Author: Andres-Papazian

ARMENIA TO ACCEDE TO THE WTO GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT

States News Service
December 7, 2010 Tuesday
GENEVA, Switzerland

The following information was released by the World Trade Organization:

Armenia’s accession to the Agreement will take effect thirty days after
the deposit of its instrument of accession with the Director-General,
and following adoption of the draft law.

The decision today completes a process of negotiations that began
with Armenia’s application for accession to the Agreement just over
a year ago, on 4 September 2009.

Director-General Pascal Lamy welcomed the decision as good for
Armenia, good for the Agreement on Government Procurement and good
for the WTO system. He said that Participation in the GPA brings real
benefits not only in terms of access to other Parties’ markets for
procurement of goods, services and construction services, but also
in the form of enhanced competition and transparency in the Party’s
internal markets. It embodies a political and legal commitment to good
governance principles that reflects very positively on the acceding
government and on its leaders. In applying for GPA accession and
then completing the related negotiations in a little over a year,
Armenia has effectively demonstrated to the world its commitment to
these principles Mr. Lamy said.

The Chairman of the Committee on Government Procurement, Mr. Nicholas
Niggli of Switzerland, congratulated Armenia and said that in applying
for GPA accession and in completing the process in such a timely
fashion, it had shown courage, fortitude and wisdom. You have made
a commitment to good governance that will be noted around the world,
and that has made you a leader in your region he added.

Government procurement accounts for in the range of 15-20 % of gross
domestic product (GDP), on average, in developed countries. Only
a part of this is currently covered by the Agreement on Government
Procurement.

The aim of the Agreement is to open up as much of government
procurement as possible to international competition. It is designed to
make laws, regulations, procedures and practices regarding government
procurement that is covered by the Agreement more transparent and to
ensure they do not discriminate against the products or suppliers of
other GPA Parties.

Currently, the Agreement covers forty-one WTO Members, namely: Canada;
the European Union, with its 27 member States; Hong Kong, China;
Iceland; Israel; Japan; Korea; Liechtenstein; the Kingdom of the
Netherlands with respect to Aruba; Norway; Singapore; Switzerland;
Chinese Taipei and the United States.

Other WTO Members that are in the process of negotiating their
accession to the Agreement on Government Procurement are Albania,
China, Georgia, Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Oman and Panama.

A further five WTO Members, namely Croatia, the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia and the Ukraine, have
provisions regarding accession to the Agreement in their respective
Protocols of Accession to the WTO.

From: A. Papazian

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

===============================================
Wednesday 8 December 2010
ARMENIA: GROWING CONCERN OVER PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ON RELIGION

Human rights defenders and religious communities have harshly criticised
proposed amendments to several Laws imposing new restrictions on and
punishments for religious activity. The state would conduct a “theological
expert examination” before granting registration to religious communities,
while those that fail to provide full information about all their
activities could be liquidated. Sharing faith is a particular target, with
penalties for violations of up to three months’ imprisonment. “If adopted,
they will create two kinds of citizens in Armenia – those of the Armenian
Apostolic Church on one side, and then the rest,” Pastor Rene Leonian of
the Evangelical Church told Forum 18 News Service. “It is difficult for us
to accept in an independent and democratic state that there can be two
classes of citizen.” The amendments, prepared by the Justice Ministry, only
became known when placed on the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission
website on 30 November. “Such secrecy and silence is unacceptable,” Larisa
Minasyan of Armenia’s Open Society Foundation told Forum 18.

ARMENIA: GROWING CONCERN OVER PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ON RELIGION

By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service

Concern is mounting among human rights defenders and many of Armenia’s
religious minority communities about proposed amendments to the Religion
Law, the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offences and the Charity
Law, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. “All these laws so closely
regulating religious activity represent an intrusion on the part of the
government,” one religious leader, who asked not to be identified, told
Forum 18 from the Armenian capital Yerevan on 6 December. “We are very
worried, as several points are a very real threat to religious freedom,”
Armen Lusyan of Yerevan’s Word of Life Protestant Church told Forum 18 on 8
December.

To the distress of many religious communities and human rights activists,
the proposed amendments – which have not yet been approved by the
government and are yet to reach Parliament – only became known when they
appeared in English on the website of the Venice Commission of the Council
of Europe on 30 November
( and
).

Armenia’s Justice Minister Gevorg Danielyan presented the texts in English
to the Venice Commission on 26 October, asking them to prepare a legal
review, Tatiana Mychelova of the Venice Commission told Forum 18 from
Strasbourg on 3 December. She said the Commission is preparing the review
jointly with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
She added that the review is expected to be formally adopted at the Venice
Commission plenary meeting on 17 and 18 December in Venice.

Pastor Rene Leonian, head of the Evangelical Church, which has 45
congregations across Armenia, told Forum 18 on 7 December they are “very
surprised” that the Armenian Government sent the proposed amendments to the
Venice Commission without first informing and consulting local religious
communities and civil society. “We were not happy to learn about this only
from the Venice Commission website.”

Echoing this concern is Larisa Minasyan, head of Armenia’s Open Society
Foundation. “Such secrecy and silence is unacceptable,” she told Forum 18
from Yerevan on 6 December. “This has been done in a completely closed and
unaccountable way.” She calls for open, public discussion of the proposed
amendments before they reach Parliament.

The proposed amendments to various laws on religion come at the same time
as Armenia’s Defence Ministry has prepared proposed amendments to the
Alternative Service Law, which in its current version fails to establish a
genuinely civilian alternative to military service. Armenia has been
repeatedly criticised by the Council of Europe for failing to meet its
obligation to introduce a genuinely civilian alternative service and for
continuing to imprison conscientious objectors – of whom 73 were serving
prison sentences as of 1 December (see F18News 7 December 2010
).

Armenian original texts not made public

Karen Hakopyan, head of the Department of Normative Acts at the Justice
Ministry, said that Minister Danielyan and his advisors had prepared the
texts. “It’s not certain they will be adopted by the Government and by
Parliament,” he told Forum 18 from Yerevan on 6 December. “We are waiting
for the Venice Commission review, and if that is negative we’ll look at the
texts again.”

Hakopyan said he was unable to make available to Forum 18 the
Armenian-language originals of the proposed amendments, insisting that they
will only be published when the “final text” is approved by the government
and sent to Parliament. Asked why the proposed amendments have not been
discussed with civil society and religious communities, he said it was
better done as a “single package” once the government has approved the
final text.

Continuation of previous attempts for new legal restrictions?

Many commentators have told Forum 18 that these fresh proposed amendments
are a continuation of the failed previous attempt to introduce new legal
restrictions on religious activity. The proposed amendments to the Religion
Law and to the Criminal Code began their passage through Parliament in
February 2009 and were approved in their first reading the following month.

The amended Religion Law would have banned the sharing of faith, required
500 adult citizen members before a religious community could gain legal
status, banned non-Trinitarian Christian communities from gaining legal
status, given broad reasons for banning religious communities, and
recognised the “exclusive mission” of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The
new Criminal Code Article 162 would have punished the sharing of beliefs.

However, in a review made public in June 2009, the Council of Europe and
OSCE strongly criticised the proposed amendments. Work on them then
appeared to have halted, although officials insisted that the amendments
had not been abandoned (see F18News 2 July 2009
).

The latest Justice Ministry texts differ from the 2009 proposed amendments,
even though many of the issues they deal with are identical.

New restrictions and punishments in proposed amendments

In the current proposed amendments, a revised Article 5 of the Religion Law
specifies that registration of a religious organisation “would be on the
basis of an expert opinion of its religiousness”, which would include a
review “of the doctrine of their faith provided by an organisation”.

Attached to the registration application would have to be “information on
the basics of the doctrine and the practice based thereon, including the
characteristics of the given belief and history of origin of the given
organisation, characteristics of the forms and methods of its activities,
characteristics of attitude towards family, marriage and education,
characteristics of the attitude towards the health of the followers of the
given religion, on limitations of civil rights and obligations envisaged
for the members and servants of the organisation”.

A far more detailed Article 14 specifies that the state body which conducts
the “theological expert examination” of all applications has the right to
seek further information from the applicant if it needs it. A “negative
expert opinion” by this body would prevent an organisation from gaining
legal status.

The revised Article 5 would however remove a provision of the current Law
that religious communities must be based on “historically canonised Holy
Scriptures”.

The amendments would leave unchanged the requirement (introduced in the
1997 amendments) to have 200 adults to found a religious organisation.

A new Article 7.1 would oblige a religious organisation “not to engage in
activities conflicting with the objectives envisaged by its statute or
prohibited by law, not to damage the uninhibited mental and physical
development of an individual, including of children and teenagers, the
property of a person, not to intervene in family affairs arbitrarily”. It
would also oblige it “not to damage property of the state, legal persons
and citizens when implementing its statutory objectives”.

The Article would also oblige each religious organisation to submit
detailed annual reports on its activity, including “on cooperation with
other religious organisations” and on “implemented projects (charity,
construction, medical, educational) and events (celebrations, pilgrimage,
concerts, camping)”.

A new Article 24 would introduce wide-ranging possibilities to “terminate”
the activities of a religious organisation and strip it of legal status:
“Breach of public security and public order; Damaging human health and
morality; Encroachment of human rights and freedoms; Arbitrary intervening
in family affairs; Abetting persons ‘being in a state dangerous for life
and health’ to refuse medical aid based on religious motives; Instigate
persons to refuse performing civil obligations prescribed by law and to
commit other illegal actions.”

Article 8, which already bans sharing of faith (proselytism or
“soul-hunting”), would have a further clause added: “Any direct or indirect
attempt of persuasion aimed at distortion of religious convictions (views)
of persons through a reward or promise thereof or moral assistance or
material aid or deceit, as well as through exploitation of their lack of
experience, trust, need, low mental abilities, shall be deemed
proselytism.”

The new Article 24 would specify: “Religious advocacy (preaching) in
kindergartens, schools and other educational, learning, social institutions
shall be prohibited. Proselytism and performance of functions of religious
organisations in violation of the requirements of the legislation of the
Republic of Armenia shall be prohibited.”

A new Article 162.1 would be added to the Criminal Code: “Distortion of
religious convictions of persons in any direct or indirect form of
persuasion through a reward or a promise thereof or moral assistance or
material aid or deceit, as well as through exploitation of their lack of
experience, trust, need, low mental abilities shall be punishable by a fine
in the amount of 500-fold to 1000-fold of the minimum salary or by
detention for a maximum term of three months or by deprivation of the right
to hold certain positions or carry out certain activities for a maximum
term of three years.”

Three new Articles are proposed for the Code of Administrative Offences.
Article 178.1 would punish preaching in educational establishments, with
fines of 500 times the minimum monthly wage, doubled for repeat “offences”.
Article 178.2 would punish “Performance of functions of religious
organisations and registration in violation of the requirements of the
legislation of the Republic of Armenia, failure to submit information,
falsification or concealment thereof” with similar fines.

Article 178.3 would punish “Failure to provide information or provision of
incomplete or false information on charity works carried out by religious
organisations” with a fine of 100 times the minimum monthly wage (150 times
for repeat “offences”).

An amendment to the Charity Law would add a ban on charity “for the
purposes of religious advocacy”.

Strong criticism

Many of these proposed amendments have provoked strong criticism from human
rights defenders and religious communities. “As in last year’s proposed
amendments, we fear the limitations on freedom of conscience, freedom of
expression of our faith and limitation on human rights generally,” Pastor
Leonian told Forum 18.

He warns that the amendments could create intolerance and hatred in society
and conflict between different religious communities. “If adopted, they
will create two kinds of citizens in Armenia – those of the Armenian
Apostolic Church on one side, and then the rest,” he said. “It is difficult
for us to accept in an independent and democratic state that there can be
two classes of citizen. I don’t want to see this kind of Armenia.”

Lusyan of Word of Life Church warns that the restrictions on and penalties
for sharing one’s faith would have a chilling effect. “Normal religious
activity could be regarded as proselytism, while all churches which preach
– using books or websites, which is all of them – could be banned,” he told
Forum 18. “It will criminalise such activity. How can churches then spread
their faith and preach?”

He especially fears the new Criminal Code punishments for “proselytism”.

Jehovah’s Witnesses too are concerned. They pointed out to Forum 18 on 8
December that many of the proposed provisions have already been deemed
unlawful in decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in
Strasbourg. In the June 2010 judgment on the Moscow Jehovah’s Witness
community’s denial of registration (which the Russian government has
challenged), the ECtHR ruled that “the State’s duty of neutrality and
impartiality prohibits it from assessing the legitimacy of religious
beliefs or the ways in which those beliefs are expressed or manifested”.

They also pointed out that the same judgment reiterated earlier ECtHR
decisions upholding the right to preach one’s faith, which “has to be
distinguished from improper proselytism that takes the form of offering
material or social advantages with a view to gaining new members for a
church, exerting improper pressure on people in distress or in need or even
using violence or brainwashing”.

Several human rights defenders and religious leaders complained to Forum 18
of what they regard as the vague formulations which they fear could lead to
wide interpretation on the part of officials and courts. “Civil society is
at a loss as to how to interpret some of these provisions,” Minasyan of the
Open Society Foundation told Forum 18. “Moreover, many provisions put the
burden of proof on religious organisations that they are not violating the
law, which is the wrong way round.”

Justice Ministry defends amendments

Asked why Armenia’s 1991 Religion Law (as amended in 1997 and 2001) and the
other laws need to be amended further, Hakopyan of the Justice Ministry
insisted to Forum 18 that “it is not correctly written” and the current
legal regulation of religion “carries a risk of corruption”.

Asked to explain, he said during the election money was paid to political
parties, while money was also spent on charity. “We want this to be under
the law.” Asked to explain clearly who had done something that required
these Laws to be tightened, Hakopyan admitted that “no incidents were
officially recorded”, but repeated his insistence that these Laws need to
be tightened.

Hakopyan also insisted that it is wrong that the current Law does not ban
people from paying others to change their faith. “We’re opening up this
possibility.” Asked whether such cases have occurred in Armenia and how
often, say, in the past year, he responded: “I’ve seen myself in a
children’s home in 2009 when people from a religious community came in with
presents and prayed.” Despite Forum 18’s repeated questions he would not
explain which religious community had brought the presents and prayed, and
how this had violated the rights of the children.

Hakoyan complained that some religious communities “take a family under
their care” if they join them, arguing that such “proselytism” is bad.
However, he was unable to say how widespread this is, despite citing as
evidence of such “proselytism” that “many religious sects” are operating in
Armenia.

The office of Vardan Astsatryan, head of the government’s Department on
National Minority and Religious Issues, declined to put Forum 18 through to
him on 6 December, saying he could not speak on the proposed amendments.
(END)

Further coverage of Armenian-related religious freedom issues is at

A printer-friendly map of Armenia is available at
.
(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

From: A. Papazian

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 8, 2010

________________________________________________

In Detroit, Primate Leads Community in Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration

The involvement of young people in the life of the Armenian Church was at
the center of weekend-long activities at the St. John Church of Southfield,
Mich., late last month.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited the parish, where he celebrated the Divine
Liturgy and blessed six candle-bearers on Sunday, November 21.

The six parishioners-Jacob Bahm, Nareg Bezjian, Nicholas Boyadjian, Andon
Nersess DerGhazarian, Spencer Keoleian, and Danielle Sarafian-have been
working with sub-deacon Ghazaros DerGhazarian and parish pastor, the Rev.
Fr. Garabed Kochakian, to prepare to serve on the altar.

In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian said that the Lord calls each of us to
serve him, and added that he was happy to see young people stepping forward
to take up this responsibility.

The Primate went on to speak about the Feast of the Presentation of the Holy
Mother-of-God to the Temple, which was observed in the Armenian Church on
November 21. He stressed Mary’s ministry and mission, and her readiness to
answer God’s call.

Just as Mary’s parents, Sts. Joachim and Anna, brought their young daughter
to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God, parents today bring
their children to Sunday School and introduce them to the life of the
Church, the Primate said.

Giving thanks and support

At a Thanksgiving dinner following services, the parish Sunday School
students in the High School Division served a meal they had prepared for the
occasion.

The Sunday School students and the newly-blessed candle-bearers thanked the
community for their guidance, and spoke about other blessings they are
grateful for in their lives.

Fr. Kochakian said that in assuming responsibility for the success of the
afternoon event young people learned the importance of service and
leadership.

“It was a very warm and family-focused atmosphere at the banquet,” he said.
“The support of the community for the youth of our parish [was felt
throughout]”

Archbishop Barsamian said the message of the Thanksgiving holiday has deep
roots in the Armenian heritage. The idea of giving thanks to God, he said,
is woven into the Divine Liturgy.

“Thanksgiving is one of our points of contact with Jesus Christ himself,”
the Primate added. “It is a spirit that he exemplified, and that he shared
with those around him.”

Also speaking at the gathering were the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean
of St. Nersess Seminary, and Stephen Mekenian, treasurer on the seminary’s
Board of Directors.

Addressing the Diocese’s theme of “Vocations: The Call to Serve,” Fr.
Findikyan and Mr. Mekenian outlined seminary programs and how they help
prepare young men for the priesthood in the Armenian Church.

Later on Sunday, the parish helped organize a fundraising event for St.
Nersess Seminary at a local country club. The seminary recently launched its
annual appeal campaign to raise funds for its academic programs, summer and
winter youth conferences, and other outreach projects.

“We have come a long way during the past 50 years and have touched the lives
of many, from young people attending the summer conferences to parishioners
across the country benefitting from our St. Nersess-educated priests,” said
Mr. Mekenian in a statement. “I call upon men and women of my generation,
whose lives have been impacted by St. Nersess, to step forward now and
financially support this institution that will serve their children as well
as it has served them.”

During his visit, Archbishop Barsamian also met with the Parish Council
members and Diocesan delegates at St. John Church. The Primate heard updates
on parish activities and shared news from his recent trips to Armenia and
Jerusalem, where he took part in meetings of the Supreme Spiritual Council
and the St. James Brotherhood, respectively.

ACYOA YouTube contest

On Saturday, November 20, St. John Church hosted a meeting of the ACYOA
Central Council. Archbishop Barsamian presided over the meeting, which ACYOA
executive secretary Nancy Basmajian and Fr. Kochakian also attended.

Central Council members reviewed the progress of the “Holiday Outreach”-an
initiative to collect art supplies and other items for the Fund for Armenian
Relief’s Homeless Children’s Center in Yerevan, Armenia.

A total of 27 parishes have already begun to implement the project, which
comprises one phase of a three-pronged plan to build a partnership with
FAR-an idea that was first adopted at the ACYOA’s Annual Assembly last
spring.

Also in the works this winter is the ACYOA Chapter Workshop, scheduled for
January 14 to 16 at St. David Church of Boca Raton, Fla. The weekend
sessions will help chapter executives design programs that incorporate the
five ideas embodied in the “circles of the cross:” worship, witness,
service, education, and fellowship.

A YouTube contest, a first for the ACYOA, was finalized and launched at the
November meeting. Parish Junior and Senior ACYOA members are invited to
submit videos on the topic of “What does the ACYOA mean to you?” A $250
scholarship toward any Diocesan youth program will be awarded in both the
Junior and Senior categories.

Other agenda items included the National Lenten Retreat (scheduled for March
25-27), the General Assembly and Sports Weekend (Memorial Day), and the
Armenia Service Program (June 28-July 18).

Central Council members took part in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy
and the Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. On Friday, they joined some 400
parishioners for a special concert given by the Komitas Choir of St. John
Church.

“It was great to be in Detroit for our Central Council Meeting,” said Alex
Ouzounian, who serves as the chapter relations coordinator on the council.
“The weekend was productive, from the meeting itself to the fellowship
gathering with the St. John’s community.”

Great cultural experience

Young people were also a highlight of Friday’s Armenian folk music concert
presented by the church’s Komitas Choir.

In addition to vocal and instrumental selections and recitations, the
evening featured dance performances by students participating in the
parish’s Arts of Armenia program last summer.

Deacon Rubik Malian, director of the Komitas Choir, arranged the
instrumental accompaniment for the evening’s opening piece, “Nanor” by
Parsegh Ganatchian.

“The Komitas Choir Concert was inspiring and uplifting,” said ACYOA Central
Council treasurer George Macarian. “It was a great cultural experience.”

###

Photos attached:

Photo 1: Six young candle-bearers received a blessing from Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian at St. John Church of Southfield, Mich., on Sunday, November 21.
Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian blesses six candle-bearers at St. John
Church of Southfield, Mich. Assisting him is the parish pastor, the Rev. Fr.
Garabed Kochakian.
Photo 3: The parish Sunday School students in the High School Division serve
a meal they had prepared for the church’s Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday,
November 21.

From: A. Papazian

HEAD OF AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY: ARMENIANS BUILD AIRPORT IN NAGORNO KARABAKH FOR AZERBAIJANIS
by M.Aliyev

Trend
Dec 8 2010
Azerbaijan

Dec. 07–Head of the Azerbaijani Community in Nagorno-Karabakh Bayram
Safarov said Armenians are building an airport in Nagorno Karabakh
for Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people.

“The world has repeatedly stated that it recognizes the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and supports it,” Safarov told journalists.

“We have built a lot for them and they are using it. Armenia cannot
build an airport meeting Azerbaijani standards. We will return to
our lands and repair this airport once again.”

Armenian media reported that an airport under construction in Khankendi
will be commissioned in May 2011. The airport’s passenger terminal
is ready.

According to the information, the equipment used in construction
was ordered and delivered from various countries. The separatist
government claims that the airport will make its first flights on
the Yerevan-Khankendi-Yerevan route. Later, it is expected to expand
its flights.

Regarding rumors that the airport will carry out international flights,
Safarov said the territory lacks the necessary space to construct an
international airport.

“We lived there and we know that it is a mountainous area, and
the climate also does not allow for the building of international
airports,” Safarov said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group — Russia, France, and the United
States — are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding
regions.

From: A. Papazian

Astana Opened the Door to New Retreats by Armenia: Zurabyan

Epress.am ()
Dec. 8, 2010

“The statement signed by the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries and
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s presidents during the OSCE Summit in Astana
related to settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict reaffirms the
principles declared in L’Acquila and Muskoka and reflects the
conflicting parties’ obligation to settle the Karabakh issue on [the
basis of] those principles,” said Armenian National Congress (HAK)
coordinator Levon Zurabyan, presenting HAK’s statement on the Astana
summit during a press conference in Yerevan today.

According to the opposition member, the Astana statement essentially
sums up the changes that took place in the Karabakh settlement process
during RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s tenure. “And Sargsyan’s signature
on the statement signifies RA authorities’ official agreement on the
discussed settlement plan and reflects the unacceptable withdrawal of
Armenian diplomacy during these years.”

Zurabyan then listed the “destructive withdrawals” of Armenian
diplomacy during Sargsyan’s presidential term:

“Armenia continues the political line pursued by Robert Kocharian to
ignore the OSCE’s 1994 decision to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an
equal party to the negotiations, as a result of which the mention of
Nagorno-Karabakh as a party to the conflict and a participant that is
equal in rights in the negotiations has been eliminated from the joint
statements by the presidents of the co-chair countries,” said the HAK
coordinator.

According to the statement presented by Zurabyan, by agreeing to the
simultaneous application of the principles of territorial integrity
and self-determination, Armenia officially agreed to settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

“It must be noted that by making such concessions, Serzh Sargsyan was
unable to secure Azerbaijan’s constructive position,” he
said. According to the opposition member, Astana opened the door to
new retreats, which are conditioned by violating the
military-political balance – in Azerbaijan’s favor.

“It’s obvious that every day of Serzh Sargsyan’s regime’s existence
brings new blows to national security. The situation can change only
through Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation and the development of a
legitimate government through extraordinary elections,” concluded
Zurabyan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA OBSERVES SPITAK EARTHQUAKE ANNIVERSARY

Xinhua General News Service
December 7, 2010 Tuesday 9:40 AM EST
China

Armenia on Tuesday observed the 22nd anniversary of the Spitak
earthquake that claimed the lives of at least 25,000 people and left
140,000 people disabled, news reaching here said.

The Armenian parliament began its Tuesday session with a one-minute
silence while other memorial activities were held in other places of
the country.

The national seismic protection commission held special
awareness-arousing activities by publicizing the hazards of
earthquakes.

Alvaro Antonyan, chief of the commission, urged more attention be
paid to the pre-construction ground surveys for high-rise apartment
buildings and that more attention be paid to the seismic resistance
of buildings.

The Spitak earthquake, occurred at 11:41 a.m. local time on Dec. 7
of 1988, smashed the towns of Spitak and nearby Leninakan (now Gyumri).

The tremor was strongly felt in Yerevan and Tbilisi. The quake measured
6.9 on the Richter scale.

Alvaro Antonyan warned that big earthquakes hit Armenia every 30-40
years and that future earthquakes can be more destructive in that
Yerevan and other Armenian towns are overloaded with residents in
high buildings.

“In the current state of affairs, the aftermaths will be heavy. It
may result in nearly 200,000 victims,” warned the seismologist.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJAN RECKONS WITH POSITION OF WORLD POWERS, COLONEL GENERAL SAYS

news.am
Dec 8 2010
Armenia

“I do not think that changes in the Karabakh peace process are expected
in the near future, hostilities are unlikely to break out as well,”
Colonel General Gurgen Dalibaltayan told NEWS.am, commenting on
likelihood of hostilities after the OSCE summit in Astana.

According to him, in any case Azerbaijan will not unleash war as it
reckons with the position of world powers which set a task to solve
the problem peacefully. “Fist of all Azerbaijan is not ready for war.

It is ready technically and financially but not in other aspects.

Azerbaijanis have not got over the defeat. They clearly realize what
Armenian soldiers are capable of,” he said.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PROVOCATION STOPPED AT FORUM OF EUROPEAN AND ASIAN MEDIA IN KIEV

Trend
Dec 8 2010
Azerbaijan

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday has removed the photos
containing false information about Azerbaijan from an exhibition in
Kiev. The agency has also apologized to Azerbaijani delegates.

The photo exhibition, presenting the work of the photographers from
the former USSR countries, was organized within the Forum of European
and Asian media outlets, being held by RIA Novosti. The Forum began
its work in Kiev on Wednesday.

The two photos by Armenian photographer Ruben Baghdasaryan identified
the Azerbaijani district of Agdere (formerly Mardakert) now occupied
by Armenia as Armenian. This prompted a strong protest from the
Azerbaijani delegation.

Attempts of Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine to intervene and prevent
the removal of photographs have been unsuccessful.

The forum brings together about 300 leaders of media outlets from
throughout the CIS and Baltic states, as well as Georgia. The heads
of information structures, newspaper and magazine chief editors,
and TV and radio station general directors will attend. The guest
list also includes well-known journalists and international experts.

The forum will be addressed by Adviser to the UNESCO General Director
Henry Yushkyavichus, Rospechat head Mikhail Seslavinsky, National
Institute for Strategic Studies Director Andriy Yermolaev, Trend
News Agency General Director Ilgar Huseynov, Kazinfo Chairman Daura
Diyarov, Latvian Journalists Union President Juris Paiders and other
representatives of participant countries.

The online newspaper, “100 Sides,” will be presented asat the forum.

Each media outlet will have the opportunity to publish its materials
on the site and share content. The idea of creating an integrated
e-resource was proposed last year at the forum, RIA Novosti reported.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was supposed to attend the
forum. However, the day before the event, his administration said
he would not be able to meet with the forum participants due to busy
schedule. The president will be represented by Ukrainian Presidential
Administration Deputy Chief Anna German.

This is the fifth annual forum of representatives of national media
outlets from post-Soviet countries. RIA Novosti initiated the first
such meetings in 2006. The annual forum aims to discuss issues facing
media outlets in the modern world.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. CONGRESSMEN TO LIMIT CONTACTS WITH ARMENIAN LOBBYISTS

Novosti Armenia
Dec 8 2010

Scandalous diplomatic cables about Armenia released by WikiLeaks have
had a negative effect upon sentiments of pro-Armenian U.S. congressmen,
according to Armenia-based “Zhamanak” newspaper.

The congressmen have agreed to limit their contacts with
representatives of Armenian lobbying organizations in the United
States, the newspaper says. Even earlier, pro-Armenian U.S.

Congressman Adam Schiff voiced his concern over the publications.

WikiLeaks data tells about re-export of weapons from Armenia to Iran.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

Integrated Border Management High on Armenia’s Agenda

Yerevan, 8 December 2010 – Border security of the Republic of Armenia
is one of the key national security priorities that guarantee the
territorial integrity of Armenia and physical existence and security
of its population. Armenia’s commitment to the EU standards and best
practices implies establishment of a modern border security system
that would be based on the Integrated Border Management (IBM)
approach. To stress the importance of IBM reform, the EU funded and
UNDP implemented “Supporting Integrated Border Management Systems in
the South Caucasus” (SCIBM) programme started a two-day national
workshop at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

The workshop is held under the overall coordination of the National
Security Council, the principal government authority in charge of
coordination and monitoring of border security and IBM related
activities in Armenia. The SCIBM programme supported the Government in
its efforts aimed at the development of the “Strategy on Border
Security and Integrated State Border Management in the Republic of
Armenia”.

The Government of Armenia has demonstrated its firm commitment to
advance the IBM system in the country. The overall objective of this
is to enhance inter-agency, bilateral and regional co-operation
between the South Caucasus countries, EU member states and other
international stakeholders, and to facilitate the movement of persons
and goods across borders, while maintaining secure borders.

Panel speakers include Arthur Baghdasaryan, Secretary of the National
Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, Ambassador Raul de
Luzenberger, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Dafina Gercheva, UN
Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, and
Borut Erzen, ICMPD[1] Project Manager. The forum will also be attended
by officials from relevant government agencies involved in IBM and
border security strategy and related legislation, as well as other
international experts.

The main objective of the event is to support elaboration of the draft
Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategy of Border Security
and Integrated State Border Management through discussions and
presentations of EU best practices in developing IBM strategies and
action plans, as well as the role of the border management agencies in
the development and implementation of the Action Plan.

During the two-day forum, international and national experts will
exchange information on European experience of the development and
further improvement of IBM strategies and related legislation, become
familiar with principal legal provisions of the RoA IBM strategy and
the roles of government agencies in the area of IBM, the structure and
principal provisions of the draft Action Plan, the process of the
development of the Action Plan, and the mechanisms for coordination,
monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the IBM Action
Plan.

“Supporting Integrated Border Management Systems in the South
Caucasus” (SCIBM) is a UNDP implemented and EU-funded programme with
an overall budget of EUR 1,403,000. The aim of the programme is the
establishment of integrated border management principles and
operational techniques in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as
enhancement of inter-agency, bilateral and regional co-operation
between the South Caucasus countries, EU Member States and other
international stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the
movement of legitimate persons and goods across borders, while at the
same time maintaining those borders secure from illegal activity.

________________________________

[1] ICMPD – International Center for Migration Policy Development, partner
organization to UNDP in the implementation of the SCIBM Programme.

From: A. Papazian