Author: Antonian Lara

Tbilisi residents block railroad, highway to airport
By Eka Mekhuzla
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 25, 2005 Friday
TBILISI, March 25 — Tbilisi residents are blocking roads to demand
the supply of electricity and natural gas.
About 200 residents of the Isani-Samgori district of Tbilisi blocked
the road to Tbilisi Airport on Friday. They said they had not had the
power supply for two days and the natural gas supply for three days.
They demand at least six or eight hours of power supply a day, the
same as it is in adjoining districts of the city.
Another group of city residents has blocked a motorway and the
railroad, which is used by commuter trains and long-distance trains
headed to Armenia. They set on fire car tires on the railroad track
and blocked the traffic.
Similar actions were held in other districts of Tbilisi. Central areas
of the Georgian capital have 18-20 hours of power supply per day,
while the majority of Georgian regions have only two or three.
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli has asked citizens to
understand the limits on power supply.
“An accident in the Kavkasioni power line, which exacerbated the
national energy deficit, happened on reasons beyond our control,”
he said.
“The energy deficit will persist for some time after the reconstruction
of the power line, as it is planned to stop the Inguri hydropower
plant for three-month repairs,” Nogaideli said.
Limits on power supply in Georgia result from the reduced output of
Georgian hydropower plants and the malfunction of the Kavkasioni power
line, which meets 20% of Georgian electricity needs. Heavy snowfalls
damaged two sections of the Kavkasioni power line – one in Georgia
and the other in Russia’s Karachayevo-Cherkessia – on March 2. The
snow blanket is ten meters thick in those places, so the power line
has not been restored.

PUTIN HIGHLY ASSESSES CHURCH’S ROLE IN ESTABLISHING PEACE, COOPERATION BETWEEN PEOPLES
RIA Novosti, Russia
March 25 2005
ECHMIADZIN (Armenia), March 25 (RIA Novosti) – The state promises
to render assistance to the church in its efforts to establish peace
and cooperation between nations.
“The church introduces a substantial contribution to the cause of
establishing peace and inter-ethnic cooperation in the Caucasus. We not
only welcome it but will assist this as much as we can,” the Russian
president said Friday in Echmiadzin at a meeting with Garegin II,
the Catholicos of all Armenians.
The head of Russia said that the Armenian Apostolic church was
one of the most ancient churches, and the relations between the
peoples of Russia and Armenia had this spiritual basis as well. “It’s
pleasant to note that the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian
Apostolic Church are connected by very warm relations,” said the
Russian president. “This is a substantial element of development of
interstate ties.”
Putin said he would be glad to see the Catholicos of all Armenians
in Moscow. “I do not doubt that with your spiritual support, all
issues will be resolved even faster than when people vested with
administrative power deal with it,” said the Russian president.
In his turn, Garegin II noted that the arrival of Putin in Echmiadzin
was a new illustration of the age-long friendship between the Russian
and Armenian peoples. “The churches of two states stood at the origin
of our friendship, and we are glad that these traditions of age-long
relations continue in all spheres, filling the peoples with hope and
belief in the future,” said the Catholicos.
He thanked Vladimir Putin for paying a great attention to church
activity.

ARMENIA, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS EXCHANGE MESSAGES
ArmenPress
March 21 2005
MOSCOW, MARCH 21, ARMENPRESS: Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharian
have exchanged today messages in connection with the opening of the
Year of the Russian Federation in Armenia, RIA Novosti reported,
citing the Kremlin press service.
“Russia attaches great importance to the consistent strengthening
of friendly relations with Armenia, its reliable ally and strategic
partner. I am convinced that the holding of the Year of Russia will
contribute to the further rapprochement of the two countries, and to
the development of friendship and direct dialogue between our
peoples,” Putin wrote in part.
“Events on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Great
Victory will occupy a special place in this significant festival.
This is a tribute of respect to the exploit and courage of all those
who were side by side fighting against fascism,” he wrote.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s message expressed similar
respect. “The decision to announce 2005 as the Year of the Russian
Federation in the Republic of Armenia opens broad possibilities for
the further expansion of Armenian-Russian contacts. This initiative
will undoubtedly contribute to the full implementation of the
political, economic and cultural potential of cooperation between our
fraternal peoples.
I would like to express confidence that the holding of the Year of
Russia in Armenia will make it possible to add new ideas and projects
to the agenda of Armenian-Russian cooperation,” Kocharian wrote.
“The Armenians love Russian art and are waiting impatiently for
meetings with representatives of Russian culture. Contacts between
representatives of science, education and business communities of our
countries, as well as contacts at the regional level could also be of
great practical importance.
“It is symbolic that the Year of Russia in Armenia has coincided
with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Victory over
fascism. This heroic page of our common history has tied the fates of
our peoples and brought them closer together,” Kocharian wrote.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reporters without borders, France
March 18 2005
Press freedom threatened by new criminal law as journalists are mired
in legal cases
Reporters Without Borders expressed its backing for Turkish
journalists as some 250 of them demonstrated in the streets of
Istanbul on 17 March calling for the shelving of a new criminal law
threatening press freedom.
Turkish media have condemned restrictive measures in the new law that
is due to come into force on 1st April 2005, at a time when the
government appeared to have shaken off its former reflex of cracking
down on journalists, the worldwide press freedom organisation said.
“Far from bringing Turkish law into line with European law over free
expression, some articles look like making it easier to bring legal
action against journalists, it said, adding, “We call for the law to
be amended to abolish prison terms for press offences.”
Elsewhere, the prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has brought
defamation cases and is seeking heavy damages from two cartoonists.
Musa Kart, working for the leftist daily Cumhuriyet (40,000
circulation) was on 21 December 2004, fined 3,000 euros by an Ankara
court for drawing the president with a cat’s head.
Judges ruled that the cartoon published on 9 May 2004 was “liable to
humiliate the prime minister”. Kart’s lawyer lodged an appeal on 22
February.
The prime minister also laid a defamation complaint against Sefer
Selvi who drew his adviser Cüneyt Zapsu perched on his back, in the
left wing paper Günlük Evrensel. The trial is still going on.
Journalists take to the streets
Some 250 journalists demonstrated in the streets of Istanbul on 17
March to try to persuade the government to delay the new law due to
come into force on 1st April. The press wants it to be shelved for at
least six months, on the grounds that it contains many restrictions
on press freedom and that some of the articles, drawn up in terms
that are too vague, could mean an increase in legal action against
journalists.
“Insulting a person, in a way liable to humiliate, dishonour and
assail his dignity” (Article125 of new criminal law) is punishable by
three months to two years in prison. The sentence can be increased by
one third if the offence is committed in the press (Paragraph 4).
Another controversial article, 305, imposes a prison sentence of
three to 10 years and a fine for any claim relating to the “Armenian
genocide” or “withdrawal of Turkish forces from Cyprus,” seen as
being contrary to fundamental national interest.
The sentence can be increased to 15 years if the claim is made in the
press. Dozens of journalists have been imprisoned in the past for
simply expressing an opinion on these questions.
Elsewhere, before the new law comes into effect, the courts appear to
have stepped up convictions for “insulting the army”. The relevant
article – 159/1 – is due to be abolished after 1st April.
Columnist Erol Özkoray of the pro-Kurdish daily Ozgur-Gundem heard
from the high court in Sisli, Istanbul on 16 March that he had been
sentenced to one year in prison or payment of 1,000 euros damages for
articles posted on the website www.ideapolitika, on 26 November 2001,
headlined, “What use is the Army” and “New barbarians and Taliban in
epaulettes”.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
March 18 2005
Locals Clash in Multi-Ethnic Tsalka after Burglary Case
Several people were injured after local residents of multi-ethnic
Tsalka district in Kvemo Kartli region in southern Georgia clashed on
March 17.
Reports say that clashes erupted between local Georgian and group of
local Greeks and Armenians, after unknown group assaulted ethnic
Greek family in an attempt of burglary in the village of Avralo in
Tsalka district. Local Greeks and Armenians accused ethnic Georgians
of this burglary.
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said on March 18 that
`situation in Tsalka is under control’ adding that `there is no
ethnic conflict between the locals in Tsalka.’
Local officials describe clashes between ethnic Georgians and
Armenians, which have been reported sporadically in Tsalka district
for several years, as `a communal violence.’
Ethnic Armenians comprise 57% of population of Tsalka district with
population around 20,000, according to the Georgian department of
statistics. 4,500 ethnic Greeks, 2,500 ethnic Georgians, up to 2,000
Azerbaijanis also live in there.

ARKA News Agency
March 17 2005
Nagorno-Karabakh Central Election commission approves plan of
parliamentary elections
UN World Food Program provides $75mln to Armenia for a decade of its
activity in the republic
RA Government allots AMD 190 mln for making of jubilee medals
dedicated to 60th anniversary of victory in Great Patriotic War
Armenia’s UN Representative Armen Martirosyan: Report made by OSCE
mission to Check Facts is favorable for Armenia
Chief of RA Police, Head of OSCE Yerevan Office sign agreement on
renovation of RA Police training center
*********************************************************************
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION APPROVES PLAN OF
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
STEPANAKERT, March 17. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh central Election
Commission convened a session Wednesday to set a plan and list of
expenditures related to the parliamentary elections scheduled for
June 15 2005. The commission has also made 29 decisions related to
procedural matters, as our correspondent reports. According to
Central Election Commission, candidates can be nominated from Apr 5
to 10. Registration of the parties participating in elections and
candidates running for parliament seats in individual races will be
made from May 10 to 15. Election campaigns will be run from May 16 to
June 17. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES $75MLN TO ARMENIA FOR A DECADE OF ITS
ACTIVITY IN THE REPUBLIC
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The UN World Food Program has provided
$75mln to Armenia for a decade of its activity in the republic.
Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and Regional Director
of the Program Emir Abdullah discussed Thursday the issues related to
the program, as Armenian National Assembly’s Public Relations
Department told ARKA. The ten-year program is to be completed in
2006. In his opinion, after his visit to Gegharkunik and Tavush
Armenian regions the WFP should be continued in Armenia, he said.
Armenian Speaker, in turn, noted that especially mountainous and
remote regions are badly in need of support.
The sides arranged to discuss the opportunity for continuing the
program.
WFP organization provides food aid particularly to the elderly,
families having many children, the disabled and refugees and also
conducts trainings for farmers as well as provides food to 11
thousand schoolchildren in four Armenia’s provinces and implements
Food for Work program.
WFP cooperates with the U.S. agents, with World Vision Armenia and
Ìission -Armenia organizations M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA GOVERNMENT ALLOTS AMD 190 MLN FOR MAKING OF JUBILEE MEDALS
DEDICATED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. The RA Government allotted AMD 190 mln for
making of jubilee medals dedicated to 60th anniversary of victory in
Great Patriotic War, Public Relations and Press Department of RA
Government told ARKA News Agency today. ($1 = AMD 468,23). L.V. –0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIA’S UN REPRESENTATIVE ARMEN MARTIROSYAN: REPORT MADE BY OSCE
MISSION TO CHECK FACTS IS FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Report made by OSCE Mission to Check Facts
is favorable for Armenia, as Armenia’s UN Representative Armen
Martirosyan told journalists today. In his words, contrary to Azeri
side’s expectations, the Mission found no facts confirming
allegations that Armenia pursues policy of Azerbaijani territories
settlement, excepting Lachin area, which has always been mentioned in
a separate clause of all documents. `We have always said settlement
is nowhere but Lachin and the OSCE Co-chairs have corroborated that’,
Martirosyan said.
In his opinion, the report will ease tension around Armenia. ‘But
another issue appeared: how Azerbaijan is going to act in the created
situation, especially taking into consideration the bellicose
statements made by Azerbaijani side and the destructive stance taken
by Azeri authorities and taking into account that those statements
are being made for internal consumption to present another victory to
Azeri people’, he said.
Martirosyan also said the report would be published soon and
available for everybody. M.V. -0–
*********************************************************************
CHIEF OF RA POLICE, HEAD OF OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SIGN AGREEMENT ON
RENOVATION OF RA POLICE TRAINING CENTER
YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Chief of the RA Police, Lieutenant-General
Haik Harutyunyan and Head of the OSCE Yerevan office Vladimir
Pryakhin signed an Agreement on Renovation of the RA Police training
center. The OSCE Yerevan office reports that the signing of the
agreement inaugurates the first stage of a program of assistance to
the RA Police. The agreement is aimed at bringing the main training
terms to conformity with the European experience. The document also
envisages the provision of equipment and teaching aids to the Center.
`This day is a turning point in our work under the program of
assistance to the RA Police, as this initiative is a basis for
forming a well trained municipal force,’ Pryakhin said during the
signing ceremony. He added that the document is a good example of
mutually advantageous and constructive cooperation between Armenia
and the OSCE, which is aimed at developing democratic institutions
for the Armenian people’s benefit. In his turn, Chief of the RA
Police Haik Harityunyan pointed out that the program envisages the
creation of necessary conditions for the development of modern police
training.
A memorandum of understanding signed in July 2003 stipulates four
main directions of the assistance program: renovation of the training
center, its strengthening, introduction of a municipal police model
in one of the Yerevan communities and the elaboration of a new
signal-response system.
The program is to be implemented by the OSCE Yerevan office in
cooperation with the RA Police, under the direction of the Department
for Strategic police Affairs, OSCE Secretariat in Vienna. The program
is being sponsored by Belgium, the USA and Sweden. P.T. -0–

PanArmenian News
March 17 2005
WHILE US RELATIONS WITH TURKEY KEEP EXACERBATING, THOSE WITH ARMENIA
STRENGTHEN
17.03.2005 05:35
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US Congress has refused to provide $1 billion
to Turkey to eliminate the consequences of the hostilities at the
Turkish-Iraqi border, the Armenian Assembly of America reported. The
Bush Administration had proposed providing assistance to Turkey after
the beginning of the military operations in Iraq and it depended upon
Turkey’s cooperation with the US in the Iraqi issue. However, due
Turkey failing to meet the terms of the agreement, in compliance with
a request of the Bush Administration the US Congress declared the
proposal on providing aid to Turkey void. As noted by the AAA, «as
the US-Turkey relations keep exacerbating, the US relations with
Armenia strengthen.» The fact that George Bush considers Armenia «an
important US partner» in fighting terror evidences it.

PanArmenian News
March 17 2005
NKR DEFENSE MINISTRY: AZERBAIJAN RESPONSIBLE FOR CASUALTIES AT
CONTACT LINE MARCH 7 AND 9
17.03.2005 03:13
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Nagorno Karabakh Republic Defense Ministry
flatly denied reports of Azeri media referring to the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan March 15 on alleged skirmish in Aghdam
direction. As NKR Defense Minister commented, an attempt to turn
everything on its head and accuse Nagorno Karabakh in breaking the
cease-fire regime is evident in the obvious disinformation, which
comes from the Azeri party. It is Azerbaijan who is responsible for
the incidents ac the contact line March 7 and 9, which resulted in
casualties, the NKR Defense Ministry noted. Simultaneously, when
commenting on Azeri Turan news agency today’s report on alleged
skirmish – again in the Aghdam direction, the source noted that no
breaks were registered at the time mentioned. As reported by Arminfo
news agency, commenting on a report of Day.az Azeri news agency on
alleged exchange of fire at the contact line of the Armenian and
Azeri Armed Forces in Ijevan (Armenia)-Gazakh (Azerbaijan) region
March 14, Press Secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry, Colonel
Seyran Shahsuvarian called it false. In his words, it is uttermost
disinformation, at that not only regarding `the shots from the
Armenian side’, but also shots of the Azeri party. `There was no fire
even from their side. This report is recurrent provocation,’ the
Press Secretary noted, adding that there were not shots in the
mentioned region lately. In his words, the Azeri party tries to
remind about the stretch of the contact line between the Armed Forces
of Armenia and Azerbaijan when occasion offers and regularly makes
statements on alleged fire.

Today, Azerbaijan
March 17 2005
Indian embassy denied information about labor activity of Indian
company at the territory of Kalbajar region

17 March 2005 [17:37] – Today.Az

The Indian Embassy in Baku spoke with declaration, that none company
registered in India, deals with any labor activity at the territory
of occupied Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan.

As agency Trend informs, the official press release of the embassy,
distributed 16 March, reads about this. The embassy distributed this
declaration in response to information appeared in press about
activity of one Indian company in Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan
occupied by armed forces of Armenia.
We would like to inform you; recently information about activity of
one Indian company at golden mines of Kalbajar appeared in Azerbaijan
press. As a result of this Azerbaijan MFA commissioned with
Azerbaijan ambassador to India Tamerlan Garayev to apply to foreign
political institution of the state to get clarification.

URL:

Glendale News Press
March 15, 2005
Woman drives SUV into bakery
Patron pinned between SUV and counter. Three taken to hospital, but none of
the injuries were life- threatening, police say.
By Jackson Bell, News-Press and Leader
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — A 30-year-old woman smashed her SUV through the Red
Ribbon BakeShop Monday afternoon, pinning one of the customers against the
counter, police and witnesses said.
At about 3 p.m., a motorist, whose name was not released, drove her gray
Toyota 4Runner over the sidewalk and into the Filipino bakery on East
Colorado Street, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.
The driver of the SUV told police and patrons that she hit the accelerator
instead of the brake by mistake as she pulled into the parking lot, Lorenz
said.
Glendale paramedics rushed two patrons — a 40-year-old woman and
13-year-old girl — to local hospitals, Lorenz said. An employee was also
taken to a hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening, he said.
The 40-year-old suffered two broken legs, police said.
Teresa Moody had stopped by the Red Ribbon Bake Shop Monday afternoon for a
quick snack in between running errands. She set her belongings on a table by
the window and was waiting at the counter for her order when she heard a
loud crash, followed by a woman’s screams.
She turned to see an SUV had crashed through the window and had pinned a
woman to the counter with the table Moody had planned to sit at.
“I could have been runover by the SUV,” Moody said. “I was shaking and
started saying, ‘Oh my God.’ Lucky, there were only a few of us at the
store. The place is usually packed.”
Ofik Abarmyan was trimming a client’s hair at California Cuts, a business in
the same strip mall, when she heard the crash. When Abarmyan looked to see
what happened, she said the driver was standing by her SUV, in a state of
shock and unable to speak. The 40-year-old victim, she said, was wedged in
the counter and unable to free herself.
The teenage girl had cuts on her legs and the floor was bloody from all the
glass cuts, she said.
“I tried to give the little girl water, but she was so shaken up that she
couldn’t even drink it,” Abarmyan said.
The business next door, Lilac Florist, had damage to the window and
refrigerators on the wall next to Red Ribbon, owner Sona Nazaryan said. The
accident marks the third time in 14 years a car has crashed into the strip
mall, Nazaryan said.
“I’d like to see some barriers put up,” she said. “It would be safer for us
and the customers.”
* JACKSON BELL covers public safety and courts. He may be reached at (818)
637-3232 or [email protected].