Author: Hakobian Adrine

Interfax
March 17 2005

Breakaway republics’ leaders meet in Moscow – sources

MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) – The leaders of the self-proclaimed
republics of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh held a
meeting in Moscow late on Wednesday, Moscow sources told Interfax on
Thursday. Sergei Bagapsh, Eduard Kokoity and Arkady Gukasian agreed
to hold their next meeting in Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, in
April, the sources said. The president of the self-proclaimed
republic of Transdniestria will attend the meeting as well.

Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdniestria and Nagorno-Karabakh
proclaimed their independence from Georgia (Abkhazia and South
Ossetia), Moldova (Transdniestria) and Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh)
following the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The self-proclaimed
republics’ goal is to gain recognition of their independence, while
Tbilisi, Chisinau and Baku want to restore control over these
breakaway provinces.

ArmenPress
March 15 2005

PUTIN AND KOCHARIAN TO OPEN RUSSIAN DAYS IN ARMENIA IN LATE MARCH

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian deputy foreign minister
Gegham Gharibjanian told Armenpress that a great variety of events
which are to take place in Armenia this year within the frameworks of
Russia’s Year in Armenia will contribute to further strengthening of
Russian-Armenian ties. He said Russian government and parliamentary
delegations will visit Armenia in 2005 and a set of business forums
will be hosted by Yerevan.
Gharibjanian said every planned event will provide the Armenian
society with a clear picture of Russia’s political, economic and
cultural achievements and will also create a very friendly
environment for both countries’ businessmen, youth organizations and
scientists to establish new contacts. He said dozens of Russian
artists, singers and orchestras will give concerts in Armenia.
The Russian Days will kick off in late March in Yerevan. Russian
president Putin will arrive here to open them together with Armenian
president Kocharian. The deputy minister said the two presidents will
discuss a wide range of issues, including also the Karabagh conflict.

NEW “ARTSAKHBANK” CJSC REGISTERED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the press service of
the RA Central Bank, the “Sayat Nova” branch of the “Artsakhbank”
CJSC was registered in Yerevan by the decision of the Chairman of
the RA Central Bank (Sayat Nova Avenue, 12/3).

Armenians Displeased With Constitution

CPOD – Global Scan, Canada
March 9 2005

(Angus Reid Consultants – CPOD Global Scan) ~V Many adults in Armenia
believe the country~Rs foremost body of law is not being properly
applied, according to a poll by the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies. Only 2.3 per cent of respondents believe the
Constitution is being completely implemented.

Armenia adopted its Constitution in July 1995. The document was
ratified in a referendum~Wdeemed to have been fraudulent~Wand confers
virtually unrestrained powers on the president. 38.5 per cent of
respondents believe the Constitution needs reforms, while 38.8 per
cent think implementing the provisions is more important than
rewriting the document.

In January, two opposition parties~WJustice (A) and National Unity
(NU)~Wexpressed their support for a package of amendments put forward
by president Robert Kocharian, provided some further changes are
made. The parties have proposed giving the National Assembly a role
in the formation of the government, limiting the head of state~Rs
authority to appoint and dismiss judges, and selecting the mayor of
Yerevan~WArmenia~Rs capital city~Wthrough the ballot box.

The legislative branch is expected to draft final amendments in the
coming months. Any changes to the Constitution would have to be
ratified in a nationwide referendum, which could conceivably take
place later this year.

Polling Data

To what extent is the Constitution being implemented in Armenia~Rs
national and public life?

Whatever is written in the Constitution
is being partially implemented
46.5%

Nothing is being implemented
29.5%

Whatever is written in the Constitution
is being completely implemented
2.3%

Difficult to answer
21.5%

Refused to answer
0.2%

In your opinion the Constitution~E

Works completely and there
is no need for reform
1.3%

Has shortcomings and needs reforms
38.5%

Is not good at all and a new
Constitution is necessary
10.4%

Reforms do not matter, important is the
implementation of its provisions
38.8%

Difficult to answer
10.7%

Refused to answer
0.3%

Source: Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS)
Methodology: Interviews with 1,500 Armenian adults, conducted in
February 2005. No margin of error was provided.

LATVIA TO SUPPORT ARMENIA IN THE EU

A1+
07-03-2005

This year is the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and
Parliaments of many European countries have already referred this
problem. Armenia expects that the Latvian Parliament will also take
proper steps.

During the visit to Armenia the Latvian side offered its support to
raise the problem of the Armenian Genocide in the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly summer session to take part in Washington. Cooperation was
suggested among parties, non-governmental organizations and woman
delegates.

Today the delegation headed by the Latvian Saeyma President Ingrida
Udre honored the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian
Genocide going to Tsitsernakaberd and putting flowers at the eternal
flame.

[Congressional Record: March 2, 2005 (Extensions)]
[Page E328-E329]
The Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr02mr05-20]

TRIBUTE TO PEOPLE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH

______

HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

of massachusetts

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the people of
Nagomo Karabakh, who recently celebrated the seventeenth anniversary of
their National Freedom Movement.
On February 20, 1988, the courageous people of Nagomo Karabakh
officially petitioned the Soviet government to reunite their homeland
with Armenia. They sought to correct the injustices of the brutal
Stalin regime, under which the ethnic Armenian population of Nagomo
Karabakh was involuntarily placed within the borders of Azerbaijan.
Despite the peaceful request by the Nagomo Karabakh Freedom Movement,
the central Soviet and Azerbaijani leadership responded with violence,
which escalalated to a brutal campaign against the people of Nagomo
Karabakh. These brave citizens refused to give up their right to live
in freedom on their ancestral land, fighting for the principles of
democracy and human rights upon which our own country was founded.
Today, the unwavering strength of the Freedom Movement can be seen in
the democratically-elected government of Nagomo Karabakh. As a member
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenia Issues, I congratulate the
people of Nagomo Karabakh for their steadfast commitment to promoting
freedom, democracy and economic development over the past seventeen
years.
It is my hope that the past efforts of Nagomo Karabakh to achieve a
peaceful secession from Azerbaijan will help bring a peaceful
resolution to the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan.

PanArmenian News
March 2 2005

CANADIAN PARLIAMENT TO ANSWER AZERIS’ APPEALS REGARDING `KHOJALY
GENOCIDE’

02.03.2005 15:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within a month or two the Canadian Parliament
should reply to the Azerbaijanis’ appeal on putting the question of
the `Khojaly genocide’ for the discussion, head of Oyanish
(Awakening) Center for Strategic Researches, Canadian of Azeri origin
Aslan Halidi stated. In his words, earlier the Azerbaijanis of Canada
requested German, French and Israeli communities of the country for
support in submitting the question of the `Khojaly genocide’ for the
discussion of the formal circles of Ottawa, including the Canadian
parliament. Presently only the German and Israeli communities
answered to the appeal and addressed the Canadian parliament on this
issue. `At the moment the issue is being examined. Canada has an
authority among the international community both from economic and
political viewpoints. There are many ethnic groups here, which are
treated in the same way. We hope that the official circles in Ottawa
will be sincere on realities in Azerbaijan’, Halidi said. He also
noted that other national minorities of Canada are well informed of
the `acts of Armenians against the Azeris and sharply condemn them’.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 24 2005

World Bank to allocate $11m to Azerbaijan

The World Bank is expected to allocate a $11 million loan to
Azerbaijan shortly. The funds will be earmarked for improving the
social plight of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs and relevant
micro-projects.

The WB project manager Helen Hamilton has visited Baku several times
to work on developing the new project. It will be forwarded to the WB
board of directors for approval shortly.
During Hamilton’s visits, she discussed and agreed with the Azeri
side on starting the implementation of the new project.

The World Bank disbursed $20 million as a main loan and a $10 million
additional loan later under another project, “Rehabilitation of freed
territories”, implemented in Azerbaijan from July 1998 until December
31, 2004. The goal of this project, executed by the Agency for
Restoration and Rehabilitation of Areas, was to assist in settling
and improving the living conditions of those displaced as a result of
the Upper Garabagh conflict.

PARLIAMENTARY FACTIONS OF UNITED LABOR PARTY AND ARFD AS WELL AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF UNION OF COMMUNITIES OF ARMENIA DISCUSS CONSTITUTIONAL
REFORMS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18. ARMINFO. The members of the parliamentary
factions of the United Labor Party and ARFD as well as representatives
of the Union of Communities of Armenia discussed reforms of the
Armenian Constitution.

The press service of the Union of Communities of Armenia informs
ARMINFO that in the course of the meeting, the UCA representatives
asked the MPs to pay a special attention to the work on the package of
reforms related the status of Yerevan, strengthening of independence
of the communities and other issues. Besides, the bill on local self-
government of Armenia was discussed. They reached an agreement to make
such meetings regular. UCA representatives will meet the members of
other parliamentary groups ands faction within the nearest future.

“Chronicle of the declared revolution”

The Messenger, Georgia
Feb 18 2005

The Armenian newspaper Aravot reports that an “ordinary Armenian
revolution” will be conducted in April. The leader of the Novoye Vremia
party Aram Karapetian has announced plans for it to be held in April.

“This politician is really a gentleman,” the paper writes, “He not
only informed the ruling administration regarding his intention but
also magnanimously gave them time to improve themselves. But when
they understood that they lost the chance that was given to them and
did not wish to improve, he informed them once again that revolution
will take place in April.”

According to the paper, he has informed the government so that they
are morally prepared once they are deprived of their chairs: “Those
large public masses, which our revolutionists give the main role in the
implementation of the overthrow of the current authoritative regime,
should desire this themselves.”

The paper adds: “The more often the opposition will declare the day
and hour of the revolution, the less they will wish to implement it.
This is despite the fact that lots of people want changes in the
country. But first of all, we should believe that we have a serious
political force that will be able to implement everything and not
only speak and promise.”