Author: Chalian Meline

A LYON, LA VIE CACHEE D’ALEX ET DAVID, DEUX ENFANTS QUI VEULENT ETRE COMME LES AUTRES

Le Monde, France
18 juin 2006

" Oh ! J’ai oublie mes cartes Yo Gli Yo pour les montrer a mon copain
Leo ", s’exclame Alex, 10 ans, cartable au dos, en sortant de classe.

Rien ne distingue Alex des autres enfants qui se bousculent a la
sortie de l’ecole Victor-Hugo a Lyon. Sinon que sa mère, a lui, ne
vient jamais le chercher. Chaque fois, c’est une personne differente
qui vient l’attendre a la sortie de l’ecole. Car depuis que, le 19
avril, les policiers sont venus signifier a leur mère, Samira, un
ordre de depart pour le lendemain, Alex et son frère cadet, David,
7 ans, vivent caches.

Depuis près de deux mois, parents d’elèves et enseignants des pentes
de la Croix-Rousse a Lyon sont " entres en resistance " pour soustraire
Samira Babaïan et ses deux enfants a la police et empecher leur renvoi
vers l’Allemagne. L’Allemagne, pays où Samira Babaïan, Azerie d’origine
armenienne, a debarque de Russie pour demander l’asile. Asile qui lui
a ete refuse. En France, où elle est arrivee en novembre 2005, l’Etat
refuse d’etudier sa nouvelle demande de protection, en vertu d’un
accord europeen, dit Dublin 2, qui veut qu’un dossier depose dans un
pays de l’espace Schengen doive etre traite jusqu’au bout par celui-ci.

Cet argument n’est que " du vent " pour les parents d’elèves de la
Croix-Rousse, quitte a enfreindre la loi. Illegale, leur action peut
leur valoir jusqu’a cinq ans de prison et 30 000 francs d’amende.

Mais pour eux, la question de la " desobeissance civile " ne se pose
meme pas. " Je l’ai fait comme un acte citoyen, temoigne Sandrine
Riot-Sarcey, mère de famille du quartier qui a heberge Alex. Lorsque
j’ai eu connaissance de la situation de cette famille, je suis tombee
des nues. Il ne m’etait pas possible de continuer a vivre comme si
de rien n’etait. "

" La seule chose angoissante, c’est de savoir comment faire pour ne
pas mettre en danger les enfants, comment reagir par exemple si des
policiers s’approchent lorsqu’on est avec eux dans la rue ", confie
Valerie Tranchand, autre mère de famille qui a accueilli Alex.

Ils sont comme cela une bonne vingtaine de parents a s’etre relayes
pendant plusieurs semaines pour cacher quelque part Samira et David,
et ailleurs Alex. Aujourd’hui la famille vit a nouveau reunie dans un
" endroit sûr " a Lyon. Mais parents d’elèves et voisins continuent
de se relayer pour accompagner les enfants a l’ecole. Dans l’unique
pièce où ils vivent, Alex et David ont epingle sur le mur, au côte d’un
grand dessin signe de tous les enfants de leur ecole les soutenant,
un memo leur rappelant qui et quel jour les prend en charge. Il n’est
surtout pas question de sortir avec leur mère dans la rue. Alex a aussi
appris un numero de telephone par coeur. Si d’aventure il se faisait
arreter, il a pour consigne de partir en courant puis d’appeler ce
numero. Quelqu’un viendra le chercher.

Et cet ete, ces " protecteurs " l’enverront dès le 30 juin en "
vacances " loin de Lyon avec sa mère et son frère. Et un système de
permamence est en train de s’organiser pour pouvoir, meme en plein
ete, mobiliser rapidement en cas de coup dur. Pas de treve estivale
pour la mobilisation lyonnaise, qui demande qu’au moins le dossier
de demande d’asile de la famille Babaïan puisse etre examine.

–Boundary_(ID_v26JJ3AJIidwXgch+0gEXA)–

EXPORT OF ARMENIAN STONE DOES NOT EXCEED 2-3 MLN DOLLARS

Panorama.am
13:23 15/06/06

The export of the Armenian stone does not exceed 2-3 mln dollars,
Arsen Ghazaryan, chairman of industrials and entrepreneurs union told
a symposium today. He said this is not a good indicator and makes only
a small part of GDP. At present, Armenian stones are exported to NIS
countries, USA, France, Germany and Australia in small quantities only.

The leading companies in stone processing, like Multy Stone or Karart
are very young and have started newly to advance in the international
market. In his words, the annual growth of the field fluctuates from
25-20 percent.

"EITHER LEARN GEORGIAN OR SELL POTATO": CHAIRMAN OF JAVAKHK ASSOCIATION ABOUT THE REGION’S PROBLEMS

Regnum, Russia
June 15 2006

"Javakhk should become a link rather than a gap between Georgia and
Armenia," the chairman of the Javakhk association Shirak Torossyan
said at a news conference in Yerevan on June 14. He says that all
the region’s problems will be resolved if "the status of local
self-government is raised." "We must not go to extremes and claim
independence, we must claim powers that will allow us to independently
solve our problems," says Torossyan. Special attention must be given
to solving financial-economic problems, preserving the region’s
historical-cultural legacy, attaining the recognition of the Armenian
language.

Financial and economic problems can be solved if the region forms
its own budget non-dependent on governmental transfers. "When a
regional budget depends on governmental transfers, this means that
the government follows its own purposes. A region cannot solve its
problems if it is in financial dependence from the central government,"
says Torossyan.

As regards the status of the Armenian language, Torossyan says
that his association is supporting the Javakheti Armenians in their
struggle for having Armenian recognized as the second state language
in the region. "Of course, the Georgian authorities are trying to
oppose this, but they can’t reasonably explain why they don’t want to
recognize Armenian as the second state language," says Torossyan. He
says that there are almost 100 Armenian schools in Javakhk. "We
oppose the demand of the Georgian authorities that all subjects,
except Armenian language and Armenian history, should be taught in
Georgian. We have taught our children in Armenian for centuries,
and this tradition must be continued," says Torossyan. Of course,
he who does not want to sell potato in Javakhk should learn Georgian
to be able to integrate into Georgian society and to work in Georgian
governmental structures. "However, when they put a ban on the Armenian
language people’s natural reaction is to oppose the introduction of
the Georgian language," says Torossyan.

The association is also concerned for the fate of the
historical-cultural legacy of Javakhk. "The Georgian side has
recently begun to very often doubt if this is Armenian or Georgian
legacy. They have not so far officially acknowledged the Armenian
Apostolic Church." "So, we have decided to make a kind of inventory of
the monuments to decide what belongs to whom," says Torossyan. He says
that his association is doing its best to prevent tensions and to find
fair solution – "so that we honestly say: this is Georgian and this
is Armenian." "Javakhk is now on the crossroads of the geo-political
interests of various states, and this is the key source of problems
for the local Armenians," says Torossyan.

5 CRIMINAL CASES ON PANDERING AND TRAFFICKING INSTITUTED IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006 IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Only in the first quarter of 2006, 5
criminal cases on facts of pandering and trafficking were instituted in
Armenia, according to the materials of which 57 persons were exposed
to sexual exploitation, 53 of which were RA citizens and 4 citizens
of the Ukraine. Police Colonel Karen Babakekhian, Deputy Head of the
Chief Department on Struggle Against Organized Crime of RA Police,
Head of the Department on Illegal Circulation of Drugs and Struggle
Against Trafficking, informed about this at the June 14 meeting with
journalists. 10 of the above-mentioned persons were exposed to sexual
exploitation in RA and 47 abroad (45 in the United Arab Emirates, 2
in Turkey). According to K.Babakekhian, thanks to joint actions with
RF law-enforcement bodies 2 months ago RA law-enforcers prevented
the attempt of moving 4 Armenian women to the United Arab Emirates
from Moscow.

It was mentioned that 13 RA citizens are being searched in the United
Arab Emirates on facts of trafficking. K.Babakekhian mentioned that
the Armenian side is going to apply to the law-enforcement bodies of
the United Arab Emirates for the purpose of returning those searched
to Armenia.

K.Babakekhian called on the population to be careful and not to become
a victim of labor trafficking. Agencies engaged in such actions mainly
register the documents of their victims abroad, which gives them a
possibility to deceit these people. The Police has applied to the
government for the latter to set the order of licensing the agencies
of employment increasing day by day, as well the order of licensing
night entertainment establishments. The Police also proposed that
the night entertainment establishments be moved from the territory
of Yerevan, as this was done with the gambling-houses.

In response to a question of one of the journalists, K.Babakekhian
said that the number of prostitutes who have come to Yerevan from
regions is about 1000, 3-4% of prostitutes is under-aged girls of
15-17 years old. According to him, it is impossible to clarify the
number of under-aged prostitutes working abroad as their passport
data are forged.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO GURDJIEV IN ARMENIA
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
15/06/2006

International scientific conference and forum dedicated to Georgy
Gurdjiev, outstanding philosopher of the early 20th century will be
held in Yerevan and Gyumri, on June 16-18. Various scholars will hold
reports and speeches based on the ideas and the life of Gurdjiev at
Armenia-Marriott Hotel. On June 18, the participants of the conference
will leave for Gyumri, to the native city of the great thinker.

Many authors such as Catherine Mansfield, Henry Miller were greatly
influences by the ideas of Gurdjiev during their lives and the creative
activities. Huge amount of literature in the spheres of psychology,
literature, philosophy, health care, ecology and religion was published
after the death of Gurdjiev in 1949.

"THE GEORGIANS WANT TO TAKE HOLD OF JAVAKHQ"

A1+
[06:46 pm] 14 June, 2006

"Javakhq is an Armenian region with Armenian population in the
Georgian territory. Javakhq must contribute to the development of the
Armenian-Georgian relations and not spoil them", said Shirak Torosyan,
the head of the patriotic union "Javakhq" during the news conference
with the journalists. He was worried about the recent problems in
the region.

According to Mr. Torosyan, one of the problems of the Armenians
in Javakhq is the preservation of their mother tongue. There are a
hundred Armenian schools in Javakhq, but the Georgian authorities
demand that all the subjects be taught in Georgian. "If the mother
tongue is banned, the people start to feel an antipathy towards the
foreign language", he said.

As for the possibility of investments in Javakhq by Armenians of
the Diaspora, Shirak Torosyan said, "No one will make investments
in an area where there is no electricity, no roads and other
substructures. If the above mentioned problems are solved, not only
the Armenians, but also others will make investments in the region."

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN HAD A WORKING MEETING WITH RA MINISTER OF ECOLOGY

ArmRadio.am
13.06.2006 15:58

Issues related to rising the level of Lake Sevan and exploitation
of mines were discussed today during President Robert Kocharyan’s
working meeting with the Minister of Ecology Vardan Ayvazyan.

The Minister informed that the rise of the lake’s level is 2.38 meters
and presented the process of cleaning works at the shoreline. Prospects
of development of Sevan were discussed as well.

The President instructed to guarantee the transparency of geological
studies and tenders for the right of exploitation, as well as to
tighten the control of these processes.

The interlocutors discussed the doctrine of implementing mechanisms
of ecotourism in Armenia. They turned to the issues of air pollution
and biodiversity.

NATO PA DELEGATION’S MEETING IN PARLIAMENT

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
June 13 2006

On June 12 the delegation of the NATO PA Subcommittee on Democratic
Governance and (CDSDG) Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence
Capabilities (DSCFC) met with the Armenian delegation in NATO PA.

Welcoming the guests Mher Shahgeldyan, Head of the Armenian delegation,
highlighted Armenia- NATO partnership, observing it as the most
important component of the regional security. In Armenia-NATO
relationship Armenia’s participation in the Individual Partnership
Actions Plan was highlighted. Mher Shahgeldyan noted that along
with the development of democracy and establishing peace in the
region Armenia tries to more increase the democratic control and
transparency in the spheres of defense and security. The development
of parliamentarism in Armenia was highlighted. It was noted that
Armenia is seeking in intensifying the parliamentary control toward
the security sphere. The development of Armenia-NATO PA relationship
Mr. Shahgeldyan sees in a number of directions: security, civil
defense, antiterrorist fighting, development of democracy, etc. In
this context the role and importance of the parliamentary diplomacy
was highlighted.

Touching upon Armenia-Turkey relations, Mr. Shahgeldyan noted that
Armenia repeatedly stated about the readiness of beginning relations
without any preconditions.

Vahit Erdem (Turkey), Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Future Security
and Defence Capabilities, noted that during its history NATO with
its structure and peculiarity proved that can create opportunities
for the countries having key problem, in particular, bringing as an
example the development of the relations between Turkey and Greece. It
was noted that NATO continues the policy of open doors. He noted that
Turkey is ready to develop the relations with Armenia, and it’s not
conditioned by the solutions of the conflicts. In Turkey they find
that in the 21st century we should look at the future, not – at the
past, we should develop the relations coming from the centuries,
restoring the friendship.

During the meeting of Frank Crump, Deputy Head of the OSCE office in
Yerevan, Carel Hofstra, politico-military officer, OSCE office in
Yerevan, Varuzhan Nersisyan, OSCE Division head of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs issues concerning the regional conflicts and Black
Sea regional cooperation were discussed. The OSCE representatives
introduced the programs implementing in Armenia in the directions of
human rights and democratization, military-political and environmental,
economic security.

Varuzhan Nersisyan touched upon the problem of Karabakh conflict,
presenting Armenia’s official position and the current stage of the
negotiation process. The sides noted the establishment of tolerance
important, considering unacceptable the war-like calls, the campaign
of war and hatred.

Other issues of bilateral interest were also discussed during the
meeting.

OSKANYAN: FREE AND TRANSPARENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN 2007 TO IMPROVE ARMENIA’S REPUTATION IN REGION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 12 2006

YEREVAN, June 12. /ARKA/. Free and transparent parliamentary elections
in 2007 are to improve Armenia’s reputation in the region, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said Thursday in his interview
with Kentron TV channel. He thinks if the elections fail to meet
international standards, Armenia will face grave consequences.

In his words, unlike previous cases, when Armenia will have to deal
with moral consequences after being accused of holding fraudulent
elections, this time the country “will face material consequences,
which will have negative impact on its economy”.

Oskanyan said Armenia has sufficient time for preparing these elections
and any explanation of failure to hold the elections properly will
be unconvincing.

He still hopes that the things will go in the right way.

EUROPE DISAPPROVED THE ELECTION CODE

Lragir.am
12 June 06

The Commission of Venice reported on the Election Code of Armenia,
which can be considered a preliminary conclusion, said Speaker
Tigran Torosyan. According to Tigran Torosyan, the conclusion of the
Commission of Venice includes three subgroups: changes that Europe
approves, changes that need revision, and changes that will hamper
elections. The speaker says these subgroups are equal in size

Tigran Torosyan called the parliamentary forces to discuss this
question on June 19, and said that the opposition will hopefully
attend the debate.