Author: Emil Lazarian

Russia to remain Armenia’s “major” arms supplier, officer says
Interfax news agency, Moscow
1 Jun 04
Yerevan, 1 June: Armenia plans to increase defence spending in 2005,
the country’s Defence Minister and Security Council secretary, Serzh
Sarkisyan, has said.
Serzh Sarkisyan spoke after the parliamentary session on the execution
of the 2003 budget.
Armenia will spend about 85m dollars on defence in 2004, a 7-8 per cent
rise from the year before. The Armenian army uses mostly Russian-made
weapons and military hardware.
A source in the country’s Defence Ministry told Interfax that Russia
will remain Armenia’s major arms supplier.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian speaker stresses parliamentary cooperation with Iran
IRNA news agency, Tehran
1 Jun 04
Moscow, 1 June: Armenian National Assembly Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan
on Monday [31 May] called for expansion of Iran-Armenia parliamentary
cooperation.
He made the remarks in a meeting with Iran’s outgoing Ambassador to
Yerevan Mohammad Farhad Koleyni.
At the meeting, Bagdasaryan appreciated Koleyni’s efforts to promote
mutual cooperation during his mission in Armenia, expressing hope
that the mutual cooperation will further broaden in the future.
Koleyni, for his part, termed recent years as a period for deepening
of ties between Tehran and Yerevan.
He expressed hope that cooperation in commercial, economic, cultural
and educational areas will further develop between Iran and Armenia.
The two sides, in the meeting, exchanged views on various issues
related to mutual cooperation and regional developments.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
June 1 2004
Local Red Cross chapter honors Armenian group
Chapter to give award to United Armenian Fund and to celebrate its
87th year in community.
By Darleene Barrientos, News-Press
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — When the local Armenian-American community
rallied to collect medical and school supplies for Armenia, it gave
the local Red Cross chapter a valuable learning experience.
Now, the Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the Red Cross wants to
pay back the favor by giving the United Armenian Fund its annual Good
Neighbor award.
The award will be presented at the chapter’s annual meeting Wednesday
at the Hilton Glendale, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
The organization helped pay for the two shipments the Red Cross
gathered last year, helped the Red Cross figure out what would
benefit Armenia and assisted the chapter’s fundraising efforts, said
Ron Farina, the chapter’s executive director. Their assistance was
invaluable because it was the first time the chapter had undertaken
such a project, he added.
“They gave us guidance on what we should look for and how we should
conduct fundraising in the Armenian community,” Farina said.
The chapter collected nearly $5,000 from local Armenian Americans in
Glendale. The United Armenian Fund helped pay to ship 20 pallets of
surgical prep trays and 35 chests of school supplies.
“They provided great insight and expertise in what we haven’t been in
before,” assistant chapter manager Irena Efremian said. “They guided
us from A through Z — they were very diligent in explaining what we
could do and not do.”
The meeting will be a celebration of the chapter’s 87th year in the
community. Donald A. Huffsmith Jr. will also be installed as the
chapter’s incoming chairman.
The chapter will also announce which member of the Red Cross board
will receive the Albert G. Cornwell Award for outstanding service.
The meeting is open to the public, and tickets are still available.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS: heads of commerce chambers meet in Yerevan
ITAR-TASS, Russia
June 1 2004
YEREVAN, June 1 (Itar-Tass) – A meeting of the CIS Council of Heads
of Chambers of Commerce and Industry will be held in Yerevan on
Tuesday. Its participants will discuss prospects of cooperation in
various spheres of CIS economy.
The Yerevan meeting is expected to demonstrate achievements in the
sphere of small and medium business on the post-Soviet territory,
to reveal the potential of the implementation of investment projects
and to promote the expansion of contacts between economic entities of
the CIS member countries, Martin Sarkisyan, president of the Armenian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Itar-Tass.
A business forum on the development of small and medium business will
be held within the framework of the meeting. Aside from it, the CIS-
Expo-2004 exhibition is being held in the sports and concert complex
of Yerevan. Bulgarian and Iranian firms were also invited to take
part in it.
The Council of the Heads of Chambers of Commerce and Industry was
created last summer. It is headed by Martin Sarkisyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 1 2004
AT THE CABINET OF MINISTERS
[June 01, 2004, 18:38:15]
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Republic Artur Rasizadeh received on
June 1 delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Kyrghyzstan, headed
by the minister, colonel-general Esen Topoev.
Welcoming the visitors, the head of the government of Azerbaijan
Republic has emphasized, that the relations between Azerbaijan and
Kyrghyzstan develop intensively. In 1997, the President of
Kyrghyzstan Askar Akayev has made official visit to Azerbaijan. The
head of two countries – Heydar Aliyev and Askar Akayev frequently met
at various forums, negotiated, that promoted development of mutual
relations.
Speaking about economic development of Azerbaijan after gaining state
independence, Artur Rasi-zade has noted that in 1993 the Azerbaijan
statehood has undergone a real threat. Only with arrival to
management of the country of the national leader, President Heydar
Aliyev and his efforts situation in the country was stabilized. The
economy began to develop in good rates. Azerbaijan has solved many
economic, social problems.
However, as the Prime Minister has noted the main unresolved problem
is the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorny Karabakh conflict. Our country
wants to solve this problem in the peace way in view of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, Artur Rasizadeh ascertained,
in the world there are double standards, and many states do not state
openly, that Armenia is the country – aggressor, that also prevents
the fair solution of the said question.
Having thanked for reception, Minister of Defiance of Kyrghyzstan
colonel-general Esen Topoev informed that on June 1 in Baku between
defense departments of two countries was signed an intergovernmental
agreement on military cooperation.
He has noted, that each time, coming to Baku, he sees the big
positive changes in shape of city that testifies to economic growth
of Azerbaijan.
At the reception, also were exchanged opinions on some questions,
representing mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian, Georgian Musicians to Perform Concert in Tehran
Mehr News Agency, Iran
June 1 2004
TEHRAN June 1 (MNA) — A number of Armenian and Georgian artists
accompanied by a classical music ensemble will perform in concert on
May 19 at Rudaki Hall in Tehran.
Conducted by Avansyan, the music pieces of Fredric Francois Chopin,
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Arno Babajanian, Claude Debussy, and Revaz
Lagidze will be performed at a two-day concert.
Pianists Arpineh Israelian and Tamara Dolizeh will be the featured
soloists accompanying conductor Avansyan.
Israelian, with a doctoral degree in music from Yerevan State
Conservatory and over 25-years of piano concert experience, has
received numerous awards.
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia (the former Soviet Union) in 1963 Tamara
Dolidze graduated with a bachelor’s degree in piano from the Georgian
State Conservatory. Also with over 25-year of piano concert experience,
she is the master of the Tbilisi Music School.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Minister says Azerbaijan, Armenia exchanging views on Karabakh
MPA news agency
1 Jun 04
Baku, 1 June: The third meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers will take place in Prague on 21 June.
According to MPA, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov thinks
it is early to speak about a rapprochement between the positions of
the sides. Commenting on the course of talks between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian foreign ministers, the Azerbaijani foreign minister said
that the sides were exchanging views. According to him, Azerbaijan
is putting forward its ideas and is listening to those suggested
by Armenia. The [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairmen also have certain
ideas. Mammadyarov believes that if they manage to properly arrange
these ideas, then they can move on.
Stressing the role of the European Union in the conflict settlement,
Minister Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan supported the idea of keeping
the Karabakh issue on the agenda of the EU and the European community.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri paper critical of Georgia’s “anti-smuggling operation”
Zerkalo, Baku
1 Jun 04
The Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo has criticized the Georgian
authorities for acting “unprofessionally” during their recent
anti-smuggling operation on the border with Azerbaijan and called
for the use of “civilized” anti-smuggling tactics. It described
the operation in the Azeri-populated region of Georgia as “dirty
provocation” aimed “to deport the entire population” of this region.
In an interview with the newspaper, the leader of Georgia’s ethnic
Azeri movement said that he was “outraged about the mass arrests of
our compatriots” during the operation especially as many of those
arrested had nothing to do with the border incident. The following is
an excerpt from report by M. Yasaroglu, A. Rasidoglu in Azerbaijani
newspaper Zerkalo on 1 June headlined “Over 100 Azeris have been
arrested in Georgia”; subheadings have been inserted editorially
Georgia has tightened control on the border with Azerbaijan and, in
fact, has closed down the state border, the leader of the movement
Qeyrat [of ethnic Azeris in Georgia], Zumrud Qurbanli, has told
Zerkalo.
Meanwhile, according to information from the Georgian Security
Council, the Red Bridge checkpoint will be temporarily closed within
the framework of the programme to combat smuggling from Azerbaijan
(Turan news agency).
[Passage omitted: Georgian officials comment on the border incident
with Azeris on 30 May; Azeri ambassador to Georgia deals with the
issue]
Yesterday [31 May] the Georgian ambassador [to Azerbaijan] told
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov about the results of
a sitting of the Georgian Security Council and, particularly, with
regard to the situation on the border. According to Mammadyarov, the
traffic on the Red Bridge has not been blocked. “Certain clashes have
occurred there between law enforcement agencies and Georgian citizens
of Azerbaijani origin,” Mammadyarov said. He added that “Georgia is
our strategic partner and a friendly country, that is why, stability
and tranquility there have major importance to us.”
Paper cannot share Azeri foreign minister’s optimism
We would like to share Mammadyarov’s optimism, but facts are
different. Long before [Georgian President] Mikheil Saakashvili’s
election there were fears that he will do his best to deport the
entire population of “naughty Borcali [Azerbaijani name of Georgia’s
Kvemo-Kartli region]” whom he describes as “Tatars” and “second-rate
people” [Passage omitted: about Saakashvili’s election promises to
guarantee the rights of ethnic Azeris].
But completely different processes started after the elections which
allowed us to assume that the new Georgian president’s election
promises, to put it mildly, are not being fulfilled. What happened
after Saakashvili’s election as president? Contrary to his promises,
he has given all lands of Borcali to [ethnic] Georgians lessees,
and only their scanty part, which is unsuitable for use, has been
given to Azeris. The Azeris are being denied all rights, including
the right to land, by the new Georgian political leadership. The
Georgian leadership’s policy is not logical – it’s a fact.
Zerkalo newspaper has repeatedly talked about the violation of rights
of our compatriots in Georgia, a country via which territory we are
laying an oil pipeline to Europe and for whom we have arranged reduced
transport tariffs. True, Saakashvili himself understands fully well
that Azerbaijan would not have agreed to the oil pipeline going via
Armenian territory and the USA was categorically against “the Iranian
route”. The only choice was “the Georgian scenario””…[ellipsis
as published].
As a result of Saakashvili’s policy, the Azeris living in Georgia
are concerned about their fate. There is no need for them to be
afraid of being sacked, as they are already being persecuted and
arrested. [Passage omitted: only three ethnic Azeris have been elected
to the Georgian parliament].
No link between border incident and “anti-smuggling operation” in
Azeri v illages
The movement Qeyrat is the only organization which supports our
compatriots. Zumrud Qurbanli is outraged about the mass arrests of
our compatriots.
[Qurbanli] The Georgian media outlets have been trying to analyse
the unfolding events from various positions and angles. The incident,
which happened around the customs checkpoint, is being taken as the
basis. But this is not just about the incident on the Red Bridge. The
main events occurred not on the border, but in the villages of
(?Garadzhalar) and (?Politsala), 5-10 km from Tbilisi.
The events at the customs checkpoint and in these villages can be
linked indirectly only because 60 km separate these two areas. Had
it been only about smuggling, they could have been dealt with that
en route.
Second, nobody objects to the Georgian authorities’ anti-smuggling
operations. But one should not carry out operations of this kind so
unprofessionally and in the homes of innocent people. Even if there
was information about smuggled goods in someone’s house, there was
no need to humiliate the whole village.
Many buses in Georgia pass the Red Bridge and, naturally, they are
being first of all checked by border guards, the customs as well
as other state bodies. One should not forget that a bus carrying
smuggled goods could have been detained while it was covering the
60 km en route to the village. So, I cannot agree with those who say
that they allegedly “came to the village to confiscate the smuggled
goods brought precisely by this bus “. This is a lie.
How could the Georgian customs have missed this bus? It is
impossible. It is impossible to take even a bag across the border
without the state bodies’ inspection.
Authorities could have informed village administration about operation
I recall that nearly two to three months ago the governor of Kvemo
Kartli called for measures to combat smuggling by the village of
Politsala. This proves that “carrying out measures” has been planned
long ago. But how did they carry out the operation? At 0200 [2100
gmt on 29 May] nearly 200 people in masks burst into the Azerbaijani
village and started to shoot randomly. This is a sign of unprofessional
approach to say the least.
[Passage omitted: background information]
There is another issue of concern, i.e. the Georgian side has
instituted legal proceedings against more than 100 Azeris, who
were arrested and whose property was confiscated. Many of those
arrested had nothing to do with the incident on the Red Bridge. That
is why, I believe that this dirty provocation may seriously damage
Azerbaijani-Georgian relations. There are civilized ways of combating
smuggling and the border service and the customs should start to
do this.
[Passage omitted: the Qeyrat movement tries to protect the rights of
the Azeris and some forces could make use of arrests; Azeri parliament
and envoy to Georgia are dealing with this issue as well]
[Zerkalo] The aforesaid operation was carried out after [Azerbaijani
President] Ilham Aliyev’s statement about his forthcoming visit to
Georgia. In your opinion, could this incident lead to the postponement
of the visit?
[Qurbanli] Ilham Aliyev’s visit has nothing to do with
Georgian-Azerbaijani relations because he is planning to attend
the GUUAM’s [Georgia-Ukraine-Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan-Moldova] regular
sitting. Thus, the recent events will have no impact on the Azerbaijani
president’s visit to Georgia. It is necessary to establish relations
with Georgia as both countries will benefit from this. This will,
in turn, help solve problems of the Azeris in Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROBLEMS IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PREVAIL
A1 Plus | 17:01:07 | 01-06-2004 | Social |
Armenian Health Care Ministry held a round table discussion in
connection with the International Day of Children Defense. In 2003
Armenian Government approved 2003-2015′ strategic Document on Mother
and Infant Health Protection.
Under forecast of the strategic program on poverty eradication during
2004-2015 budget allocations for health system will double and funding
for Mother and Infant Health Protection program will increase.
Statistics show infant mortality reduced. 540 children died in 2002,
and 524 in 2003. 3670 children were born during 2003.
There are unsettled problems in the health system. “Maternal and
infant mortality rate and abortion indices are still high”, Karine
Saribekyan, head of Health Ministry Department for Mother and Infant
Health Protection, says.
She hopes all the problems will be solved by 2015.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
“Orran” benevolent NGO
6 Yekmalian Street
Yerevan 375009, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 58.31.60
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
May 28, 2004
ORRAN CHILDREN’S CENTER IN ARMENIA
Yerevan — On May 25, Orran officially opened the doors of its
newly-constructed center in the heart of the capital city’s downtown.
The four-floor building, which includes five classrooms, a library,
a computer room, a social activity area, a dental office, and a
well-appointed garden, will serve more than 65 vagrant children and
35 needy elderly.
Joining in the festivities were Constitutional Court Justice Vladimir
Hovhannisian, Minister of Social Welfare Aghvan Vardanian, and other
government officials; US Ambassador John Ordway, Italian Ambassador
Marco Clemente, German Ambassador Hans-Wulf Bartels, Greek Ambassador
Antonios Vlavianos, and other representatives of the diplomatic
corps; General Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosian and other leaders of public and
non-governmental organizations; and noted intellectuals, academicians,
and people of the arts.
The 300 guests were greeted by Orran founders Armine and Raffi
K. Hovannisian and by Orran board members Susan Klein, Arshavir
Kapoudjian, Aram Harutiunian, and Nick Gilmour. Orran benefactors
Krikor and Anna Krikorian of the United Kingdom were on hand for
the occasion.
The red ribbon, symbolizing the threshold of the new home, was cut by
the youngest and oldest members of the Orran family, Mariam Andrikian,
age 5, and Tsoghik Sevoyan, 86. After prayers offered by Father Shahe
Hairapetian and Father Dajad Davidian, the children performed together
with their good friend, star singer Arthur Ispirian. Krik Krikorian
thanked the many people who had made the grand opening possible,
recalling the living legacy of his own parents which he was fulfilling
on this day. The program concluded with a beautiful song rendition
and dance performance by the young children of Orran.
“We have come a long way from the day we were founded four years ago in
a small two-room apartment that accommodated 16 children. But thanks
to the wonderful friends of Orran–Gerard and Cleo Cafesjian, Carolyn
Mugar, Krikor and Anna Krikorian, the Hovannisian and Kotcholosian
families, and so many others–we were able to build this comfortable
haven for the children and the elderly. The new facilities will permit
us to provide better education and services for the children,” Armine
Hovannisian said.
Orran was founded in 2000 with the mission of assisting children
who have resorted to street life out of poverty, eliminating street
begging by children, helping families in spiritual crisis and economic
distress, and uplifting the lonely elderly.
For more information on Orran, visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress