Author: Hakobian Adrine

POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES IRAQ MISSION IN ARMENIA

Polish News Agency, Poland
Feb 27 2007

Yerevan, 26 February: Armenia is satisfied with cooperation with
Poland in the framework of the Iraqi mission, Foreign Minister Anna
Fotyga told PAP on the first day of her official visit here. Armenian
forces serve in the Polish-managed zone of Iraq.

Fotyga met Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, speaker of the national
assembly Tigran Torosyan and Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan on Monday
[26 February]. She said the climate of her visit here was very good and
she perceived Armenia’s desire for deepening its relations with Poland.

Armenian politicians did not mention any plans to withdraw their forces
from Iraq, Fotyga told PAP. They also voiced no doubts concerning
the US proposal to deploy part of the anti-missile shield in Poland.

The two sides reviewed the situation in the Caucasus region and did
not avoid controversial issues, like the Armenian-Azeri relations
or Armenian-Turkish ones, Fotyga said. The prospects for solving the
conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan were
also discussed.

Fotyga’s visit falls on the 15th anniversary of establishing diplomatic
ties between Poland and Armenia.

She will then go to other Caucasian countries.

No bird flu registered in Armenia – official

Arminfo
23 Feb 07

Yerevan, 23 February: Strict control over imports of poultry to the
territory of Armenia has significantly decreased the entry of the H5N1
virus into the republic, the deputy agriculture minister and chairman
of the executive office to fight bird flu, Levon Rukhyan, has said.

He said that Armenia receives information every day about new areas in
the world where the bird flu virus has spread. Apart from that, all
information is carefully tested by the International Epizootic Bureau
(France). Only after that, is the import of poultry allowed from a
particular country-producer, Rukhyan said. So far, disinfecting
continues at border checkpoints. A group of ornithologists and
veterinarians monitor the high risk areas on the whole territory of
Armenia. All necessary information about the spring migration of birds
has already been received and analyzed, Rukhyan said.

"As the chairman of the executive office, I officially state that the
H5N1 virus has not been registered in Armenia. However, there is still
a risk that the virus will infiltrate into the territory of the
republic. We must do all necessary preventive work," Rukhyan said.

The deputy minister said providing the Republican Diagnostic and
Anti-Epidemic Laboratory with up-to-date equipment will make it
possible to locate the first carrier of H5N1 and prevent the spread of
the virus in due time.

Meanwhile, all samples of poultry (carcass and blood) will be sent to
be analyzed to laboratories in London and Italy. He said that only
after that, will a final conclusion be given about revealing bird flu
cases in Armenia.

COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

armradio.am
22.02.2007 15:38

In the framework of the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide it is envisaged to collect 1.5 million signatures by
April 20. The signatures will be collected through Internet at

In the form of petition the collected signatures will be sent to the
UN Secretary General, US President, Congress, the European Union,
191 UN member states, as well as all the large organizations in the
world addressing the issue of human rights defense.

To make the collection of signatures through the world wide web easier
a special "Forward to a friend" page has been created.

"EUROPE NEEDS TURKEY"

Expatica, Netherlands
Feb 20 2007

AMSTERDAM – "In the long term Turkey not only needs Europe, but Europe
needs Turkey. If we forget about Turkey, all hell will break loose,"
says Geert Mak, journalist and non-fiction writer.

Mak’s most recent book De Brug (The Bridge), set in Istanbul, is being
given away free at bookshops during this year’s Book Week (14 -24
March). Mak makes these comments in the booklet Boekenweek CV 2007,
which appears in March and contains excerpts from Mak’s work as well
as a reader’s quiz.

Turkey’s accession to the EU is on the agenda in the Netherlands once
again because of Queen Beatrix’s state visit to the country planned
for next week.

Mak writes in the booklet: "It is already of strategic importance
that a bridge be built to the Middle East via Turkey. A modern Turkey
will also function as a beacon of modernisation for the Islamic
world within a few decades. If we let Turkey go, on the other hand,
all hell will break loose. There is a good chance that the country
will fall prey to fundamentalism and become an unguided missile in
this sensitive region," Mak say.

More than 40 representatives from the Dutch media have signed up
to report on Beatrix’s visit to Turkey. The country has featured
prominently in the news over the past few months because of its
prospective EU membership, dubious record when it comes to human
rights and the (denial of the) Armenian genocide in 1915.

It does not look as if these thorny issues will be broached during
the state visit. "The visit should accentuate and strengthen the
historically good relations between the two countries," says the
Government Information Service.

Turkey expert Professor Erik-Jan Zurcher said on Monday that the
genocide is not a question that should be stirred up publicly, like
Liberal VVD MP Hans van Baalen would like to do.

"Intervention like that is not wise. In doing so you certainly don’t
help out the Turks who are willing to enter the debate. These people
cannot afford to be labelled a mouthpiece for Europe." The debate
on the genocide has been opened, Zurcher says, but by a ‘small
intellectual elite.’

Zurcher says that in the meantime enthusiasm among Turks for entering
the EU is waning. "For a whole generation at least 70 percent said
‘yes’ to the EU, now it is only 50 percent in some opinion polls."

Still Turkey cannot be expected to ever entirely abandon its hopes
to join. "Europe serves as an example, they want to join, but they
have some reservations. It is widely thought that Europe does not
have the best intentions for Turkey, that it is also a force that
could threaten unity."

SADOYAN WILL SEND A LETTER

A1+
[08:22 pm] 19 February, 2007

Leader of National Democratic Union Arshak Sadoyan may send a letter
to "New York Times" or to another famous newspaper in order to show
the double criteria applied the organizations preaching democracy
in democratic countries, in case the international organizations
refuse to buy air time, giving the RA political powers "represent
the importance of free and fair elections to the RA citizens on the
Eve of the Parliamentary elections".

According to Arshak Sadoyan, those parties which do not enjoy the
goodwill of the authorities have financial difficulties can cannot pay
80 000 – 130 000 AMD for a minute of political advertisements on TV.

Thus the National Democratic Union has sent a letter to the Embassies
of different countries and international organizations asking to
finance the TV Campaign of the RA political powers for at least an
hour a day.

The party also offers to form a special council with the participation
of corresponding organizations which will coordinate the procedure. The
offer has already been sent to several international organizations
including the IDEA, the IFES, etc.

CHIRAC ET KOTCHARIAN INAUGURENT "ARMENIA SACRA" AU LOUVRE

Agence France Presse
19 fevrier 2007 lundi 1:00 PM GMT

Les president francais Jacques Chirac et armenien Robert Kotcharian ont
inaugure lundi "Armenia sacra", une exposition entièrement consacree
a l’art chretien armenien presentee pour la première fois au musee
du Louvre.

Les deux presidents ont visite pendant une heure cette exposition
qui, a travers 200 oeuvres, veut rendre compte de la specificite et
de l’eclat de l’art chretien des Armeniens depuis leur conversion au
debut du IVe siècle, jusqu’a la fin du XVIIIe siècle.

Robert Kotcharian, arrive samedi en France pour une visite officielle
jusqu’a mardi, s’est ensuite rendu a l’Elysee pour un dejeuner de
travail avec M. Chirac.

"Armenia sacra" est presentee au public du 21 fevrier au 21 mai,
dans le cadre de l’annee de l’Armenie en France.

Une trentaine de khatchkars, de grandes dalles de pierre ornees de
croix, dressees a la verticale, dont la plus ancienne remonte au IXè
siècle, des chapiteaux, des evangiles dont l’un avec une reliure en
ivoire du Xè siècle, des croix et des reliquaires sont exposes.

M. Chirac, accompagne du ministre de la Culture Renaud Donnedieu
de Vabres, s’est notamment attarde devant le "reliquaire de l’arche
de Noë", contenant un morceau de bois mineralise decouvert au XVIIè
siècle au sommet du mont Ararat.

L’exposition beneficie de prets exceptionnels du musee et du tresor
du Saint-Siège d’Echtmiadzine, du musee d’Histoire de l’Armenie et
de l’institut des manuscrits anciens "Matenadaran" a Erevan.

Quelque cinq cents manifestations mettant en valeur le patrimoine mais
aussi la scène artistique contemporaine armenienne, sont organisees
a Paris et en province dans le cadre d’"Armenie, mon amie", l’annee
de l’Armenie en France, du 21 septembre dernier au 14 juillet 2007.

–Boundary_(ID_1fEOjY3t8E3sKZj42hxhmg)–

GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTION ON ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF RUSSIA AGAINST GEORGIAN CITIZENS

Arminfo
2007-02-17 14:00:00

Last evening February 16 Georgian Parliament unanimously adopted a
resolution on illegal activities by the Russian Federation Authorities
against Georgian Citizens.

The resolution was based on the conclusion by the Interim Parliamentary
Commission on Exploring Activities of the Russian Federation
Authorities against Georgian citizens.

"The conclusion of the Interim Parliamentary Commission points out
that the Russian Federation Authorities has widely and illegally
violated the fundamental human rights against Georgian citizens, both
the Russian constitution and legislation, as well as international
norms have been infringed", the resolution proclaims.

The resolution explains that when deporting Georgian citizens 2,3,
5,6,8,14 and 17 clauses of the European Human Rights and Basic Freedoms
Convention were violated, as well as the articles of a number of
protocols adopted within the Convention.

"Illegal Activities of the Russian Authorities against Georgian
citizens were implemented on national basis without legal grounds
and, consequently, through rude violation of the legal procedures. The
deportation of Georgian citizens from Russia were of campaign character
and it happened in large-scale manner", the resolution notes.

"There were facts when strict measures were provided against Georgian
citizens on national basis such as detention and deportation instead
of administrative penalty. There were facts of infringing the human
rights on property or illegally limiting their rights on property",
the Parliamentary Resolution noted.

"The restriction of freedom to Georgian citizens together with torture
and inhuman treatment and the refusal to provide medical aid have
led to death of four Georgian citizens", the resolution stresses.

Through its resolution the Parliament recommends the Justice Ministry
of Georgia to provide the Georgian citizens’ human rights protection in
the European Court for Human Rights and to coordinate and to prepare
the arrangements to bring action to the Strasburg Court.

Nikoloz Gvaramia, Head of the Mentioned Parliamentary Committee
stated that the Georgian Authorities shouldn’t spare their efforts
to bring action of a state against a state to the Strasburg Court,
because this format required more simple procedures and it would cause
much more resonance than individual appeals. Gvaramia expressed his
hopes that the Georgian Justice Ministry would take into account the
Parliamentary Resolution.

Maya Nadiradze, Head of the ruling National Movement Democrats
backed Nika Gvaramia. "The Commission despite the party affiliation
has provided much work and prepared politically important weighed
and academic document and an action must be taken on it", Nadiradze
declared. She added that it was important that Georgia bring action
against Russia in the format of a state against a state to the
Strasburg Court.

The conclusion of the Interim Parliamentary Commission on Exploring
Violation of Human Rights of Georgian Citizens in Russia consists of
73 pages and it describes the violations of the European Convention
and the Russian Federation Legislation made when deporting Georgian
citizens from Russia.

Under the procedures, the term for bringing an action to the Strasburg
Court expires on March 27.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 17 2007

OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SUPPORTS ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT IN PROMOTING
AARCHUS CONVENTION IN ARMENIA IN 2006

YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. The OSCE Yerevan Office supported
Armenia’s Government in promoting the access to the ecological
information, as well as in contributing to decision-making and
providing access to environment-related legal proceedings in 2006,
says the report on the 2006 OSCE activities in Yerevan.
According to the report, these are the fundamental principles of the
Aarchus Convention ratified by Armenia in 2001.
The document says that the Yerevan Office assisted in opening new
centers in Siunik, Tavush and Lori regions of Armenia. According to
the document, being a unique link between the government and the NGOs
in elaborating the policy and improving public awareness, the centers
help providing transparency in environmental issues and contribute to
democratization and effective management in the region.
The Aarchus Convention is to protect people’s right of favorable
environment, access to information, participation in decision making
and access to justice on environment-related issues. N.V. -0-

WATER SUPPLY PROBLEM REMAINS URGENT IN SHUSHI

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
17 Feb 07

Shushi is gradually reconstructed. At first sWATER SUPPLY PROBLEM
REMAINS URGENT IN SHUSHIight it seems that little has been done after
the liberation. It is because of the appearance of the city. Samvel
Harutiunian, the deputy head of the administration of the region of
Shushi says certain programs were implemented in 2006. The road
running from the central square to the Goris-Stepanakert highway was
repaired. The roofs of two blocks of apartments and the house of a
poor family were repaired. 20 families of killed freedom fighters,
disabled and indigent people received aid for repair of their
apartments. One of the major projects of the year was the
construction of the school in the village of Yegsahogh. According to
Samvel Harutiunian, last year’s work can be assessed as satisfactory.

He says 2006 was a building year. However, Samvel Harutiunian said
this year lesser funds were allocated for building. 280 million
dollars was allocated in 2007 against 360 million drams in 2006. It is
clear that the money is not enough to implement the foreseen
projects. It means a number of urgent problems, including development,
water and gas supply will not be solved. With regard to the problem of
water supply, Samvel Harutiunian said in winter the people of Shushi
are happy to get water once or twice a week. In some parts of the
town people have to carry water in buckets for several months. The
three water pipelines supplying the town have not been repaired for
decades. As a result only one pipeline is operating which is not
enough to supply the town. The water supply system inside the town is
also damaged. The problem is partly solved when the roads are
repaired. But the repaired roads are very few. With regard to gas
supply, Samvel Harutiunian said only the village of Kirsavan and the
scarcely populated center of the town do not have gas supply.

SRBUHI VANIAN.
17-02-2007

RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF ATOMIC ENERGY INTENDS TO CONDUCT STUDIES OF
ARMENIAN URANIUM MINES

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Russian Ministry of Atomic
Energy expressed interest to get permission of conducting exploration
work at uranium mines of Armenia." The RA Minister of Nature
Protection Vardan Aivazian said at the February 16 press conference
that if the Russian side receives a licence through a tender, it is
possible that it will exploit these mines after their exploration.

According to the minister, at present no organization is engaged in
exploration of uranium mines of Armenia.