Author: Ekmekjian Janet

GYUMRI, APARAN AND VARDENIS JOIN WORLD UNION OF CITIES STRUGGLING AGAINST POVERTY
Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 29, the 5th forum of the
World Union of Cities Struggling against Poverty opened in the Spanish
town of Valencia. City-members of the union, union’s partner cities
and associations, members of parliaments, governments, businessmen,
other high-ranking officials take part in the forum. Vardenis
Mayor Vardan Barseghian and Aparan Deputy Mayor Georgi Yeremian are
included in the Armenian delegation. The goal of the forum is to
work out the Mayor’s Offices’ strategy of actions aimed at poverty
reduction taking as a basis the experience of Mayor’s Offices during
the international decade of poverty reduction, in 1997-2007. RA NA
Speaker Artur Baghdasarian spoke during the opening of the forum. He,
in particular, said that the forum enables the country-participants
to summarize and to estimate the results of the efforts strained
earlier, to discuss the challanges in the issue of reduction of the
evil called poverty, as well as to outline the best ways of confronting
these challenges. According to him, the forum is the best opportunity
for the participant cities to look for verges of cooperation and to
initiate joint programs. “Poverty reduction cannot be limited to only
material and financial assistance. The violation of human rights and
bad management prepare a good ground for extension of poverty volumes,”
RA NA Speaker said.
According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA NA Public
Relations Department, henceforth the forum’s works will continue
in working groups. The most important event of the day for Armenia
was that during the forum, among cities of other countries, Gyumri,
Aparan and Vardenis also joined the World Assembly of Cities Struggling
against Poverty, which will give possibilities for implementation of
development programs in these towns.

LEGISLATIVE DRAFT AGAINST KARS-AKHALKALAKI-TBILISI RAILWAY
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
Senators Rick Santorum and Robert Menendez submitted a draft directed
against the construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railroad to the
US Senate.
The construction of the railroad costs about $800 million. According
to the Armenian Assembly of America, Rick Santorum said that the
policy of USA in the South Caucasus is aimed to maintain stability
and cooperation, as well as to contribute to opening of borders and
transport corridors. Thus, the project of the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi
railroad construction will not only hinder implementation of
the American long-term goals in the region but will also isolate
Armenia. The senator stated that the efforts taken to contribute to
economic integration of the region and reducing the tension are both in
the interest of the USA and the South Caucasus. While Robert Menendez,
the other author of the draft, stated that through this construction
project, Turkey and Azerbaijan aim to isolate Armenia in the future.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN LAUREATE OF ORTHODOX PEOPLES’ UNITY FUND
AZG Armenian Daily
31/03/2006
Armenian President Robert Kocharian has been awarded the prize of
Orthodox Peoples’ Unity Fund 2006.
According to Iterfax news agency, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Alexy II stated that the Armenian Church is concerned with spiritual
needs of the Russian people, and the support of the Armenian president
and authorities evidence it.
Gazprom became the next laureate for its contribution in reconstruction
of destroyed shrines. Patriarch of Warsaw and Poland Savva will also
receive a prize.

DRUG TRAFFICKING IN RF CONTROLLED BY INTRL CRIMINAL GROUPS-VIEW
by Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
March 29, 2006 Wednesday 08:08 AM EST
The analysis of the drug situation in Russia proves that illicit drug
trafficking is fully controlled by different criminal groups, which
have trans-national ties, said Viktor Cherkesov, head of the Russian
Federal Service for Controlling Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Circulation.
Speaking at a session of the CSTO Anti-Drug Coordinating Council on
Wednesday, Cherkesov said, “This problem remains topical. The routes
of drug transportation change permanently. International organised
criminal groups and communities penetrate into Russia’s drug market.”
“Russia is fighting drug crime in the context of an extensive criminal
network, which embraces most regions of Russia,” the official said. In
his words, “this network is rather organised and has vast international
criminal ties.”
Cherkesov said, “The major purpose of the Russian federal drug
control service is to take urgent measures to stabilise the drug
situation, create conditions for suspending the growth of drug use
and trafficking, and preventing nacrotisation of the population.”
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Migranyan said illicit drug
trafficking became a global phenomenon. Illicit drug trafficking as
a dangerous social phenomenon “became global and trans-national and
turned into the most acute problems of mankind.”
Drug trafficking “wrecks political, social and economic stability of
states,” the Armenian prime minister stressed.
In his view, internationalisation of crime and “the growth of
international elements, which commit crimes in the territory of two
or more states, evoke the need to improve and develop international
and interstate cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”
Migranyan said the CSTO Anti-Drug Coordinating Council plays a
big role and have a great significance in the fight against drug
trafficking. “This will help work out and realise the common strategy
and new mechanisms to counteract illicit drug trafficking,” he said.
The Armenian prime minister proposed “to think together how we can
use our accumulated experience better and more efficiently in order
to deliver a sensitive blow against drug trafficking.”
The CSTO Anti-Drug Coordinating Council gathered for a session in
Yerevan on Wednesday to discuss the fight against trans-national
crime and analyse the results of the Kanal-2005 preventive operation.
The session will also focus on the CSTO joint efforts to counteract
drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
The agenda also includes a draft concept of the united database to
prevent illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and their
precursors, and measures to battle their illicit trafficking.
The session is chaired by Viktor Cherkesov, head of the Russian
Federal Service for Controlling Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Circulation. The meeting involves representatives of Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and officials of the
CSTO secretariat.
The participants in the session will approve a document on the
Council’s working groups, cooperation on training personnel, exchange
of information, a plan of action and other issues.

TURKEY SHOULD COME TO TERMS WITH ITS PAST
Yerkir
29.03.2006 15:11
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “This tragedy should not be forgotten,” Erik Boel,
the president of the Donnish European Movement, inscribed today in
the guest-book of the Armenian Genocide Museum. He also laid a wreath
at the monument of the victims.
Erik Boel was accompanied by Armenian National Assembly Vice-speaker
and Armenian Rvolutinoary Federation Bureau member Vahan Hovhannisian
and Bureau member Mario Nalbandian.
When asked whether the international community is assessing the
Armenian Genocide adequately and is not using double standards, Boel
said, “The country I represent and I personally believe that it was a
genocide. And this is why I am paying homage to the victims of that
tragedy. I believe all countries should come to terms with their
pasts to move forward, I believe Germany is the best example.”
As for making recognition of the Armenian Genocide for Turkey a
precondition to admit that country in the European Union, Boel said
that he believed it is in Turkey’s interest to recognize the Genocide
and it should consider its past as well as the Armenians.

THIRD INTERNATIONAL MILITARY-MEDICAL CONFERENCE HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, MARCH 28. ARMINFO. The 3rd in international military-medical
conference has set off in Hotel Congress in Yerevan today. The event
is sponsored by the US European Command.
The 1st conference was held in Yerevan in 2004. Then attending the
event were 20 representatives from 8 countries. Now too attending the
conference are 20 military doctors from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia,
Albania, Ukraine, Georgia and Austria. The conferees will discuss
the development and strengthening of military-medical cooperation
between the participant countries.
Armenian Deputy Defence Minister Artur Agabekyan says that this year
Armenia will host NATO Rescuer 2006.

YEREVAN’S STANCE FORCES BAKU TO CHANGE KARABAKH POLICY – ALIYEV
Interfax
March 27 2006
Armenia’s position on the Nagorno- Karabakh settlement is forcing
Azerbaijan to alter its settlement policy, Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev said.
“Armenia disrupted the February meetings in France, showing a lack
of constructivism. Their desire to drag out the negotiating process
is obvious. However, the peace process’ potential has not yet been
completely exhausted,” he said.
“We continue to adhere to the peace process, but are ready for any
outcome,” Aliyev said.

MAJOR EVENTS OF YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE TO BE HELD STARTING SEPTEMBER 2006
Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The major events of Year of Armenia
in France will be held in the period of September 2006 – September
2007. Mushegh Sargsian, Deputy Director of Export and Enterprise
Development of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA), told it to
NT correspondent. According to him, the program of these events,
particularly exhibitions and business forums, will be developed until
mid 2006. In his opinion, the holding of the economic sphere-related
events should promote exports of not only Armenian foodstuffs but
also handicrafts, carpets and works of art to France. The deputy
director said that the potential for development of trade and economic
relations between Armenia and France, which is based in particular on
the friendly political relations between the two countries and the
existence of a large and prosperous Armenian community in France,
has not been used fully. M. Sargsian expressed an opinion that
accumulation of an experience of exporting the Armenian production
to the French market with its high requirements regarding quality
and other characteristics of goods is important for Armenia, since a
commodity that has entered the French market can meet any standards,
including European ones.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/27/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Schwarzenegger Urged to Help Bring Genocide Legislation to Vote 2) Turkish Lobbyist Attacks Armenian Americans 3) Kocharian-Aliyev Meeting Could Be Held in May 4) Thousands Protest against Turkey~Rs Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul 1) Schwarzenegger Urged to Help Bring Genocide Legislation to Vote (LOS ANGELES)--The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of California, consisting of various Armenian organizations, sent a letter Friday to California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting that he push the US House and Senate leadership to vote on the pending Armenian Genocide Resolutions. The letter praised Schwarzenegger's demonstrated commitment to the Armenian community and support of Genocide recognition. Schwarzenegger's list of accomplishments includes designating April 24 as a day of remembrance for the Armenian genocide and calling on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. "We ask you to openly call upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to schedule votes on the Armenian genocide legislation currently before their chambers of Congress," reads the letter. The full text of the letter can be found below: Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: We are writing, as the collective leadership of the Armenian American community of California, to respectfully request that you urge the leadership of U.S. House and Senate to bring legislation reaffirming the Armenian Genocide to a vote in their respective chambers. Last year, the 700,000 Armenian Americans living in the State of California were heartened by your Executive Proclamation designating April 24 as a day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide. We also deeply appreciate your signature on SB 424, the "Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide" bill introduced by Sen. Charles Poochigian. Along with all people of good conscience, we recall with great pride your remarks on April 21, 2005 noting that you are "proud to represent the people of the State of California in recognizing the historical persecution of the Armenian people and join with them in urging Turkey to acknowledge the fact of the Armenian Genocide." Your principled stand holds great meaning for our community. Furthermore, we are inspired by your refusal to bow to pressure from the Turkish government that wants you compromise your commitment to proper U.S. commemoration and Turkish acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. In taking this firm moral stand, you are helping to break the cycle of genocide, a horrific century-long history of mass slaughter and denial that has, all too often, been fueled by the silence and inaction of the international community. In this noble spirit - and in the great tradition of California Governors who have served as national leaders in the cause of Armenian Genocide recognition - we ask you to openly call upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to schedule votes on the Armenian Genocide legislation currently before their chambers of Congress. We look forward to working with you hand in hand on this issue of shared concern. Please accept our appreciation for your friendship and support for our community. Respectfully, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church North America, Western Prelacy of the Armenian of Apostolic Church, St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, ARF "Dashnagtsutyun" of Western USA, Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization, SD Hunchakian of Western USA, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Society of Los Angeles, Armenian Youth Association of California 2) Turkish Lobbyist Attacks Armenian Americans WASHINGTON, DC--Turkey~Rs top Washington, DC lobbyist, former Louisiana Congressman Bob Livingston, in perhaps his most strident attack to date, has accused Armenian Americans of seeking to impose a ~Styranny of the minority~T by urging Congress to adopt human rights legislation concerning the Armenian genocide, according to documents obtained this week by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). ~SIt~Rs truly the height of hypocrisy for a paid foreign agent for Turkey--a government that violates the rights of its citizens on a wholesale basis--to try to diminish the role that American citizens play in the formulation of our nation~Rs foreign policy,~T said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. ~SBut, apparently, in the ~QAlice in Wonderland~R world of Bob Livingston, other nations dictate US policy, genocides remain unpunished, and foreign lobbyists get to silence American voters. He would do well to spend more time encouraging his Turkish clients to learn about democracy, and less time seeking to abridge the democratic rights of Americans here at home.~T In letters sent to Congressional offices last September, prior to the House International Relations Committee~Rs consideration of Armenian genocide legislation, Livingston escalated his rhetoric to unprecedented levels, arguing, in his capacity as a paid agent of a foreign government, that he believed the measure ~Scater[s] to a small minority of citizens promoting the narrow goals of the minority at the expense of America~Rs broader interest.~T He went on, in an example of overstatement rare even by Washington, DC standards, to contend that Armenian genocide legislation ~Sis the truest expression of the tyranny of the minority.~T The panel rejected Livingston~Rs attack, voting 40 to 7 to approve the legislation. In July of last year, CongressWatch, a division of Public Citizen, released a 49-page report highlighting ethical concerns about the Livingston Group~Rs lobbying efforts for the Turkish Government. The report details the efforts by Livingston, to secure a ~S$1 billion supplemental appropriation for Turkey... despite that country~Rs refusal to allow US troops to use its soil as a staging area for the Iraq invasion. He also helped kill an amendment that would have formally recognized the Armenian genocide that occurred between 1915 and 1923.~T The Livingston Group has received over $10 million in payments from Turkey. To read this entire report, visit: 3 ) Kocharian-Aliyev Meeting Could Be Held in May BAKU (Armenpress)--Novruz Mamedov, Head of the Azeri Presidential Administration's International Relations Department, said that the next meeting of the Armenian and Azeri presidents may take place in May of 2006. Mamedov said that unlike the presidents~R previous meeting in Rambouillet, the forthcoming meeting of the presidents could take place within the framework of an international event, reported Azerbaijan~Rs ANS TV channel. 4) Thousands Protest against Turkey~Rs Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul BEVERLY HILLS--The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) led a demonstration of over 4,000 Armenian Americans Friday outside the Beverly Hills Hotel during a speech given by Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, a key figure in the Turkish state~Rs campaign to deny the Armenian genocide. The Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region (ANCA-WR), the AYF-Western Region, both dioceses of the Armenian church, all Armenian political parties, Armenian schools, high school and college Armenian Student Associations, the Hellenic association, and various other organizations participated in Friday~Rs protest. The crowd of protesters marched peacefully and chanted in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, where the Defense Minister spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council about ~SThe Evolving Security Environment and Turkey~Rs Strategic Role in Eurasia.~T Among the thousands of participants in the protest were Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-27) and Burbank Board of Education President Paul Krekorian. Before inviting Congressman Sherman to speak, ANCA-WR Board of Directors member Raffi Hamparian spoke of the US State Department~Rs failure to live up to American values. ~SAt the same time that the US government is condemning Belarus for suppressing freedom of expression, the US State Department is preparing to fire our Ambassador to Armenia for simply telling the truth about the Armenian genocide,~T said Hamparian. ~SIt is not only those with Armenian heritage who demand that the truth be recognized. Friends of Turkey should demonstrate that Turkey accept the Armenian genocide,~T said Congressman Sherman in his remarks to the crowd. ~SWhere will Turkey be among the family of nations if it does not recognize the truth? I will work in Congress every day until the historical truth of the Armenian genocide is recognized,~T he concluded. Congressman Sherman also commented on Turkey~Rs failure to provide access to US military bases in Turkey and necessary passage over its land and air space during the invasion of Iraq three years ago. ~SThe casualties stemming from today~Rs conflict in Iraq are, to some extent, a direct result of Turkey~Rs refusal to allow the US-led coalition to open a northern front,~T said Congressman Sherman. In his remarks at the luncheon, the Defense Minister addressed the issue of Turkey~Rs actions during the run-up to the Iraq War. He directly contradicted the position of his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who has repeatedly said on national television that Turkey~Rs refusal to allow US-led coalition forces to open a northern front has significantly contributed to the strength of the Iraqi insurgency. ~STurkey has supported the US led war on Iraq from the beginning,~T said the Defense Minister. He added that ~STurkey promotes good neighborly relations.~T This assertion also stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the Turkish government, which, on one hand, blockades and seeks to isolate Armenia, and on the other, denies the Armenian genocide and continues to harvest the economic, demographic, and geopolitical fruits of the genocidal crime it committed against the Armenian nation nine decades ago. ~SDefense Minister Gonul~Rs remarks are consistent with his government~Rs campaign to portray a rosy image of itself--despite the facts on the ground. Increasingly, however, the American public is seeing through these transparent efforts, and looking instead to Turkey~Rs actual conduct--such as its blockade of Armenia, abysmal human rights record, attempts to revise history, and, more broadly, its increasingly antagonistic relationship with the United States,~T said Hamparian after listening to the Defense Minister~Rs speech. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul~Rs visit to Southern California, home to the largest Armenian population in the US, came exactly one month prior to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide on April 24th. California, which is one of 38 states to have recognized the Armenian genocide, last year adopted legislation permanently designating the week of April 24 as California~Rs week of remembrance of the Armenian genocide. The effort to enact legislation on the Armenian genocide was led by state legislators such as Senators Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno) and Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco), and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. California has also adopted an education curriculum that includes teaching of the history of the Armenian genocide, and the Los Angeles Unified School District is among many public school systems in the state that continue to train its teachers on implementing a curriculum that teaches about this crime against humanity. The Defense Minister~Rs visit also came at an especially sensitive time in US-Turkey relations. In recent weeks, ~SValley of the Wolves,~T the most expensive film ever made in Turkey, prompted the US military to issue warnings to our troops stationed in Turkey due to the film~Rs severely anti-American and anti-Semitic nature. The film continues to remain a box office hit in theatres across Turkey and has been publicly praised by many Turkish leaders, including Prime Minster Erdogan. The popularity of ~SValley of the Wolves~T is not the only recent demonstration of anti-Semitic and anti-American sentiment in Turkey. Last year, Adolf Hilter~Rs ~SMein Kampf~T was a best-seller in the country. The Defense Minister~Rs speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants coming from protesters demonstrating along Sunset Boulevard. Armenian Americans attending the luncheon, including Glendale Unified School District Board Member Greg Krikorian, called on the Defense Minister to acknowledge Turkey~Rs past. However, Defense Minister Gonul said that ~Sthese are Armenian claims, and there is nothing to acknowledge.~T AYF Chairman Tro Tchekidjian stated at the conclusion of the protest that ~SWe will never forget what happened in 1915, and we will persist in calling for recognition of the Armenian genocide until Turkey comes to terms with its past.~T The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 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) 2006 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.

ARMENIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY TB FIGURES UP
Azg, Yerevan
25 Mar 06
Excerpt from report by Gohar Gevorkyan in Armenian newspaper Azg on 25
March headlined “Despite efforts, the TB situation remains worrying”.
The TB situation in the world remains worrying.
[Passage omitted: 9m new TB cases registered in the world].
Yesterday, on the occasion of world day for fighting tuberculosis,
leaders and representatives of the anti-TB national centre said that
the disease has increased noticeably over the past decade.
The head of the centre, Vaan Pogosyan, said that in 2005 there were
6,455 people with TB in Armenia, 2,006 of which were new cases. He
said that 167 patients died of TB.
He said that the early detection and proper treatment are the main
tasks for the state. By all means this does not mean that nothing is
being done by way of treatment. Several hospitals and clinics were
refurbished within the framework of the programme. Laboratory and
other equipment were bought, the centre was set up, and polyclinics
were tasked with treating the disease.
By the way, the diagnosis and treatment of TB is free of charge in
Armenia. Specialists believe that with early diagnosis and the right
treatment the disease can be treated.
Pogosyan said that the programme will continue till 2011 and that the
government is going to endorse a new strategy and allocate more than
1bn drams for this. Over the next five years the Global foundation
will allocate 7m dollars to support the programme.
The head of the World Health Organization office in Yerevan, Elizabeth
Hoff, talked about the work that has been done so far and said that
more needs to be done to prevent the disease from spreading and to
treat it.