Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Spokesperson and Press Division
Ref: 384a04
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:
Anti-torture committee publishes its first report on Armenia
Strasbourg, 28.07.2004 – The Council of Europe’s Committee for the
Prevention of Torture (CPT) has today published its first report on Armenia,
following a visit to the country in October 2002.
In the report, the CPT concludes that people detained by the police in
Armenia run a significant risk of being ill-treated. The Commitee therefore
recommends that a high priority be given to professional training for police
officers, including in modern investigation techniques.
The report also draws attention to overcrowding in prisons and the shortage
of activities for inmates. Furthermore, the CPT calls for urgent steps to
improve the conditions in which people sentenced to life imprisonment are
being held at Nubarashen Prison, and highlights major deficiencies at
Nubarashen Republican Psychiatric Hospital.
In their official responses to the report, the Armenian authorities refer to
measures which have been taken to improve police training and to step up the
control of police activities. The authorities also announce a reduction of
the prison population, following the adoption of a new Criminal Code, and
highlight measures aimed at improving conditions at the Nubarashen
facilities.
The CPT report and the responses of the Armenian Government have been made
public with the agreement of the Armenian authorities. They are all
available on the CPT’s website:
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common
responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 45 member states.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pravda, Russia
July 28 2004
Latvia to host young performers’ festival
12:33 2004-07-28
Latvia’s Jurmala resort is to host the third New Wave international
festival of young pop music performers; this contest is to open at
the Dzintari concert hall (that seats more than 2,000) July 28,
lasting until August 1.
The finals will involve 16 singers from 13 countries, i.e. Armenia,
Germany, Israel, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Russia,
the United States, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Estonia. Russia will be
represented by Alexei Chumakov, Anastasia Gonchar and Irina Dubtsova,
as well as by the Mikki-Zlata duo.
The winner will get the Crystal Wave prize, as well as $25,000. Those
placing second and third will be entitled to diplomas, as well as
$20,000 and $15,000, respectively.
Each participant will sing his or her national song the very first
day, i.e. July 29. Singers will perform hits to their liking in the
second round; meanwhile the third round will feature songs, which
were written especially for this festival.
All performers shall be judged by a jury under the supervision of
composers Igor Krutoi and Raimonds Pauls, who had organized this
festival. The jury includes well-known composers and singers Vladimir
Matetsky, Igor Nikolayev, Leonid Agutin, Laima Vaikule, as well as
British producer Steve Lyon.
Many Russian pop stars, as well as Great Britain’s Bony Tyler and
Thomas Anders, have been invited to attend the festival.
Anastasia Stotskaya, who won the 2002 New Wave contest, will attend
this year’s opening ceremony, with Philip Kirkorov singing at the
Dzintari concert hall that same evening, after the ceremony winds up.
Josef Kobzon, who will host the contest’s second evening, was unable
to attend last year because Latvian authorities had declared him
persona non grata, who allegedly threatened national security.
Latvia’s newly-appointed Interior Minister Eriks Jekabsons decided
not to blacklist the Russian singer a month ago and to allow him to
enter the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 28 2004
Opposition Leader Calls for Protest against Armenian Officers’
Arrival in Baku
The Unified Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (UAPFP) will be organizing
a series of pickets outside the ministries of Defense and Foreign
Affairs, as well as the embassies of NATO member states in Baku to
protest against the participation of Armenian officers in NATO
training to be held in Azerbaijan this September.
MP Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of the UAPFP, told a Tuesday news
conference that his party had applied to several international
organizations and some foreign embassies in Baku requesting them to
prevent the Armenian officers’ visit to the Azerbaijani capital.
Hasanguliyev stressed that if the Azerbaijani community showed a
strong protest the relevant governmental bodies and international
organizations would give in.

Deseret News, UT
July 28 2004
Birth nurses have big impact
Effect on patient, hospital’s future cited in BYU study
By Lois M. Collins
Deseret Morning News
What a nurse does in the delivery room to “dignify” the
birthing process may have lasting impact on the emotional well-being
of the patient and the economic future of the hospital, according to
a recently published study.
The results of research conducted by Brigham Young University
nursing professor Lynn Callister and co-authored by undergraduate
Rachel Matthews is published in the current issue of the Journal of
Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing.
“Even though this is an experience that lasts hours at most,
it’s a life-changing event that influences a woman for the rest of
her life,” Callister said in an e-mail interview with the Deseret
Morning News. She is in Russia on a Fulbright Fellowship. “The
satisfaction of a woman with her care while giving birth has a
lasting impact on her perceptions about the quality of the
health-care facility.
“Dignity represents an affirmation of being treated with
respect, experiencing open communication, engendering a sense of
confidence that power is shared and providing the woman with a sense
of individual worth,” she said.
She added that some believe a good birth experience does many
positive things, from enhancing the woman’s sense of self-worth and
helping her accept her maternal role to improving a couple’s
relationship and generally enriching the family experience.
The BYU researchers interviewed first-time mothers who had
given birth in the last three months. After each woman described her
child’s birth, responses were categorized and common issues
identified.
“The birthing experience doesn’t really depend on your doctor,”
one participant told them. “He’s there the last five or 10 minutes.
It’s the nurse that’s with you through the whole 12 hours. She plays
even a bigger role than the doctor.”
The mothers said that nurses best show respect for the birth
experience by sharing joy, communicating clearly, heeding the
mother’s requests and acknowledging the woman’s strength and courage
during the delivery process.
“Giving birth should be celebrated as a birthday party,”
Callister said, “and having the sense that her caregivers are
celebratory, that they have a desire to individualize her care and
are listening to what she is saying is so important.”
To illustrate the point, Callister tells of a woman for whom
delivery was moving so fast that it was too late for pain medication.
Contractions were coming fast and hard when the nurse cupped the
soon-to-be mother’s face in her hands, looked into her eyes and said,
“Nina, look at me and focus. Breathe with me. You can do it and I
will help you.” Later, the patient credited the nurse with helping
her find strength she didn’t know she had.
Callister can also tell stories that demonstrate what appeared
to the woman giving birth to be a lack of care. And she cites a
landmark study that has already shown “perceived lack of a caring
approach during such a vulnerable time was one of the core components
. . . for a traumatic birth.”
It’s a point, she said, to which hospitals and birthing
facilities should pay attention.
“In the majority of households in the United States, women are
the gatekeepers for family health and the decisionmakers about
seeking health care. Studies have demonstrated that when women have a
quality experience with a health-care facility, they are more likely
to make future health-care decisions that involve the same
institution,” Callister said. “If a woman has a positive experience
with a medical center, she is more likely to take an elderly parent
to that facility for care.”
Approximately 6 million American women become pregnant each
year.
While in Russia, Callister has been interviewing Russian women
who recently gave birth, and she has two students who are collecting
data on Armenian and Ukrainian childbearing women, as well, she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CSTO’s INTERFERENCE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH, GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN CONFLICTS
INADVISABLE: NIKOLAY BORDYUZHA
YEREVAN, JULY 27. ARMINFO. Interfering in such delicate matters as
relations between conflicting parties is inadvisable for the CSTO,
Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) Nikolay Bordyuzha stated in his interview to “Rosbalt”,
responding to a question about the CSTO’s participation in the
settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.
According to him, the CSTO is not directly involved. “The CSTO
member-state are. Russia is involved in settling both conflicts,”
Bordyuzha said. According to him, professionals who know the problem
and have dealt with for many years must work there. “The only thing we
do is thoroughly following the trends to properly respond if it comes
to hostilities,” he said. According to him, the organization’s task is
being ready to propose to the Collective Security Council political
measures to neutralize negative consequences.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 27 2004
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV MET HEADS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
OF THE REPUBLIC ABROAD
[July 27, 2004, 21:04:49]
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on 27 July at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met heads of the diplomatic missions
of Azerbaijan functioning in the foreign countries.
Head of state looked through the monument erected to the national
leader of Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev at the foyer of the
Ministry.
Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov opened the meeting.
Noting that national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev has
determined the priorities of foreign policy of Azerbaijan Republic
the foreign minister said that concrete and consecutive works should
be carried out in this direction.
He also noted that the law of Azerbaijan Republic `On diplomatic
service’ adopted on 8 July 2001 regulates activity of the foreign
ministry and promotes execution of state’s foreign policy determined
by President Ilham Aliyev.
Then, the foreign minister cited as example that currently Azerbaijan
has established diplomatic relations with 156 countries. 26 embassies
and 16 international representations are functioning in Baku, the
Minister said. Azerbaijan has 21 embassies, 5 permanent
representations, 2 consulate generals and 2 honorary consulates
abroad. Foreign missions are expected to be opened recently in
Bulgaria, Belarus, Indonesia, Kuwait, Canada, Latvia, India, Hungary,
Japan and Greece.
Azerbaijan is a member of 44 international and regional
organizations. 22 Azerbaijanis work at these organizations.
Azerbaijan has joined 250 conventions, the Minister stressed.
Mr. Mammadyarov further noted that it is Azerbaijani diplomatic
missions that are realizing the country’s foreign policy, and named
among their most important duties intensification of their activities
towards fear solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, reinforcing
the fight against anti-Azerbaijani people propaganda pursued by the
Armenians, continuation of rendering humanitarian assistance to
refugees and internally displaced people, tracking the Azerbaijan
related materials in foreign mass media etc. The Minister pointed out
as well that economic issues, relations with Azerbaijani Diaspora
abroad, as well as protection of the rights of the Azerbaijani
juridical and physical persons abroad should also be focus of our
diplomatic missions’ attention.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to play a key role in
development of important documents related to the country’s foreign
policy, national security and military conception, he said. Minister
Mammadyarov also expressed the opinion that the Ministry should be
involved both in cooperation with Milli Majlis and development of
Inter-parliamentary cooperation in an everyday basis.
To defend Azerbaijan’s interests under conditions of globalization,
the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be
provided with certain work.
Along with some questions, on this purpose the Foreign Ministry
prepares appropriate documents on priority issues of foreign policy
and submits to other governmental structures of Azerbaijan.
Internal composition of the Ministry should be improved and bring in
conformity with the foreign policy priorities. To this end, some
departments of the Ministry will be abolished, while some others be
set up. Issues of integration to the European structures, sections on
archives, training centers and other structures will be established.
The Ministry’s Board should be set up. Appropriate proposals have
already been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
We must activate the work with the local and foreign mass media,
Elmar Mammadyarov underlined. Briefings on the organized events, the
position of our state on separate questions of foreign policy should
be disclosed for mass media representatives in a defined order.
Propaganda and agitation through Internet should be strengthened.
The diplomatic service should be provided with worthy and able
personnel meeting international standards. The Foreign Ministry
carries appropriate work in this direction. We must ensure openness,
transparency, objectivity, professionalism and clear principles in
selection of staff members and other issues in the Ministry.
Summing up my remarks, I would like to underline that the diplomatic
service in Azerbaijan has been established after restoration of
statehood in a new environment, the Minister said. Our diplomats have
a lot to do.
Addressing the President, the foreign minister assured the head of
state that the personnel of diplomatic service bodies would make
every effort to realize the tasks put forward.
***
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the meeting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI LEADER OUTLINES KEY FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES IN MEETING WITH DIPLOMATS
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
27 Jul 04
BAKU
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met the heads of Azerbaijani
diplomatic missions abroad at the Foreign Ministry today.
During the meeting Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov informed the
president of the work of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic missions abroad. He
also spoke about new activities connected with the need for
coordination between diplomats in the modern world, as well as
structural changes due in the ministry.
In his remarks, President Ilham Aliyev said that the initiative to
hold this meeting was put forward by former Azerbaijani President
Heydar Aliyev a year ago. The head of state added that the foreign
political course adopted by Heydar Aliyev is being successfully
pursued today. Saying that the success of Azerbaijani diplomacy
depends on the work of Azerbaijani ambassadors abroad, Ilham Aliyev
stressed that the main objective of our diplomacy was to solve issues
of national importance at the international level.
Pointing to the fact that Azerbaijan has no problems in bilateral
relations, the president stated his position with regard to
Azerbaijan’s main strategic foreign political directions. The
president said that the main direction is to inform the world public
of the real essence of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy
Karabakh and of Azerbaijan’s position based on a solution to the issue
on the basis of international legal norms.
“Azerbaijani diplomats must take a more active part in resolving the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan supports peace. We want to
resolve the issue through negotiations. I hope the negotiations will
be successful. But at the same time, I have repeatedly stated that
Azerbaijan will never come to terms with the loss of its lands. If the
path of negotiations leads us nowhere, Azerbaijan will use all other
means available, including the military option. International law is
on our side. Economic potential and other issues are also in our
favour. I have no doubt that the issue will be resolved
fairly. Sometimes we hear recommendations about compromises. But I
have repeatedly said that there can be no compromise on the issue of
territorial integrity,” Ilham Aliyev said.
“Another key direction in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy is to inform the
world public and international organizations of the plight of
Azerbaijani refugees and forced migrants,” the president said,
disclosing the tasks of the diplomatic corps.
Aliyev instructed the ambassadors to expand cooperation with foreign
countries and influential international organizations in a move to
strengthen Azerbaijan’s positions in the region and to increase the
country’s authority.

ARMENIAN PREMIER MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF
TBILISI, VISITS PANTHEON OF ARMENIAN CULTURAL WORKERS
TBILISI, July 26 (Noyan Tapan). Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian arrived in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on a two-day
official visit July 25.
RA Government’s Information and Public Relations Department reported
to NT, the premier, who is also co-chairman of the Armenian-Georgian
Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, and the
delegation headed by him, attended the opening ceremony of the
Commission’s third meeting in the morning.
The Armenian delegation members were hailed by Georgian Co-Chairman of
the Commission, Georgian Prime Minister Zourab Zhvania followed by
Andranik Margarian’s speech. Further, the Armenian premier visited the
memorial complex devoted to the memory of the heroes who persihed for
the sake of Georgia’s unity, the pantheon of Armenian cultural workers
and laid wreaths. During his visit to St. Etchmiadzin Church,
Andranik Margarian met with the representatives of the Armenian
community. Later, the Armenian premier visited the Georgian Government
building to meet with his Georgian counterpart Zourab Zhvania. RA
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian is expected to meet with Georgian
President Mikheil Sahakashvili later today.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Counting on Success: A family takes to the hills to master the art of sheep
farming
armenia.now.com
23 july 2004
By Julia Hakobyan ArmeniaNow reporter
On a foot of a hill near Lake Sevan, where four-legged creatures
vastly outnumber the upright, an Armenian family has found a new home
and a chance for well being.
The Ghalichyan family left their home in Shorzha village two years ago
for the sake of their sheep, for grassland and vast expanses, and for
the chance to harmonize with nature.
Roam with a view
“We chose a place near pasture and a spring and built a house and
cattlepen,” says the head of the family Edik Ghalichyan. “We have
here all that is needed for living: shelter, food, work. We installed
electricity, built a bath and a basement for keeping food. The only
thing what we don’t have are neighbors, but by now we’ve gotten used
to it.”
Ghalichayn, 58, his wife Yunik, their two sons with their families
made the decision to go to the mountains on an invitation from the
Tufenkian Foundation.
Four years ago the foundation launched “Sheep Farms”, a project that
promotes livestock breeding and offers farmers a way establish livable
business.
The foundation (established in 1996 by U.S. businessman James
Tufenkian) distributed 258 sheep (eight rams and 250 ewes) among 10
families in each of four villages in Gegharkunik Region. Each group of
10 families also received a $4,500 loan for maintenance of the
heard. The families agreed to pay back the money and return a
same-sized herd within five years.
The Ghalichyans may turn out to be an exception in a program that has
proved challenging. Their individual herd (some 300) is bigger than
the collective herd from four years ago.
The Ghalichyans settled near grazing land
“We didn’t intend to leave the village in the beginning,” says
Ghalichyan.
“But a big herd needs a big pasture. We had to take the herd each day
to the mountains, several kilometers from our house and stay there the
all day long. And once I came here with the sheep and decided to
stay.”
It was not an easy decision to live communal village life for the
savage landscape and a herd of sheep. But the family was experiencing
financial hardships as most of the villagers and the idea of having
their own farm prevailed over the fear of social isolation.
The transition from small herd to family business has not been
easy. For example, brucellosis spread in the herd, and the
Ghalichyan’s had to destroy half their stock.
“We had been keeping sheep before, but taking care of such a big herd
caused many unexpected problems,” says Yunik, 52. “It took over two
years to learn all the details of farming from our own mistakes.”
Yunik says that they learned among other things that the first portion
of milk causes death for newborn lambs, a detail that they did not
know before.
“When we had a small herd while in our village and some lambs were
dying it did not disturb us, but now since we have a big herd the
death of lambs is very harmful for the further herd development,” she
says.
Even though the herd has increased, the Ghalichyans have not yet
turned a profit. The seed money from the foundation covers expense for
80 tons of hay for feed during winter. Money made from selling wool
goes to cover costs of renovating sheep pens and buying vaccinations.
“We could not imagine how hard it would be to develop the farm,” says
Edik, “however we do not regret that we are here. Life was easy in
Soviet times, nowadays it is hard, but if you are ready to work hard
you will survive anywhere and in any times. Now we see the results of
our work and I hope soon our sheep will bring us profit”
The Ghalichyans also have cows, turkeys, hens and cover their daily
ration by trading milk, cheese and mutton for household necessities.
Samvel Gevorgyan, manager of Sheep Farm Project says that the project
implementation caused unexpected problems for the organizers as well.
The foundation founder and the flock
Gevorgyan says that they chose Gegharkunik as the most economically
area economically for the project, however could not expect that
farmers would have problems with farming.
Now, however: “Our experience in working with farmers demonstrates
that the villagers were not ready to work,” he says. “They experience
difficulties which we did not expect and for most families that work
appeared to be too hard.”
Only eight families (including Ghalichyan’s) out of the initial 40
succeeded to maintain the herds they got.
“In some cases the heads of the villages were not eager to cooperate
with us and were hindering the works of the families,” Gevorgyan
says. “It is because they do not have a clear idea what the contract
is, that we give loans, not money. We regularly organize meetings with
villagers to explain the project, their responsibilities and
duties. We hope that Armenian farmers will realize the advantages of
having their own farms.”
As for Ghalichyan family they hope they will manage to return the loan
and herd to foundation. The head of the family says that he would work
as hard as possible to secure the life of his family. Edik hopes that
his grandsons and their families would inherit his farm and the small
oasis in the mountain would become a successful family enterprise.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Contra Costa Times, CA
July 24 2004
Helping Armenians fulfills a family
RELATIVES TRAVEL TO ARMENIA WITH DONATIONS – Alamo resident Mary Kate
Tengler; her mother, Nancy Tengler, and grandmother Lorraine Caven
recently returned home from a trip to Armenia, where they delivered
school supplies to Norashen Michnagarg School, which had recently
been built thanks in large part to Lorraine.
The Tengler family and Lorraine are members of the Bay Area Friends
of Armenia. It turns out that Lorraine, 80-plus years young and young
at heart, works in the copy room at Walnut Creek Intermediate School
and has been sending her entire paycheck to BAFA with the expressed
purpose of funding the rebuilding of this school, destroyed in a 1988
earthquake.
“The school needed to raise 10 percent of the construction cost to be
eligible for government funding. My mother’s contribution comprised
virtually all of the 10 percent, and through her efforts the school
rebuilding was accomplished,” said Nancy.
Mary Kate, 13, began her project of helping the students of this
school last year. It started when the pastor of Community
Presbyterian Church in Danville, Scott Farmer, distributed $100 bills
to the congregation with the intent that the money be used to help
others. A member of the church donated a total of $10,000.
Mary Kate took the $100 and used it to buy supplies to make Salvation
Bracelets, which she sold to other children at her school. Together
with her sales and other donations, Mary Kate collected $700, which
she in turn used to purchase New Testament bibles and school supplies
for two Armenian schools. During this time, Mary Kate, Nancy and
Lorraine collected stuffed animals, refurbished and cleaned them and
had them sent to a soup kitchen in Armenia.
This year, Mary Kate’s eighth-grade class at San Ramon Valley
Christian Academy and the junior high student council raised money
and collected school supplies and more stuffed animals, which are
being shipped this month to more schools in Armenia.
Even though the Norashen Michnagarg School has been open for a year
now, this is the first trip the three women have taken to Armenia,
and they missed the school’s official opening ceremony. During this
recent trip, the Norashen officials decided Lorraine should have a
special ceremony during the visit.
A dedication plaque was hung outside the gymnasium and a ceremony was
conducted thanking Lorraine for her contribution. Children sang songs
and recited poems, and even though they don’t speak the language,
Lorraine and her family appreciated the heartfelt performance. A
translator helped them to understand some of the wonderful messages
of thanks the children were conveying.
“It was an experience of a lifetime; each day I recall a special
memory,” Lorraine said. “All of the kids shouted out ‘thank you’ in
Armenian. I could cry thinking about it now.”
This time, Mary Kate hand-delivered the school supplies and bibles to
the children and had the opportunity to meet them; some of them are
her age.
And Lorraine finally got to see the school she helped build.
“One of the kids thanked me and asked if there was something nice
they could do for me in return, and I told my mom they already did,”
added Mary Kate.
Nancy agreed it was a rewarding trip for the three ladies — “It is
one of the most fulfilling things I can think of to help people who
are so eager to join in and help themselves,” she said. “They simply
need a little something to work with.”
The end of the trip left the three exhilarated and with lots of
memories.
Driving away from the schools and soup kitchens, Nancy reflected on
the similarities of Mt. Ararat and the people of Armenia. In an
excerpt from an article she wrote for the BAFA newsletter, she
reflected on their experience. “At each twist and turn in the road,
Mt. Ararat loomed in the background. It is magnificent to behold and
the ease with which it rises to its height of almost 17,000 feet
gives off a surreal image that is impossible to erase from your mind.
Much like the Armenian people, I mused. Strong, magnificent and
rugged,” she wrote.
For more information on BAFA contact the Tenglers by email at
[email protected].
Have a great week!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress