Author: Hambardsumian Paul

PanArmenian News
Dec 9 2004
ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT APPROVED OF SENDING CONTINGENT TO IRAQ:
IT IS THE PARLIAMENT’S TURN
09.12.2004 17:10
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Constitutional Court of Armenia has recognized
the joining of the republic to the Memorandum on regulation of the
command of the multinational division within the coalition forces in
Iraq as corresponding to the Constitution. According to the
Memorandum, in case the National Assembly passes a respective
decision, Armenia will send a contingent to Iraq. Addressing the
Constitutional Court sitting Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
noted, “Armenia has chosen a way of humanitarian inclusion in Iraq,
especially since it is consonant to the UN Security Council
Resolution on Iraq ¹1546 of June 8.” The Minister emphasized that
Armenia will take exclusively humanitarian part in the stabilization
in Iraq and will send sappers, physicians and drivers. He reminded
that 94 countries take part in the humanitarian activities in Iraq.
It should be noted that after the Constitutional Court making the
decision the sending of the Armenian contingent to Iraq will depend
on the Parliament resolution.

ARTSAKH WAS AND REMAINS A SANCTITY FOR DIASPORANS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
08 Dec 04
“The November 25 telethon in Los Angeles lasting 12 hours produced
unprecedented results, more than 11 million dollars was donated for
the construction of the ‘North-South’ highway,” said the director of
the all-Armenian foundation ‘Hayastan’ during the press conference
on December 3. The building of the road will be resumed in spring of
2005 and will last for two years. According to the director of the
foundation Naira Melkumian, the geography of participation in the
telethon and the willingness to contribute to the construction of the
road of strategic importance for the motherland is invaluable. “The
results we have today is the eloquent proof of the unity of the
Armenian nation. The active participation of different layers of
the society showed that the results of the telethon would be high,”
mentioned the director of the telethon. NKR president Arkady Ghukassian
had a decisive role in the organization of the telethon during which he
addressed live the Armenians. Naira Melkumian stressed the importance
of the direct participation of president Ghukassian in the telethon.
“This fact encouraged our benefactors even more.” The good results
of the telethon were also determined by the well-organized team work
in which, according to her, the local bodies of the United States
and Europe, especially the local body of the East Coast of the USA
had their contribution. Owing to the director of the latter Gevorg
Toroyan, 5 million 700 thousand dollars were donated by the Armenians
of the East Coast. The same can be said about the West Coast where
the results again exceeded those of the previous year. The West Coast
donated 2 million 222 thousand dollars of which 1 million 320 thousand
will be spent for the construction of the road and the rest for other
programs. Naira Melkumian also mentioned that this year the sum of
donations in Armenia and Artsakh totals 1 million 100 thousand drams
which exceeds the rates of the previous years. According to her,
“This testifies to the fact that RA and NKR are developing and the
foundation still enjoys the confidence of Armenians.” During the
press conference the director of the foundation enumerated the names
of the people who had donated large sums: Louise Simon-Manougian,
Eduardo Ernekian, Hrair Hovnanian, Caroline Mugar, Sarghis Hakobian,
Ara Abrahamian, and others who have lived abroad for a long time
but have not get estranged from their motherland and continue to
assist to the development of their country. “The unity we witnessed
on the day of the telethon was encouraging, indeed,” emphasized Naira
Melkumian. “And, I am sure, through maintaining this powerful feeling
of unity we will be able to overcome all the challenges we are facing
today with dignity. And, of course, the results of the telethon,
more than 11 million, are a signal for everybody that the Armenian
nation is committed to the ideas which helped us win that difficult
war. For the victory in the war was, indeed, the result of the unity
of the Armenian nation.” Sharing his impressions with the journalists,
she said, “During all our meetings we discovered that Artsakh was and
remains a sanctity for the Armenian nation. And everything will be
done for Artsakh to remain free, independent, and for our national
goals to fulfil.”
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
08-12-2004

TURKEY FOR PEACE THAT SATISFIES AZERBAIJAN
[December 08, 2004, 21:18:55]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 8 2004
Chairman of Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz
Alaskarov on 8 December has received the newly appointed ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Turkey to Azerbaijan Turan Morali.
Congratulating the Ambassador on his mission and wishing success in
his activity, Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament said the friendly and
fraternal relations between two the countries have ancient history,
nevertheless, after return of the national leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev to power a new phase opened in development of the
Azerbaijan-Turkey relations. At present, President Ilham Aliyev
successfully pursues this course. Large-scale projects realized in
the region bring closer our brotherly countries and peoples.
Then, Murtuz Alaskarov updated the Ambassador on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, stressed fair position
of Azerbaijan related to the issue. Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament
expressed gratitude for position of Turkey in the mentioned problem.
Ambassador Turan Morali thanked for sincere reception and said he
would make every effort to promote development of bilateral relations
between two countries. As to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Turkey
will support the peace that will satisfy Azerbaijan and his country
would render any possible assistance in settlement of the conflict.
There are forces in Turkey who are interested in establishment of
economic and political links with Armenia, the diplomat said. “But
this is not official position of Turkey. Turkey will neither open
the borders, nor establish diplomatic links with Armenia until the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict found its fair solution and the refugees
and IDPs return to their homelands”, Mr. Turan Morali emphasized.
In the meeting, also were exchanged views on a number of other
questions representing mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Peace talks going in the right direction – President
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 9 2004
The talks on the Upper Garabagh conflict are underway in the direction
suitable for Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev told a Tuesday broad
meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of 2004.
“Steps have been taken at settling the Upper Garabagh conflict that
positively affected the negotiations. The talks are already under
way in the needed direction. Azerbaijan’s fair position is even more
welcomed by international organizations and, as a result, positive
tendencies in the talks have become stronger.”
“Azerbaijan is a country suffering from the conflict and at this point,
we are waging a “cold war”, so to speak, which is successful. We have
stepped up our propaganda activities in international organizations
in a bilateral format and I am convinced that this way we will
achieve our goals. The international legal norms must be reflected,
the occupation forces withdrawn from our lands and Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity restored.”

“LAST WALTZ” RECOGNIZED BEST PERFORMANCE AT DAMASCUS FESTIVAL
YEREVAN, December 7 (Noyan Tapan). The “Last Waltz” performance of the
“Arion” theatre after Edgar Elbakian was recognized the best staging
at the 12th theatrical festival in Damascus. Armen Elbakian, Head and
Art Director of the theatre, informed about this during the December
7 press conference. He said that Vladimir Msrian, RA People’s Artist,
received a special prize for the best acting in the Fridrich Durenmat’s
play. A.Elbakian said that both the spectators and local press highly
estimated the skill of the Armenian troupe. “Msrian was brilliant,
his skill charmed everybody,” the producer of the performance
mentioned. According to A.Elbakian, Zurel Ramadan, Director of the
festival, mentioned that he has seen the “Paganini” film for several
times and was fascinated with Msrian’s acting. According to the art
director of the theatre, Anna Elbakian’s acting was also perfect. It
was mentioned that the “Last Waltz” was the longest performance
represented at the festival, it lasted 2 hours 10 minutes and it was
played without translation. But spectators understood it very well
and at the end of the performance they expressed their delight with
exclamations “Bravo, Armenia,” “Bravo, Msrian.” It was mentioned that
the “Arion” also played for the Armenian communities of Damascus and
Aleppo upon the initiative of RA Embassy to Syria.

“YOUTH AND CONSTRUCTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY” PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED IN 9 SCHOOLS OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, December 6 (Noyan Tapan). The “Youth and Construction of
Civil Society” program has been implemented in 2 schools of Yerevan,
as well as Armavir and Kotayk regions since October 15 2004. This
program of the European Integration NGO is implemented with financing
of Fridrich Ebert Fund and Antares Media Holding. This is the second
program of the kind. In difference to the previous one, the regional
schools were included into this program for the first time. The first
program including 3 Yerevan schools started on April 10 and will end
at the end of 2004. According to Karen Bekarian, Chairman of the
organization, the program consists of several stages. During each
stage the pupils are taught the subject planned for the stage by an
interactive method. At the end of the stage a joint competition of
groups is organized. In K.Bekarian’s estimation, the lectures extend
the pupils’ knowledge about the state, law, public and international
structures. K.Bekarian mentioned that the European Integration
cooperates with other RA higher schools, as well, as a result of which
the “European Integration and International Structures” course of
lectures is held in the Armenian-Russian University. It’s envisaged to
carry out this course of lectures in another 6 higher schools, as well.

Azerbaijan releases 500 carriages to Georgia so far
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 7 2004
Another 7 railway carriages loaded with grain were released to Georgia
from the Boyuk Kasik station on Monday. This brings the number of
railway carriages released to this country after being kept on the
Azeri-Georgian border for several days to 500, the State Railway
Office told AssA-Irada.
Some 780 carriages are currently withheld at the Boyuk Kasik and
neighboring railway stations, including 440 transporting oil products
and the rest grain and flour.
The carriages were detained by Azerbaijan on their way to Georgia
to investigate whether they were they were to be further delivered
to Armenia.
Representatives of the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee have been
in Georgia for several days to look into the problem.*

ARKA News Agency
Dec 6 2004
RA Prime Minister receives Editor of Moscow Magazines “Armenian
Guide” and “Citizen”
Condition of arrested in NKR penitentiary institutions is
satisfactory – monitoring of Civil Initiatives Center
Deputy Foreign Ministers of Armenia and GB discuss several bilateral
issues
European films festival to be held in Armenia on December 13-19
Whole Armenian people interested in settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
issue
*********************************************************************
RA PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES EDITOR OF MOSCOW MAGAZINES “ARMENIAN
GUIDE” AND “CITIZEN”
YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
received Editor of Moscow Magazines “Armenian Guide” and “Citizen”
Karen Mikaelian, RA Government press office told ARKA. During the
meeting Margarian highly estimated contribution of Mikaelian in the
issue of integration of Diaspora and its participation in political
and public life of Armenia. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CONDITION OF ARRESTED IN NKR PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS IS
SATISFACTORY – MONITORING OF CIVIL INITIATIVES CENTER
STEPANAKERT, December 6. /ARKA/. According to monitoring of Civil
Initiatives Center, condition of arrested in NKR penitentiary
institutions is satisfactory, CIC Director Albert Voskanian stated
today. According to him, during monitoring CIC came to a conclusion
that in the whole moral-psychological and physical condition of
arrested, observation of their rights, sanitary conditions of cells
is at a good level.
Note Civil Initiatives Center conducts monitoring of penitentiary
institutions of NKR since Apr 2003. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTERS OF ARMENIA AND GB DISCUSS SEVERAL BILATERAL
ISSUES
YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. RA Deputy Foreign Minister Ruben
Shugariana received today the Head of East Department of GB MFA Simon
Smith, RA MFA told ARKA. The parties discussed the importance of
development of Armenian-British relations and the increase of
cooperation level of South Caucasus with European community,
especially in the context of European neighborhood. The parties also
exchange views on ways of optimal use of advantages of given policy
by South Caucasus countries. They also discussed the issues of
Armenian-Turkish relations. The parties discussed present condition
and settlement perspectives of Karabakh conflict. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
EUROPEAN FILMS FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA ON DECEMBER 13-19
YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. Festival of European films will be held
in Armenia in December 13-19. According to the published press
release, films from Germany, Greece, Poland, Great Britain and France
will be demonstrated in Moscow Cinema in Yerevan. The festival is
organized by the Embassies of Greece, France, Italy, Poland and
Germany in Armenia, as well as by the British Council and European
Commission. L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************
WHOLE ARMENIAN PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SETTLEMENT OF SETTLEMENT OF
NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE
YEREVAN, December 6. /ARKA/. The whole Armenian people is interested
in settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, as Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian said in his interview to local TV company
Kentron. He declined the critics to Armenia’s address that it delays
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. At that he mentioned
that the Armenian people is not ready to agree to solutions that are
in contradiction of its interests. Therefore, in his words, it is
necessary to find a correct balance around the issue, that would be
not easy. “We must not hold maximal positions and must agree to
compromise options”, he added. He stressed the importance of peaceful
co-existence with neighbours adding that there is no other choice for
us, “We need to solve all problems with our neighbours, to overcome
all obstacles, to create good relations with our neighbours”,
stressing that no long-term and stable economic growth and self
security can be secured without this. “This is unavoidable and I am
confident that we will achieve this one day”, he stated. T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************
–Boundary_(ID_RYnYSXNLcAsDwCkIhsSSTw)–

Azeri officer on trial in Hungary complains of abuse
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 6 2004
Senior lieutenant of Azerbaijani armed forces Ramil Safarov charged
with murdering an Armenian serviceman in Budapest, has sent a statement
to Hungarian prosecutor’s office, Safarov’s lawyer Adil Ismaylov said.
“We have forwarded a statement to Hungary’s Military Prosecutor’s
Office due to the fact that prison guards used force on my client.”
Islmaylov said a criminal case has been started based on the document
and that the Hungarian prosecutor’s office is investigating the
incident. The investigation does not concern the trial of the
Azerbaijani officer currently under way, the attorney added.
Safarov’s trial started in Budapest on November 23. The proceedings
have been adjourned until February 8 due to the summoning of new
witnesses to court.*

Armenianow.com
3 Dec 2004
;id= 342
Return Journey: Refugees from Turkmenistan struggle to adjust to Armenia
By Arpi Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
Most of a group of 205 Armenians who were airlifted to Armenia from
Turkmenistan have returned to that country.
The group were flown to the republic over the past two years ago with the
help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) following a
crackdown on illegal migrants by the Turkmen authorities.
Rubik Zohrabyan, 52, from Goris, is one of the few who has not gone back to
live in Turkmenistan. He does not even want to remember recent times, though
his living conditions have been satisfactory. As he says, he has been doing
every job except crime in Turkmenistan: he has been a carrier, a driver, a
shoemaker, a trader, a cook.but he has not complained because he earned
enough money.
“Life is easy there, whoever wants to work can find it. We had gas, light,
water, the transport is free of charge.Nobody bothers us. I was happy in
that country,” says Zohrabyan.
He left Goris aged 26 because he realized he could earn more money in
Turkmenistan and traveled there with his wife to work with his uncle because
he was unable to provide for his family in his motherland. He settled there
and the couple had two sons.
Only a few of the Armenians from Turkmenistan remain in Armenia
But during the last few years life for Armenians in Turkmenistan became more
difficult because of their lack of citizenship.
“For several years there have been checks at people’s homes to find those
without citizenship. My house had two doors, so that we could leave through
one of them when the police approached. If we had been caught, we would have
had either to serve three years in prison or pay $5,000,” explains
Zohrabyan.
Earlier this year, he returned to Goris thanks to the International
Organization of Migration and his family will also be back soon. They want
to sell their property in Turkmenistan and resettle in Armenia.
“There is no way back, and I am glad. For the last 15 years I have slept and
woke up with the idea of coming back to Armenia in my mind. My heart has
always been here, in Turkmenistan I lived only physically. I am now in my
motherland: I don’t need anything else,” says Zohrabyan.
He says that one of the reasons he doesn’t want to leave Goris is that he
has got a job there and can provide for his family. He works as a locksmith
at a hydro-electric station.
In contrast to Zohrabyan, others feel sad that they have come back to
Armenia without preparing for the life that awaited them. They mostly live
in poverty: few have found jobs in Goris and the money they brought back
with them has finished.
“You know, I wouldn’t have thought I would face such problems: we don’t work
for already 7-8 months, we buy everything on credit,” says Nvard
Hakhverdyan. “I just wonder how we are going to pay back our debts. Whatever
money we brought we spent in a month or two. We would rather go on living in
fear than think every morning that the children are hungry.”
Nvard’s two children were born in the city of Mari in Turkmenistan. They
lived there for 6 years from 1998 to 2004. Her husband, 38-year-old Vahan
Melkumyan, was a small trader who says that $100-150 dollars a month was
enough to provide for a family of four.
This year Vahan’s family returned to Armenia.
“We were romantic to think we were coming to our homeland to help build it.
But now all that seems funny, when we realize that you do not exist for your
state. No one will pay attention even to those dying of hunger,” says
Hakhverdyan.
It is already 10 months that Nvard and Vahan quarrel every single day. The
husband blames the wife for making him return to Goris and finding
themselves in poverty as a result.
According to the IOM, more than 20,000 Armenians live in the Turkmen cities
of Ashgabad and Mari. The majority are illegal migrants without
registration, who therefore have a status of temporary dwellers. They will
live until they are expelled or return of their own accord.
In 2002 upon the initiative of the IOM and the Embassy of Armenia in
Turkmenistan 113 people were returned to Armenia. A second repatriation took
place in January 2004, when 92 people returned to Armenia.
“We were aware there are many Armenians in Turkmenistan who wanted and
needed to come back to Armenia. We addressed the Embassies of Turkmenistan
and Armenia and got support,” explains IOM Program Officer Ovsanna Babayan.
“Then we asked for financial support from the governments of the Netherlands
and Great Britain. As a result 205 Armenians returned home for free.”
The majority of those who returned to Armenia are dwellers of Goris, the
second largest city in Syunik marz after Kapan. According to the
municipality, the population of the city is 23,500, although local people
insist that many left for abroad even though they remain registered in
Goris.
Babayan explains that once a chain migration began from Goris to
Turkmenistan, people began to follow their relatives there one after
another.
“The mentality in the Goris area is such that as soon as one leaves for a
country others follow him. In this case, it was Turkmenistan,” says Nelson
Voskanyan, the Mayor of Goris. “However, the migration from Goris to
Turkmenistan occurred mainly before the 1980s. There isn’t any more. The
municipality does not keep information about the numbers of emigrants and
repatriates.”
Many of the Goris people met by ArmeniaNow had left Armenia for Turkmenistan
in the1990s. The main reason was the social crisis that existed in all the
cities and villages of Armenia after the collapse of the USSR, as well as
the Artsakh war. Goris was no exception and, since hardly a single resident
of the city did not have a relative in Turkmenistan, many left for that
country.
The family of 38-year-old Karmen Ishkhanyan left in 1992. It was the hottest
period of the war and their apartment block had suffered from shelling by
Azerbaijani forces. Besides, the children were young and they needed
care,something Karmen’s husband Haykaz Hakobyan couldn’t afford.
“During the war, three or four shells fell only on our building. Together
with the neighbors we moved to the basement to be a little bit safer.
Besides, we didn’t have any means of earning a living and my son decided to
move to Turkmenistan to make money,” recalls his mother, 68-year-old Genofya
Melkonyan.
Haykaz and Karmen took their youngest son aged only a few months with them
to Turkmenistan, leaving their two four and five-year old daughters with the
grandmother. They lived there for 10 years.
“We were well-off in Turkmenistan, I had no complaints. My husband used to
repair cars and managed to provide both for us and the family in Goris. But
we couldn’t stay there anymore because we did not have registration” says
Ishkanyan.
They returned to Goris in 2002, but they already think about going back and
are sorry they left their life there.
“Life is boring here. We have become old during these two years. It’s
abnormal, but at this age already we live in memories. We will likely move
there again. It’s ok if we live on the run, in exchange we will have the
means to live,” says Ishkanyan.
Her words anger the grandfather of the family, 70-year-old Henrik Hakobyan.
Of course, he realizes that his son cannot earn enough money in Goris but he
does not want to hear about them going back.
“I have five sons, three of whom are not in Armenia. I haven’t seen my
middle son for 14 years, and I don’t know my grandchildren. If this son
leaves again, I will not be able to stand missing them. But there is no
other way. I don’t know.”
Of the 20 families returned from Turkmenistan, ArmeniaNow managed to find
only five. Others have left for Turkmenistan again, driven in many cases by
the same reasons – unemployment which means an inability to provide the
families.