Project
organized jointly by the Armenian Prelacy of Canada and the Armenian Bone
Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) during the first weekend of December.

The youngest clergy member, Rev. Fr. Karnig Koyounian, Pastor of Sourp Hagop
Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, was one of the first people to provide a
sample of blood for the Bone Marrow Project.

Armenian Prelacy of Canada Executive Council and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Canada Central Committee members also participated in the
drive, as well as school officials and members of the Montreal and Laval
chapters of the ARF Youth Organization Committee of Canada and Homenetmen
Gamk (the scouting and athletic organization).

The Bone Marrow Project is a mission of crucial importance, which was put
into place to ensure that every Armenian (and others) struck with leukemia
or other blood related diseases have the hope of finding a genetically
suitable match for a bone marrow transplant, which often is the only and
final life-saving procedure for the patient.

However, due to the lack of Armenian donors in other registries and due to
the unique genetic make up of Armenians, finding a bone marrow match is more
likely to occur among other Armenians, rendering the ABMDR the greatest hope
for Armenians, particularly since only one match is projected for every 200
donors.

Established in 1999, the ABMDR is an internationally accredited,
independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization and currently has
more than 150 patients in need of a transplant.

Founded by Dr. Frieda Jordan and Dr. Sevak Avagyan, the ABMDR is a member of
the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) and the World Marrow Donor
Worldwide (WMDW), and although it shares its database information with other
registries around the world, it still needs as many donors as it can
recruit.

It is not too late to become a donor, for all those interested, please visit
for further information.

-30-

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
12/07/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Aram I Reacts Sharply to Turkish Foreign Minister’s Remark
2) Gunmen Attack Armenian, Chaldean Churches in Mosul
3) Hovhannisian: Russia’s Position not Conducive to Armenia’s Ability to
Freely
Decide to Send Troops to Iraq
4) Armenia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Opens its Doors in the US
5) BRIEFS

1) Aram I Reacts Sharply to Turkish Foreign Minister’s Remark

ANTELIAS–His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
invited Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit the Cilicia
Museum in Cilicia to witness the “irrefutable evidence of the genocide
perpetrated by the Turks.”
His Holiness was responding to Erdogan’s comments made during the opening of
the first museum in Turkey dedicated to the country’s Armenian minority.
The opening of the museum appears to be a calculated move by Turkey–aspiring
for candidacy to the European Union (EU). The 25-nation bloc has pressured
Turkey to enable its recognized minorities and the Kurds to fully exercise
their rights. Erdogan’s comments come just days before EU leaders are to meet
in Brussels to decide whether to allow Turkey to begin accession talks on its
membership.
“Instead of looking at facts, people have distorted history through
suppositions and misinformation,” Erdogan said at the opening of the museum,
referring to the genocide of Armenians in 1915 by the Ottoman government–a
fact that the Turkish government vehemently denies.
Alluding to the artifacts housed in the Cilicia museum of the
Catholicosate of
Cilicia in Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I told Erdogan that the remains of the
spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian people rescued from Cilicia
speak for themselves. “You would see manuscripts, church vessels, and other
articles of spiritual value, that the Armenians of Adana, Zeytoun, Hajen, Sis,
and other places in Cilicia and Western Armenia saved as they fled the horrors
of massacre. All these precious remains of our spiritual heritage reached
Antelias via Der Zor. No one who sees these remains would talk of
“assumptions”
and “distortion” of facts,” states the Catholicos, rather referring to them as
“clear evidence of Turkish barbarism.”
“History is based on clear facts and not assumptions,” continues the
Catholicos. “As much as you and others may deny [it], the Armenian Genocide is
a fact of history.”
The Catholicos also states that in commemorating the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian genocide, Armenians throughout the world will become one force to
demand the recognition of the genocide perpetrated by Turkey and
restoration of
their human rights thus far denied.

2) Gunmen Attack Armenian, Chaldean Churches in Mosul

MOSUL (AFP/Reuters)–Two churches in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul came
under simultaneous attack, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Gunmen stormed into the city’s Chaldean and Armenian churches in the latest
attacks on Iraq minority Christian community, witnesses and clerics said
Tuesday.
“Gunmen entered the church at about 4:30 p.m. They gathered those present in
one room and planted explosive charges in different parts of the building,”
said Father Raghid Aziz Kara at the Chaldean church.
“We were then taken outside and the armed men set off the devices. We heard
three blasts,” he told AFP outside the church which was set ablaze.
At the same moment, gunmen attacked an Armenian church, forcing out a
security
guard and two other people inside the building, the guard said, adding: “I
heard two explosions.”
Smoke poured from the Armenian church and flames could be seen inside the
Chaldean church, Reuters reporters said. It was not clear how many people had
been in the churches when they were attacked but the number was apparently not
large.
Mosul, with a population of 1.2 million, is home to many of Iraq’s
Christians,
who make up about three percent of the national population.
The Chaldean church, one of the largest in Mosul, was built in the 1950s and
enlarged four decades later.
The Chaldeans, whose 600,000 people represent the majority of Christians in
Iraq, are an oriental rite Catholic community.
Armenian Christians in Iraq number only a few thousand.
On November 8, at least three people were killed and 45 wounded when two
suspected car bombs exploded within minutes of each other outside two churches
in southern Baghdad.
In a coordinated assault on August 1, six car bombs killed 10 people and
injured 50 others outside churches in Baghdad and Mosul.

3) Hovhannisian: Russia’s Position not Conducive to Armenia’s Ability to
Freely
Decide to Send Troops to Iraq

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The issue of sending an Armenian military unit to
Iraq was discussed at the recently held meeting of the Armenian-Russian
Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Vahan Hovhannisian, who co-chairs the
interparliamentary commission and headed up the Armenian delegation, reported
on December 7 that the Russian side had expressed concern at the prospect of
Armenian troops in Iraq.
Hovhannisian said the Armenian side, in turn, raised the issue of whether
Russia’s forgiving of Iraq’s multibillion-dollar debt is not tantamount to
providing economic assistance to an Iraqi government that is an instrument of
US occupation.
The deputy speaker also underscored that Russia had not forgiven Armenia’s
debt, which is significantly less than Iraq’s.
“We told our Russian colleagues that their positions in international forums
do not at all contribute to Armenia’s ability to make a sovereign decision
regarding the matter [of sending troops to Iraq],” Hovhannisian stated.
The Russian side also expressed a certain level of resentment regarding
Armenia’s relations with NATO, according to the deputy speaker. “We clearly
explained to our colleagues that those relations are one of the prongs of our
independent policy, and we are not prepared to make concessions in that
regard,” Hovhannisian said.
The head of the Armenian delegation said the sides had, nevertheless, reached
an agreement to hold interparliamentary consultations regarding matters that
deal with NATO.

4) Armenia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Opens its Doors in the US

GLENDALE–The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia
(ARMCCI) opened its regional office for the US and Canada on December 7 in
Glendale, California. In an effort to develop strong relations between the
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia and US/Canada,
the
office will work to create mutually beneficial ties between the business
communities of Armenia and Northern America. Businessmen who wish to establish
or have already established businesses in Armenia may contact the office or
visit for more information.
1807 West Glenoaks Blvd., Suite 201
Glendale, CA 91201
(818) 247-0603, (818) 548-1177

5) BRIEFS

Diaspora Armenian Seeks Fraud Case against Yerevan Partner

YEREVAN (RFE-RL)–Prominent Armenian-American George Najarian, who has helped
to ship millions of dollars worth of medical supplies to Armenia, pleaded with
a Yerevan court on Tuesday to press fraud charges against his former local
partner who has allegedly misappropriated his expensive property. He asked the
court through his legal representatives to order state prosecutors to reopen a
criminal case against the formal owner of a photo shop and two buildings
currently constructed in central Yerevan.
Najarian maintains that he is the real owner of the property, which he says
was registered in the name of Grigor Igitian, in 1996, because Armenian law at
the time banned foreign nationals from owning land. Subsequent legal
amendments
allowed authorities not to apply the ban to ethnic Armenian foreigners with
long-term residency permits. Najarian accuses Igitian of breaking his
pledge to
give up the lucrative assets, in which he claims to have invested $500,000,
once the restriction was dropped. Igitian denies the accusations, saying that
he invested more than Najarian did; however, it is unclear how the former
English-language interpreter and university lecturer could have raised so much
money.

Greeks Want Turkey to Recognize Cyprus Independence

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Results of a poll conducted by the To Paron weekly in
Athens, revealed the results of a recent poll indicating that most Greeks are
against starting accession talks with Turkey in its bid to join the European
Union unless Turkey recognizes the Greek Republic of Cyprus and accepts
Greece’s demands regarding the Greek-Turkish relations. Nearly 82.1 percent
are
resolute in pressing Turkey to recognize Cyprus, while 89.3 percent believe
that Athens should veto the accession talks in case Turkey fails to accept
Greece’s demands.

Paris Sets Conditions for EU Talks with Turkey

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–In its December 6 issue, the Financial Times reported that
Paris will set three conditions for the start of EU membership talks with
Turkey. During the December 16-17 summit, President Jacques Chirac will
request
to clarify that Turkey must settle for less than full membership if the talks
fail. He is also expected to provide a reminder that the French people can
ultimately reject Turkey’s membership bid in a referendum, even if the talks
succeed, and that the accession talks should not start until the second
half of
2005, to prevent a dispute over Turkish membership dominating the French
referendum on the EU constitution, expected by June next year.

Le Figaro: Erdogan Uncomfortable with EU Distraction

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Le Figaro newspaper reported that Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is uncomfortable with Turkey’s preoccupation with the
European Union (EU). A headline read, “Erdogan does not exclude ‘no, thank
you,’ as an answer to Europe.” The story continued, “the political parties in
Turkey, as well as the people in the streets and press, have the belief that
the EU requires too many conditions from Turkey compared to other candidates,
and that is not fair.”

German Opposition Leaders Urge Schroeder to Prevent Turkey’s Accession to EU

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Leaders of Germany’s conservative opposition have
written to
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder urging him to stop the European Union from
opening
entry talks with Turkey. Angela Merkel, head of the Christian Democrats (CDU)
and Edmund Stoiber, head of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party the Christian
Social Union (CSU), argued that Turkey should be offered a “privileged
partnership” with the EU instead of full membership.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper quoted extracts from the
letter to Schroeder in which they said that Turkey’s entry would “overstretch”
the EU.

No Fir or Pine Trees to be Cut

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–A little more than three weeks before the New Year as
Armenians begin to decorate their homes with Christmas trees, the Armenian
nature protection and agricultural ministries issued a joint order prohibiting
cutting of fir and pine trees in order to improve reproduction and
preservation
of natural woods. Both ministries said they will work closely with police to
regulate cut trees and punish the culprits.

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI-RUSSIAN MOODS IN ARMENIA NOT UNGROUNDED, V.
HOVHANNISIAN SUPPOSES

07.12.2004 17:48

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The development of anti-Russian moods in the strata
of the Armenian society has deep and superficial reasons, supposes
representative of Dashnaktsutyun Party (which is part of the ruling
coalition), Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian.
However, he did not specify which reasons he meant. He also said that
it is not clear what represents considerable danger: “either when
the power is formed under the pressure of local oligarchs and is not
accepted by the people, or when it is formed under the pressure of
foreign oligarchs and international funds” meaning the revolutionary
scenarios of Ukraine and Georgia. It is rather the case, “when you
chose the lesser of the two evils,” the Dashnaktsutyun representative
summed up. Those scenarios, in his opinion, are possible in any of the
countries of the CIS. It should be reminded that Dashnaktsutyun (the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation), which makes part of the Socialist
International, is one of the traditional Armenian parties. Its basic
principles include the national, socialist and revolutionary character.
Recently the party is considered to be traditionally pro-Russian,
however Dashnaktsutyun structures in the US and Europe operate
autonomously and are rather oriented towards the West. Historically
Dashnaktsutyun has abided by different foreign policy orientations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DELEGATION’S MOST PROPOSALS ACCEPTED AT SESSIONS OF CIS
INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY COMMISSIONS

SAINT PETERSBURG, December 6 (Noyan Tapan). On December 3, the CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s commissions continued their work
within the framework of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA)
session in Tavrichesky Palace of Saint Petersburg. At the session
of the political and international cooperation commission Victor
Stepanov presented the CIS observers’ conclusion regarding the House
of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly, and Vadim
Gustov – regarding the presidential elections in Ukraine. According
to the RA National Assembly Vice Chairman Vahan Hovhannissian,
over 10 isiues were on the agenda of the commision. “Another issue
related to us was discussed by the commission: the RF delegation
presented the monitiring group report on Kosovo and Metokhio. This
allowed me to reaffirm the Armenian delegation’s proposal, which
was put forward by the Armenian delegation at the Yerevan session,
to send similar groups to the CIS conflict areas. Quite often we
hear Azerbaijan’s unfounded accusations that nuclear waste is dumped,
human and drug trafficking takes place, terrorist groups are trained,
etc. in Nagorno Karabakh and areas adjacent to it. These allegations
may have dangerous consequences in international organizations. The
best solution is to ascertain the situation on the spot by means of
inviting an international monitoring group. I am convinced that we will
win in case of fair reports. The commission accepted our proposal,
the fact of conducting studies in Nagorno Karabakh will be added in
the resolution concerning Kosovo, the NA Vice Chairman noted. Hrayr
Karapetian from the Armenian delegation participated in the defence
and security coopeartion commission’s session. According to him,
a number of draft model laws were discussed. Special importance
was attached to the law on antiterrorism, the law against nuclear
substances proliferation, and the law on financing antiterrorism
measures that relate to the fight against terrorist acts in various
countries. During the discussions on the law on fight against terrorism
Azerbaijan’s representatives made an attempt to include in the law the
notions of separatism and extremism. “My speech highlighted the fact
that these notions should not be confused with each other: it is not
always that separatism is accompanied by terrorism and is related to
extremism. This is the case not only in Nagorno Karabakh but also in
Quebec, Italy, Belgium where various separatist movements exist but
they are not associated with the notion of terrorism. Our objective
is to formulate the fight agianst terrorism in the model law and not
to distort the law by various notions,” Hrayr Karapetian noted. The
Armenian delegation’s proposal was accepted. According to the RA
National Assembly’s PR Department, Gurgen Arsenian participated in
the session of the commission on legal issues. According to him,
one of the most important issues discussed was a new edition of the
regulations concerning international observers. The Armenian delegation
submitted a package of 56 proposals, which were reviewed and most
of them accepted. The draft model law on freedom of conscience,
on religious beliefs, which had been sent to parliaments of the CIS
member states in order to receive their proposals, was also dicussed.

–Boundary_(ID_bFRKotVsosgWmaa5KNXdnA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress