Author: Emil Lazarian

NEW PAPER ON KARABAKH PRINTED IN AZERBAIJAN
Assa-Irada, Baku
6 May 04
BAKU
The first issue of Qolos Karabaxa (Russian: Voice of Karabakh)
newspaper is out. The newspaper is founded by the Foundation for the
Protection of the Rights of Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Persons
in Azerbaijan.
The primary goal of the publication is to inform foreign embassies in
Baku and guests who arrive in the country for different reasons about
the fate of 1m people who were expelled from their native lands. Also
the background to the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh problem,
the aggressive nature of the Armenians, and their activities against
the Azerbaijani people over the idea of Greater Armenia.
Since the newspaper primarily targets foreign readers, it is published
in Russian and an English version is planned. It must also be noted
that in order to disseminate information more widely about the nature
and content of the conflict, newspaper stories will also be posted on
the foundation’s Internet site in the Azerbaijani, Russian and English
languages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO TRUCE VIOLATION OBSERVED ON ARMENIAN-AZERI CONTACT LINE BY OSCE MISSION
Mediamax news agency
6 May 04
YEREVAN
An OSCE mission held routine monitoring today on the contact line
between the armed forces of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic (NKR) and
Azerbaijan in the village of Seysulan of NKR’s Mardakert District.
Mediamax news agency’s correspondent reported from Stepanakert
(Xankandi) that the monitoring was carried out within the schedule. No
incidents or truce violations were recorded.
The monitoring group from the position of the NKR defence army was led
by Andrzej Kasprzyk, personal representative of the OSCE
chairman-in-office.
Kasprzyk held meetings with the NKR foreign minister, Ashot Gulyan,
and the defence minister, Seyran Oganyan, in Stepanakert on 5
May. They discussed the situation on the contact line and the
prospects for a settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 14:07:07 | 06-05-2004 | Politics |
KOCHARYAN AGAIN BREAKING A LAW
“Breaking the 30th article of the Law on “Military Service”, Robert
Kocharyan nominated Hovik Hoveyan who didn’t serve the Minister of
Culture and Youth”, Ruben Torosyan, Chair of “Supreme Soviet” Deputy
Club, says.
Being guided by NN 159-163 articles of the Armenian Civil Trial Code,
Ruben Torosyan demands to declare nomination of Hoveyan a Minister
invalid as it runs counter to the law and to press on him to fulfill
the requirements of N 30 article of the Law on “Military Service”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA OREANDA, Russia
Economic News
May 5, 2004 Wednesday
New Minister of Culture Appointed in Armenia
YEREVAN
The other day Ovik Sveyan, Writers Union Secretary has been appointed
Armenian Minister of Culture and Youth, Robert Kocharyan has already
signed the correspondent decree.
Tamara Pogosyan was reportedly dismissed from the post of Minister of
Culture by the presidential decree, according to the Armenian
President press-service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Associated Press Worldstream
May 4, 2004 Tuesday
Armenians protest, demand authporities fulfill European recommendations
YEREVAN, Armenia
Thousands of Armenians took to the streets Tuesday for the latest in
a series of protests against the government, calling on authorities
to release people who were detained during previous demonstrations
organized by the political opposition in the Caucasus Mountain
country.
Protesters also called on the government to carry out other
recommendations made last week by Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights watchdog. The
assembly urged authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations,
investigate any reported rights abuses and create fair conditions for
the media.
About 8,000 people turned out for the rally, which was not approved
by authorities in Yerevan, whose mayor said frequent rallies and
marches deter investment.
After the rally, several thousand protesters marched toward the
headquarters of the police and chief prosecutor, demanding the
release of opposition activists.
Police forcefully broke up a rally outside the presidential palace on
April 13, detaining more than 100 protesters. Most were released, but
some remained in custody.
Opposition supporters have held several protests this month, calling
for the resignation of President Robert Kocharian.
Kocharian won a second term in presidential elections a year ago that
sparked mass protests, including nearly daily demonstrations between
the first round of voting in February 2003 and the runoff in early
March. Opposition groups alleged widespread violations in both rounds
of the election.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
May 5 2004
WB to make serious efforts for improvement of business sphere in
Armenia
The office of Children of Armenia Fund opened in Yerevan
*********************************************************************
WB TO MAKE SERIOUS EFFORTS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF BUSINESS SPHERE IN
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, May, 5. /ARKA/. WB will make serious efforts for improvement
of business sphere in Armenia, Director of WB Yerevan Office Roger
Robinson stated today. According to him, for improvement of business
sphere Armenia needs to make large amount of works. Robinson said
that the results of the analysis of business atmosphere will be
prepared soon, however it is already obvious that some sphere have
problems. Particularly, businessmen complaint on tax and custom
administration. `Business sphere in the country is improving, however
it does not mean that the process is over’, Robinson said.
Talking about the role of Diaspora in the economy of the country,
Robinson said that recent 5-10 years its contribution in Armenia was
high as in the view of humanitarian aid, so other assistance. L.D.
–0–
*********************************************************************
THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN OF ARMENIA FUND OPENED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, May, 4. /ARKA/. The ceremony of opening the office of
Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) took place in Yerevan. According to
the COAF Chairman Garo Armen, the organization aims at working out
programs concerning the areas of development of children in Armenia
and alleviating their economic conditions. According to Armen, first
of all these programs concern the children, living in rural areas,
for whom COAF is going to create a simpler access to education and
health systems. He stated that within 2004, COAF together with UNDP
will implement the program in Karakert village (Armavir region)
estimated at about $1 mln. According to Lise Grande, the Resident
Representative of UNDP in Armenia, `UNDP has successfully implemented
some projects aimed at decentralization and development of the RA
communities for the recent years. COAF is going to become such
organization’. COAF NGO was founded in 2000. A.H. -0 –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR FM Accuses Azerbaijan of Lack of Interest to Solve Karabakh
Arminfo
4 May 04
YEREVAN
Azerbaijan is trying to explain its own lack of interest in the
speediest resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict by the activity
of the OSCE Minsk Group, the foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, Ashot Gulyan, told journalists today when speaking about
Azerbaijan’s negative attitude towards the organization’s work.
However, Gulyan said that the mediators’ attitude towards the
settlement had changed long ago and their position is that the sides
should find a settlement themselves, while the mediators should focus
on facilitating such a settlement.
The Karabakh minister did not rule out that the replacement of the US
cochairman of the Minsk Group could contribute to speeding up the
process of settlement. However, he said this change was only a part of
the principle of rotation within the Minsk Group.
(Passage omitted: known details)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
May 4 2003
Thousands Protest Against Armenian President
4 May 2004 — Around 6,000 people today demonstrated in Armenia’s
capital Yerevan calling for President Robert Kocharian to resign.
Protesters also called for the government to implement
recommendations made by the Council of Europe last week that urged
Armenian authorities to allow peaceful protests, create fair
conditions for the media, and to investigate claims of rights abuses.
Armenia’s opposition accuses Kocharian of rigging last year’s
presidential election and has been staging regular protests calling
for his removal from office.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 14:14:30 | 05-05-2004 | Politics |
PROSECUTOR OFFICE SEARCHING WRONGDOERS
Police has already wrapped its investigation into the last month’s violence
against journalists and handed it over to Yerevan’s Prosecutor Office, said
the Prosecutor General Office’s official Gurgen Abrahamyan on Wednesday.
He declined to confirm or deny the information, according to which Deputy
Armenian Police Chief Hovhannes Varyan had been formally charged in
connection with the incident, saying further investigation would give
answers to all questions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh negotiations continue says Azerbaijani president
Mediamax news agency
5 May 04
YEREVAN
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev said in Baku today that “the
negotiating process on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement continues
though it does not bear active character.’
Ilham Aliev recalled that Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents have
already held two meetings, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries
have also held consultations and will soon meet again, Trend [news
agency] reports. Azerbaijani President called these meetings
“positive” reminding us that the two countries have practically held
no talks during the last one and a half years.
“Each of the sides adheres to its own positions which are known to the
community,” Ilham Aliev said. “Each side is trying to defend its
position, substantiate it, put into practice in the future,” he noted.
Commenting on the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, Ilham
Aliev said that “they are sincerely engaged in solving this problem,”
and expressed hope that the mediators’ efforts will turn out to be
effective.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress