Author: Adrine Hakobian

Council of Europe approves committee to deal with Karabakh
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
27 Apr 05
[Presenter] The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE]
has approved the composition of the temporary committee to deal with
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. In addition to parties to the conflict
and the chairmen of PACE committees, representatives of six countries
were included in the committee. The former chairman of the assembly,
British MP Russell Johnston, will lead the committee.
[Correspondent over video of the Council of Europe building in
Strasbourg] The PACE has approved the composition of the temporary
committee for the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. The committee will
tackle the implementation of Article 5 of the [PACE] resolution which
deals with the conflict in the Nagornyy Karabakh region. It will be
headed by Lord Russell Johnston.
A source in the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE has told “Son Xabar”
that the new committee will include the heads of the delegations from
Azerbaijan, Armenia, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden and
Turkey, the chairmen of the PACE political affairs and monitoring
committees, and MPs from Turkey and Romania, Abdulkadir Ates and
(?Georgiy Chukhrumba).
The committee also includes the Azerbaijani and Armenian members of
the monitoring group, co-rapporteurs Andreas Gross and Anders Herkel
and the author of the report on Nagornyy Karabakh, David Atkinson.
The committee’s mission will be to collect, on a yearly basis, reports
from countries and entities where [PACE] members are represented about
the work done to achieve a negotiated solution to the
conflict. Members of the temporary committee are expected to visit
Baku, Yerevan and the conflict region.
Vaqif Aydinoglu for “Son Xabar”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

College board shifts positions
Glendale News Press
April 19 2005
Gabrielian is named president, and new vice president says replacing Najarian, Davitt will be tough.
By Rima Shah, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — There were no surprises at Glendale Community College’s
reorganization of the board Monday night when Anita Gabrielian was
unanimously appointed president.
Gabrielian, SBC’s executive director of external affairs, public
policy and community affairs, was the third-highest vote-getter in
the April 5 municipal election.
She replaces Victor King, the outgoing president who was also reelected
to the board.
Board Clerk Kathleen Burke-Kelly was appointed as vice president
and Armine Hacopian, reelected to the board with the most votes,
was named the new clerk.
“The challenges that lie ahead for the board are replacing [Ara]
Najarian and [John] Davitt,” Burke-Kelley said. “I am happy to be in
a position to be able to do that.”
Gabrielian has many challenges ahead as president, Hacopian said.
“The biggest challenge is to appoint a consulting team and to interview
for the post of the superintendent,” Hacopian said.
The consulting team will help conduct a nationwide search and
interviews to replace Davitt, the superintendent president who will
retire in 2006.
The new board must also select a replacement for Najarian, who won
a seat on the City Council in the April 5 election.
“We will be conducting interviews within the next 60 days,” Hacopian
said. “We have a choice of having an election, but we probably are
going to appoint someone.”
Academically, Hacopian said she hopes the board will look into ways
to increase the transfer rate to four-year colleges.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Government Invites Decker to Perform at Memorial Concert
Commemorating 90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Government has officially invited U.S. world musician
Daniel Decker to perform at the Memorial Concert in Yerevan, Armenia on
April 23 to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide. Decker will sing Adana,” a song that tells the tragic story of
the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians during WWI. It is a collaboration
between Decker, who wrote the song’s lyrics, and Ara Gevorgian, one of
Armenia’s premier composers.
PRWeb.com
April 6, 2005
Syracuse, NY (PRWEB) April 6, 2005 — American singer-songwriter
Daniel Decker () today announced that the Armenian
government has extended an official invitation to him to perform the
song “Adana” at a special Memorial Concert it is hosting to commemorate
the 90th Anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. The concert
will take place at the Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre in Yerevan,
the capitol of Armenia, on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
The Armenian Opera Orchestra, and Ara Gevorgian, one of Armenia’s
premier composers, will accompany Decker’s performance at the Memorial
Concert. Armenia’s President, Robert Kocharian, will be attending. Also
in attendance will be the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
The song “Adana” tells the story of the Armenian Genocide, during which
soldiers of the Ottoman Empire forced 1.5 million Armenians into
starvation, torture and extermination because they would not renounce
their Christian faith. The song is a collaboration between Decker, who
wrote its powerful lyrics, and Gevorgian, its composer. “Adana” is
already played at the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, Armenia, whenever
visiting foreign dignitaries visit.
Decker met Gevorgian by chance on a trip to Armenia in 2002. They first
collaborated with Decker writing the lyrics to a song the composer had
written for Armenia’s National Independence Day. “Noah’s Prayer”
chronicles the biblical story of Noah and his spiritual journey on the
ark to Mt. Ararat. With Gevorgian and the Armenian Opera Orchestra
accompanying him, Decker performed “Noah’s Prayer” live in 2002 during a
nationally televised outdoor concert with Mt. Ararat looming in the
background. Armenia’s President Kocharian, as well as ambassadors from
countries around the world, attended the event. After the concert,
President Kocharian approached Decker to shake his hand and personally
thank him for his participation.
The television broadcast transformed the song “Noah’s Prayer” into an
immediate hit and Decker into an instant celebrity in Armenia. The song
was repeatedly featured on Armenian radio and television, and Decker
gave numerous performances and press interviews. On his last visit to
the country in 2004, a reporter and television crew followed him
everywhere he went for three days.
It was the day after the 2002 concert that Decker heard Gevorgian’s
composition entitled “Adana.” Decker felt it was perfect to tell the
story of the Armenian genocide, an issue that moved him deeply, so he
arranged to meet Gevorgian the next day. “Before I could tell him my
idea to write the about the genocide, he said, ‘Please choose “Adana,
and please write about the genocide.'” Decker later discovered that
“Adana” is the name of the city in present-day Turkey where one of the
first massacres of the Armenian people took place. Thus, a second
collaboration was born.
“I wrote ‘Adana’ not only as a way to draw international attention to a
terrible tragedy, but as a source of healing to the Armenian people,”
explains Decker. Neither modern day Muslim Turkey, nor the United
States, an ally of Turkey, has formally recognized the Armenian
Genocide. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to perform with Daniel
again,” says Gevorgian. “Daniel has done a great thing for the people of
Armenia. When you listen to ‘Adana,’ you know that he was meant to write
the lyrics of this song to bring greater international awareness to the
Armenian Genocide.”
In addition to the work Decker has done to garner attention for the
genocide, Decker has also been working with relief organizations in
Armenia to bring aid to the poorest regions and to those that have been
hit the hardest, children and the elderly.
Both “Adana” and “Noah’s Prayer” can be found on Decker’s latest
recording entitled, “My Offering,” available on his website. With a
musical journey that has taken him to England, Puerto Rico, Canada and
Armenia, this CD reflects Decker’s love and appreciation of the many
cultures he has experienced. Along with his unique piano stylings, the
CD “My Offering” is a rich fusion of world music influences, with
flamenco guitars, Armenian duduk, Brazilian samba, Latin jazz, and
special performances by the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
For more information about Decker, please visit
Please direct press inquiries to Anne Sharp at (818) 994-2309.
# # #
Contact Information:
Anne Sharp
SHARP CONCEPTS
818-994-2309
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

World Bank Group, DC
March 29 2005
Young and at Risk : Living With HIV

March 28, 2005 – The 1990s ushered in many positive changes in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, but rapid social change also exposed these
transition countries to problems that tight borders previously held
at bay-drug and sex trafficking and the onset of HIV/AIDS.
Sharing needles and injecting drugs is driving the spread of the
HIV/AIDS in this region, particularly among youth.

Between 1.5 and 3 million Russians are believed to inject drugs.
Ukraine has more than 800,000 injecting drug users, while Kazakhstan
some 200,000.

Economic hardship has been especially difficult on young people, who
are increasingly poor and jobless. An increasing number aren’t
completing secondary school and are exposed to trafficked drugs and a
burgeoning sex trade.
All of this makes youth more vulnerable to drug use, and,
consequently, to HIV/AIDS. As a result of this risky behavior, the
number of new infections has skyrocketed over a short period of time.
While the number of actual infections (prevalence rate) in the region
remains low-0.8%-the number of those infected reached some 1.4
million people by the end of 2004, which represents more than a
nine-fold increase in less than 10 years, according to UNAIDS
estimates.
The Russian Federation has the largest number of infections in the
region – 860,000. HIV is thought to have gained a foothold among
high-risk groups – injecting drug users and commercial sex workers —
in Southeastern Europe.
Under 30 at the Epicenter
More than 80% of those living with HIV are under the age of 30.

Young men are at the greatest risk. Drug use often lands them in
prison for possession, where they continue injecting and sharing
needles, spreading HIV to other inmates and becoming susceptible to
tuberculosis, which easily attacks those whose immune systems are
weakened by HIV.
Tuberculosis has emerged as a parallel epidemic to HIV/AIDS and is
considered to be “critical” in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova,
Romania, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
and Uzbekistan, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sexual transmission of HIV is increasing as well, particularly in
Estonia, Russia, and Ukraine, the region’s most seriously-affected
countries, allowing the epidemic to gain a foothold in the wider
population.
Difficult socio-economic circumstances are forcing young women and
girls to engage in commercial sex work, which also fuels the spread
of HIV.
Demographic Decline Fueled Further
Unless its spread is contained, HIV/AIDS will have grave economic and
social consequences.
In Russia, where prevalence is estimated at around 1.1%, AIDS is
accelerating a pre-existing demographic crisis- further reducing life
expectancy as well as overall population.
If current trends continue, Russia’s GDP could drop by 4.15% by 2010,
and without any intervention the GDP could fall by 10.5% by 2020,
according to a 2002 World Bank study.
The uninhibited spread of HIV would diminish the economy’s long-term
growth rate, taking off half a percentage point annually by 2010 and
a full percentage point annually by 2020.
Stemming the HIV Tide
The HIV/AIDS pandemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia started
relatively late compared to other places in the world.
In many countries the epidemic is still in its early stages-largely
contained within high risk groups- providing a window of opportunity
to contain its spread.
Increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS and establishing effective
prevention, care and treatment services are crucial to tackle the
epidemics. Country governments, civil society, the private sector and
international agencies must work together for these interventions to
succeed.
Two examples of such joint action are taking place this week in
Moscow – a Russian Business Summit on HIV/AIDS being supported by the
World Bank Group and other partners, and a CIS ministerial meeting
from March 31-April 1, organized by UNAIDS and its co-sponsors.
Mobilizing Resources
In addition to helping mobilize resources to fight HIV/AIDS in
Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the World Bank has conducted
extensive research and analysis of the issue to support policy design
and project planning.
In a regional strategy laid out in 2003, Averting AIDS Crises in ECA,
the Bank estimated that the region will need US$1.5 billion in
resources by 2007 to stem the spread of HIV.
International assistance for fighting HIV/AIDS in the region has
risen twelve-fold over the past four years -from US$52 million in
2001 to more than US$600 million by the end of 2004-through the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (GFATM), the World Bank,
and major bilateral donors.
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 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) 2005 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

PanArmenian News
Feb 26 2005
“BUILDING UP ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION ON WHOLE INTERACTION
SPECTRUM UNDER WAY,” ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAID
26.02.2005 13:53
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Building up the Armenian-Russian cooperation on
the whole spectrum of interaction is under way and it pleases me,”
Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated in an interview with the
Golos Armenii newspaper. In his words, the Russian President is
expected to visit Armenia in spring. It is a good opportunity for
joint evaluation of the way passed and defining cooperation task in
the prospect, the Armenian leader added. Speaking of relations
between Armenia and Georgia over the issue of Javakheti – a region of
Georgia mostly populated by Armenians, Robert Kocharian noted that
“the interaction between Armenia and Georgia over Javakhk should be
of systematic nature and should have a serious financial component.”
“The understanding of this is available both in Armenia and Georgia.
It is necessary to work out interaction mechanisms,” he emphasized.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 25 2005
USA State Department declared its support to territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan again

25 February 2005 [16:57] – Today.Az

Bureau of USA State Department on Europe and Asia Affairs spread a
document on President George Bush’s visit to Europe.

Positions of the USA and European Union concerning the reforming in
Asia are reflected in the document.
“The general aim of the USA and European Union is to ensure
successful passage to democracy and market economy in Eurasia. We
intend to struggle against dangers to passage and regional stability,
as well as against criminality and corruption, illegal turn-over of
the narcotic drug, weapon of mass destruction, human trafficking
together.”
State Department also cleared up the policy of the USA on South
Caucasus.” We keep on supporting integration efforts of Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia to Euro Atlantic arena.
Programs of “Neighbors of Europe policy” of European Union and
“Partnership for the sake of peace” of NATO confirm that we have the
same value with Europe, lead to deepen the relations with South
Caucasus.
USA and EU worry about the problems might appear on stability and
security in Black Sea region, and South Caucasus, because of the
unresolved conflicts.
We support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Moldova and cooperate in the sphere of uniting international efforts
for regulation of Dnestr, South Osetia, Abkhazia, and Upper Garabagh
conflicts by political way.” /APA/

URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPRESENTATIVES OF AZERBAIJAN DIASPORA MET PACE CO-RAPPORTEUR ON AZERBAIJAN
[February 12, 2005, 20:40:53]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 12 2005
Head of the Estonia-Azerbaijan Center of Culture “Aydin” functioning
in Estonia Niyazi Hajiyev, and the deputy of parliament of Estonia,
chairman of Estonia-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group
Eldar Efendiyev have met with the co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe on Azerbaijan, Member of Estonian
Parliament Andres Herkel before his visit to Azerbaijan.
The goal of meeting consisted in bringing up to his attention of the
truth about Azerbaijan and rendering assistance to him to take more
objective position.
During the meeting, the co-rapporteur was told of the historical roots
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, its reason,
hard conditions in which appeared more than one million of refugees
and IDPs as a result of the Armenian aggression. Also was marked the
purposeful activity of the organizations of the Azerbaijan Diaspora
and the State Committee on Work with the Azerbaijanis Living in
Foreign Countries, directed on integration of the Country into Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand
Feb 12 2005
Tribunal questions refugee’s persecution claim
12 February 2005
By ANNA CLARIDGE
The asylum seeker who says she will be persecuted and possibly killed
if she is forced to return to Azerbaijan was a “vague, hesitant and
mobile” witness, the Refugee Status Appeals Authority says.
Gulnara Taghiyeva, who will be deported by the Immigration Service
as soon as travel documents are available, says she faces a violent
future on her return because she is a Christian.
However, in a damning written decision on Taghiyeva’s application
to stay in New Zealand, the tribunal questions her commitment to
Christianity and casts doubt on claims she was severely beaten or
persecuted as a Christian living in the predominantly Muslim country.
Taghiyeva appeared in the Christchurch District Court yesterday
looking frail and tired, eyes red from crying, after two nights in
Christchurch police cells.
A judge released her on bail, unopposed by the Immigration Service,
to live with friends in Papanui while travel documents are secured
for her deportation.
The 44-year-old was taken into police custody on Wednesday morning
after the Associate Immigration Minister threw out a last-ditch effort
for refugee status.
Asked how good it was to be released on bail, Taghiyeva broke down
in tears and whispered “Hallelujah Jesus”.
Taghiyeva clutched her Bible, surrounded by her Christian supporters,
too overwhelmed to speak, except to thank God for her release.
Taghiyeva told the authority she had divorced her Muslim husband in
1986 after five years marriage, during which time they had a daughter
who was physically and intellectually disabled.
Later that year she entered into a relationship with an Armenian man.
Her parents did not approve and her father beat her, kicked her out
of home and “took” her daughter from her.
After she converted to Christianity, Taghiyeva said Azerbaijan police
detained her twice, punched her, used pliers to pinch her skin,
extinguished cigarettes in her mouth and urinated on her.
But the authority said it did not believe Taghiyeva’s story and said
she would be safe if she returned home.
Taghiyeva was a “vague, hesitant and mobile” witness who made
inconsistent statements including:
Her original application for refugee status made no reference to two
detentions by the police or mistreatment by authorities. She answered
“No” to questions on being detained or arrested or mistreated.
She said she was baptised as a Christian but could not remember the
exact date of such a significant event.
Taghiyeva said she went to Turkey and Iran looking to escape
persecution, but each time returned to Azerbaijan because it was
either too expensive or people would not help her. The authority
found her returning to the country “inconsistent with her claim to
be in fear of persecution”.
The authority said while it was accepted Taghiyeva was Christian
“this (was) not a significant aspect of her life”.
“She has never had any problems as a result of this. She manifests
her faith in a very modest way (prayers to Jesus) and is quite content
not to attend church.”
The authority said Azerbaijan had a relatively safe human rights
record and Taghiyeva would not be harmed.
“While there may be isolated incidents of persecution, they are
not of such frequency that it could be said that Taghiyeva has a
well-founded fear of being persecuted. The authority does not doubt
(that baptism happened) but it does find that Christianity is not
particularly important to her.”
–Boundary_(ID_5o/fi3s4P41nRe1Ziq7upQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE mission visits Qubadli District, questions locals
Arminfo
4 Feb 05
YEREVAN
The OSCE factfinding mission today visited Qubadli District which is
under the control of the Nagornyy Karabakh defence army.
Yesterday the experts spent all day studying the situation in Zangilan
District and questioning residents in order to find out who they are
and where they come from, our Arminfo correspondent reports in
Stepanakert.
The OSCE factfinding mission will complete field work on 5 February
and most likely, summarize the results of the monitoring in
Stepanakert. The report for the OSCE Minsk Group will be prepared in
Europe in one or two months.