Author: Hunanian Jack

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 22 2005
PACE President reminds Georgia of CoE duties
Official also praises direction of reform and calls on Georgia to
take greater role in regional conflicts
By Nino Kopaleishvili
Rene van der Linden
Georgia should fulfill the commitments it took before the Council of
Europe while becoming a member state, announced the President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der
Linden at a press conference in the Parliament of Georgia on Sunday,
August 21.
Linden stressed that the Georgian government should pay more
attention to the 2005 recommendations of the Council of Europe and
the Venice Commission.
However, he also underlined “the great progress” Georgia has made
since the Rose Revolution, stating that the country is going in the
right direction.
“You have a strong position, a strong developed civil society and
independent media,” he stated.
Nonetheless, he urged the Georgian government to “speed up the
process” of implementing the recommendations and obligations to the
COE. He also urged the Georgian Parliament to accelerate the
ratification of EU conventions.
In a resolution adopted in January 2005, PACE gave Georgia deadlines
of September this year to sign and ratify the European Charter for
Regional and Minority Languages and the European Outline Convention
on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or
Authorities, and to ratify the European Social Charter and the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
Also by September the government is expected to adopt a legal
framework for restitution of ownership or compensation for property
lost during the conflicts of the early 1990s. The CoE’s Venice
Commission has also called on Georgia to revise the constitutional
structure of regional governance and the autonomy of Adjara.
The PACE president also talked about Georgia resolving “regional
conflicts.” He highlighted Georgia’s chances to support peace in the
South Caucasus region and to play “an outstanding role between
Armenia and Azerbaijan” on solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“Georgia must become an example for the whole region,” he stated.
Linden, who was elected to office last January to replace Peter
Schieder, visited Armenia before coming to Georgia and left for
Azerbaijan on August 21. This is the first visit of Linden to all
three South Caucasus countries.
During his visit to Georgia from August 20 to 21, Linden met with
Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli, Deputy Speaker of
Parliament Mikheil Machavariani, Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II,
representatives of opposition parties and NGOs.
“Georgia must become an example for the whole region” – Rene van der
Linden
Declaring that civil society is quite strong in Georgia, Linden
called on the opposition to establish more cooperation with each
other.
“He said we should seek strength and a reliable partnership with each
other,” confirmed Republican MP Levan Berdzenishvili after
a meeting with the PACE president.
As Linden stated, the main thing the COE is concerned with in Georgia
is the independence of the judiciary and election committees.
At Sunday’s meeting, the opposition parties also raised the issue of
interim elections and asked for COE’s monitoring.
“We mainly raised the issue of interim elections on October 1 and
asked the president of the Parliamentary Assembly to intensify
monitoring during the election campaign as well as on the day of
voting. And we received consent from the side of the commission that
such monitoring will be there from their side,” said Conservative MP
Zviad Dzidziguri.
Linden stated later at the press conference that the COE does not
implement monitoring of interim elections, but he still stressed the
importance to hold transparent interim elections.
Linden also commented on the 7 percent threshold in the parliamentary
proportional elections admitting that “it is too high,” although he
added the lower threshold “would not change the situation.”
“So I appeal to the opposition parties to use the opportunity to
cooperate together,” he stated. “But, of course, we expect that the
threshold will be diminished.”
According to Republican MP Levan Berdzenishvili during the meeting
with opposition parties, the issue of media independence,
self-governance issues and Georgia’s pace to EU integration process
were discussed. Berdzenishvili also commented that besides talk of
“negative trends” that have emerged in Georgia, both sides positively
evaluated indicators of economic progress and education reforms.
“I hope that the Council of Europe will manage to get the Georgian
government on the right track to democracy and… recommendations of
the Venice Commission and legislative initiatives will be really
looked through,” stated Berdzenishvili.
Talking to journalists on August 20 after meeting the president of
PACE Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli stressed that it is important
for the Georgian government to fulfill EU recommendations.
Commenting on the law on self-governance and whether the Mayor should
be elected directly or indirectly, a subject which became an issue of
hot debates in recent months in Georgia, Linden stated that “the COE
will never interfere in the choice of member states.” Coming from the
Netherlands Linden stated that all mayors in his country are elected
by the government, however, he admitted that he himself is “in favor
of a directly elected mayor.”

Armenian leader, Council of Europe official discuss constitutional reforms
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
19 Aug 05
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and the president of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rene van der Linden,
have discussed the progress of fulfilment Armenia’s commitments to the
Council of Europe and especially the process of constitutional reforms.
The Armenian president said he was confident that the constitutional
reforms were important for Armenia in the first place. Kocharyan said
constitutional reforms were part of his election platform back in
1998 and that they were to ensure balanced relations between different
branches of powers.
Kocharyan rated highly the assistance of the [Council of Europe]
Venice Commission and said the reforms should fully meet European
standards. A referendum [on constitutional reforms] due to be held
in November is of special importance for Armenia and the authorities
will be consistent in order to achieve success, Kocharyan said.

GAGIK HAKOBIAN CHAMPION OF VETERAN CHESS PLAYERS OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The championship of veteran chess
players of Armenia, in which 32 sportsmen at the age of 60 and
above participated, finished. Gagik Hakobian, a master of sport,
won the first place and the title of the champion of Armenia. He had
7 victories in the 9 rounds of the championship held by the Swiss
contest rules, he finished two meetings drawn game and got 8 points.
G.Hakobian won a right to participate in the 2005 World Championship
of veteran chess players. Eduard Mnatsakanian, an international master
won the 2nd place with 7.5 points. Adolf Demirkhanian, a candidate for
mastery, got 6.5 points and became the 3rd prize winner. Organizers
of the championship defined 7 monetary prizes for participants played
with greater success. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize-winners got monetary
awards of 100, 60 and 30 thousand drams correspondingly.

CONFLICTING PARTIES DON’T WORK ON ANY CONCRETE DOCUMENT, ELMAR MAMMADAYAROV
2005-08-16 14:02
Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 16 2005
“If parties come to any agreement on the level of Foreign Ministries,
the Presidents on the base of information received could instruct on
the commencement of work over concrete documents,” the Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said. “Currently we are not
working over any concrete document,” Mammadyarov underlined, noting
the sides did not reach the stage of development of agreements.
However, the sides are too far form such approach and it is premature
to speak about it, he added. Commenting Azerbaijanâ’s standpoint
on the forthcoming meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers in Moscow, Mammadyarov said that the Prague process
was continued. The sides will try to develop definite elements to
design a unified position on conceptual issues. The Presidents of
the two countries will be informed on the results of the meeting and
after the talks will continue on the level of heads of state. The
same time Mammadyarov asserted that Azerbaijan and Armenia did not
come to a common ground on 7-9 elements. “Details of talks remain
confidential. It is too early to speak about the essence of the
elements, as the negotiation process is currently underway, he
noted. “People with appropriate basic knowledge оn the resolution
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict well understand which details
are meant,” he stressed. “Azerbaijan has adhered and will continue
to adhere its position implying the rehabilitation of Azerbaijan and
repatriation refugees and IDPs,” Mammadyarov underlined. He noted
that at the resolution of the CEC of Azerbaijan, dated 13 August,
the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh received an invitation
for the participation in the parliamentary elections scheduled for 6
November 2005. “Members of the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh
are the Azerbaijani citizens and they enjoy a right for participation
in the electioneering in the country in compliance with Constitution,”
Mammadyarov underlined, adding that the CEC had resolved to establish
constituency in Khankandi (N122) and Khojavand (124). Touching upon
Azerbaijanâ’s initiatives with new resolutions on the level of UN
Mammadyarov underlined that a resolution in the issue will be adopted
after the Moscow meeting with Armenian FM Vardan Oskanian. Trend
–Boundary_(ID_5XBngLyvwFEE9Q9fDBh/Rg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WMD real threat requires adequate response – Gen Mylnikov
By Vladimir Zainetdinov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 17, 2005 Wednesday 9:25 AM Eastern Time
AKTAU, Kazakhstan, August 17 — Chief of the CIS Anti-Terrorist
Centre Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov called for searching for new
ways and methods to step up special services’ efforts in the fight
against terrorism.
He spoke at the opening of an anti-terrorist command staff exercise
in the Caspian region.
Mylnikov said on Wednesday, “The threat is very real that terrorists
can use weapons of mass destruction.” “Thus, special services,
security agencies and law-enforcement agencies should join efforts
to search for new ways and methods to adequately react on the threat
posed by international terrorism.”
At present, the CIS Anti-Terrorist Centre is working on a list of
terrorist and extremist organisations, which act in the territory
of CIS countries. “The list is being finalised by CIS security and
special services,” he added.
At the same time, Mylnikov noted, “Different approaches towards this
problem and the lack of universal legislative mechanisms prevent
us from making up a global list to be approved by the international
community.”
The threat posed by terrorism to CIS states comes from Afghanistan,
he said. “The situation in the country (Afghanistan) is quite far
from being stable due to the Moslem world’s reaction on the events
in Iraq. The situation in the country may explode on any time,”
Mylnikov said.
Instability in Afghanistan and growing activity by terrorist
organisations complicate the situation in Central Asia, Mylnikov said.
The Afghan society is on the brink of another civil war and this may
have adverse effects on the situation in the whole region of Central
Asia,” Mylnikov said.
He recalled that secret services back in 2002 warned that the leaders
of Al-Qaeda and Taliban had regrouped their forces with the aim to
destabilize situations in Central Asian countries. In their efforts
they have extensively used the terrorist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir,
banned in many countries.
“Last May’s unrest in the Uzbek city of Andijan was a confirmation of
this. As it has been established, Hizb ut-Tahrir militants participated
in violence there that claimed 176 lives,” the chief of the CIS
Anti-Terrorist Centre said.
Taking part in the anti-terrorist exercise in the Caspian are the
chiefs of anti-terrorist units and secret services from Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as officials from the Russian
Emergency Situations Ministry, the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS
anti-aircraft defence allied command.
Officials from the Iranian Security Ministry attend the exercise in
the capacity of observers for the first time.

PRESS RELEASE
Never Again~Y Campaign
Alpha Epsilon OmegaSM,
The Armenian Fraternity
Contact: Narek Zohrabyan
P.O. Box 280053
Northridge , CA 91328-0053
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Alpha Epsilon OmegaSM, The Armenian Fraternity, has raised over $10,000
dollars for the Never Again~Y Campaign. The Never Again~Y Campaign was
started on the initiative of bringing greater awareness to the Armenian
Genocide and supporting organizations that are actively perusing
the education, remembrance and recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Through the contributions of our supporters we were able to donate:
$3,500 to the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial, Inc
$3,500 to the Zoryan Institute of Canada, Inc
$3,500 to The Genocide Education Project.
These organizations are at the forefront of spreading awareness of
the Armenian Genocide The organizations above were chosen by the
Never Again~Y Campaign for their continued efforts in educating the
public, conducting research, and persuing the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The operations of each respective organization
play a crucial role in preventing future genocides. .
The Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial, Inc (AGMM) is a nonprofit
organization, which is related to the Armenian National Institute
(ANI). The AGMM activities are expected to include owning, operating,
and maintaining a permanent museum and memorial to the victims and
survivors of the Armenian Genocide in Washington D.C.; commemorating,
remembering, studying, and interpreting the particular and universal
lessons of the Armenian Genocide and related issues, including
those of contemporary significance; securing universal affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide; supporting the prevention of genocide;
and presenting permanent, rotating, and traveling exhibits, as well
as memorial and public programs, in support of these programs. For
more information on AGMM visit
The Zoryan Institute of Canada, Inc along with the Zoryan Institute
for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation combined form
an international center devoted to the research and documentation
of contemporary issues related to the history, politics, society,
and culture of Armenia and Armenians around the world. Research is
conducted both to document past and current events, and to analyze
their impact on individuals and institutions in Armenia and the
Diaspora. The Institute strives to develop a framework within which
people can understand and participate in conceptualizing the critical
and fundamental issues dealing with current and future challenges
within a global context.
The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit organization whose
mission is to help prevent genocide by assisting educators, students,
and educational organizations with teaching and learning about genocide
and other major human rights violations, with specific focus on the
Armenian Genocide. For more information on The Genocide Education
Project visit
We would like to thank those who contributed to the Never Again~Y
Campaign by donating, sponsoring and wearing the Never Again~Y
awareness wristbands in remembrance and in recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Through their assistance we were able to bring
greater awareness to the Armenian Genocide and the struggle for its
recognition. By continuing to wear the wristbands we are preventing
future genocides, serving as a constant reminder that history, if
not accounted for, is in danger of repeating itself. The recognition
of the Armenian Genocide should not be considered a struggle for
Armenians alone, but a struggle for all of mankind to end all crimes
against humanity.
If you would like to donate or become a sponsor of the Never Again~Y
Campaign, or would like to learn more about the Never Again~Y Campaign
please visit, .
Thank You,
Narek Zohrabyan
Alpha Epsilon OmegaSM,
The Armenian Fraternity
Contact: Narek Zograbyan
P.O. Box 280053
Northridge , CA 91328-0053
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

AZG Armenian Daily #143, 16/08/2005
Neighbors
ARMENIAN CHURCH READY TO RESTORE THE MOSQUE OF SHUSHI
Baku labeled “another provocation” the statement by Archbishop
Pargev Martirosian of Artsakh diocese to invite Iranian specialists
to restore the Shiite mosque of Shushi built in 1883.
Turkey allocates $1.5 million for restoration of Surp Khach of Akhtamar
The Turkish government has assigned $1.5 million for restoration of
Surp Khach church of Akhtamar Island. This step largely directed to the
EU, was also interpreted by the authorities in Ankara as a signal to
improve Armenian-Turkish relations. Despite the absence of diplomatic
relations between Armenia and Turkey and the 12-year-old blockade,
contacts between diplomats from both sides never ceased. Turkish
mass media informed that the secrete Armenian-Turkish negotiations
discuss now the issues of Armenian Genocide, Armenian-Turkish border
opening and the withdrawal from neighboring territories of Nagorno
Karabakh. Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul noted on his part
that there is nothing strange in Armenian-Turkish contacts, they
always were there.
By Tatoul Hakobian

ELECTIONS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNANCE BODIES TO TAKE PLACE IN AUTUMN ARE
TOUCHSTONE TO SOME EXTENT BEFORE FUTURE STATE ELECTIONS, RA PRIME
MINISTER BELIEVES
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues connected with the referendum
on the constitutional reforms and holding the elections of the local
self-governance bodies to take place in autumn were discussed at the
August 12 meeting of RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
representatives of the Republic Council of the Communies’ Union of
Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s
Information and Public Relations Department, A.Margarian welcame the
initiation of the Communities’ Union of Armenia to create an
initiative group on public discussions around the Constitutional
reforms, awareness and preparation for the referendum. A.Margarian
emphasized the active participation of all interested parties,
including public organizations, political forces, civil society, in
the affair of working out, improvement and adoption of that document
excessively important for the state. Considering of not less
importance a democratic, free, just and transparent holding of the
elections of the local self-governance bodies, the head of the
Government regarded those elections as a touchstone to some extent
before the 2007 and 2008 state elections, in the sense of a complete
formation of the local self-governance bodies, development and
strengthening of the local democracy.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES PROGRAM ON REDUCTION OF AIR POLLUTION IN CITIES
YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 12 sitting, the
Armenian government approved the program on the development of a
mechanism for introducing technological and territorial regulation of
harmful emissions from stationary sources of pollution. According to
the RA Government Information and PR Department, the program is aimed
at reducing air pollution in the Armenian cities, including the
reduction of emmissions per unit of production and the elimination of
excessive air pollution in the cities.

Armenian Officials Tour N.Y. Courts
John Caher
New York Law Journal
08-15-2005
After spending a year helping the Armenian government set up a modern legal
system, Joseph J. Traficanti Jr. figured he would show his foreign friends a
truly balkanized court structure. So he brought them to Albany on August 2.
The former deputy chief administrative judge led a delegation of Armenian
court officials on a study tour of the New York courts and the state
Legislature. They visited the Albany County Family Court and the state Court
of Appeals, chatted with the lieutenant governor’s counsel, discussed the
transition from decentralized to centralized court administration and
examined the judiciary’s computer operations across the Hudson River in the
city of Rensselaer. And they got a chance to view an antiquated court
structure that is far more fragmented than anything at home.
“I learned [in Armenia] that you can have a very nice, simple structure for
your court system and you don’t have to have a complicated one like ours to
have a good one,” Traficanti said. “They have a streamlined system that
would be the envy of anyone here in New York who is interested in reform.”
Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye and all of her recent predecessors have sought a
constitutional amendment that would modernize a court structure designed in
and for a far different era. But the effort fails (largely for political
reasons) as often as it comes up, which is about every year.
Traficanti retired last year from state court administration and headed to
Armenia, where he led a World Bank project to modernize court operations
there. He experienced court administration on a shoe-string. The annual
budget for the entire Republic of Armenia — the whole government, not just
the courts — is about half of the New York court system’s.
“They are struggling to build a good democracy, a strong democracy, and
included in that is a good court system,” Traficanti said. “There are very
difficult hurdles, especially in terms of resources. The budget of the New
York state court system is about $1.2 billion. The budget for the entire
Republic of Armenia is a little over $500 million.”
This week, nine of the Armenian court officials with whom Traficanti worked
came to New York State, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for
International Development and logistical support from the New York State
Judicial Institute in White Plains, N.Y. On August 1, they spent the day
with court administrators at the institute. On August 2, they took a road
trip to Albany. Before returning to Armenia on August 6, the delegation
planned to tour the commercial and criminal courts in Manhattan.
At the Capitol, the group received a brief civics lesson from John R.
Watson, counsel to Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue, on the workings of a
two-house legislature.
LESSONS FOR NEW YORK
But the visitors were mainly interested in the structure of the courts, both
from a hierarchical standpoint and from the perspective of day-to-day
operations. Structurally, Traficanti said, the system that evolved after
Armenia won its independence 12 years ago offers much for New York to
imitate.
“The structure of their court system is what we should have in New York — a
court of first instance, an appellate court and a high court, and that’s
it,” Traficanti said.
Arsen Lazarian, a representative of the Armenian chief judicial officer,
said through an interpreter, that as a rule, there is not much difference
between the courts of his country and New York — except that in Armenia
there is more centralization.
“Here the structure is more decentralized,” Lazarian said. “But we must
take into consideration how small is our country and how big is New York
State. We have only 21 courts, so centralized management is more easy.”
Arman Khachatryan, director of the Republic of Armenia Council of Court
Chairmen — a judicial training center — said training methods employed in
Armenia were borrowed from the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev. But
he is also picking up tips from the New York Judicial Training Institute.
“I can see that we have to do more work,” Khachatryan said, partially in
English and partially through a translator. “This is one of the benefits, to
see how it is implemented, court management in this state. We hope after our
return we can organize the training of the staff to try to use the
experience, our American experience, for the modernization of the Armenian
courts.”
The delegation included representatives of four groups: three pilot courts,
the Court of Appeals for Military and Criminal Matters, the Community First
Instance Court and the Economic Court, which is similar to New York’s
commercial courts. Also included were representatives of the Armenian
Council of Court Chairmen, a court-system administrative agency.
Traficanti’s participation in the project began with a World Bank rule of
law project administered by DPK Consulting, a California-based business
consultancy. DPK is working with a local Armenian partner, Ameria
Consulting, to re-engineer courts in the capital city of Yerevan. The
structural form that evolves is expected to be replicated nationwide.
Karine Nikoghosyan, management advisory services assistant for Ameria, said
she hopes to harvest from this trip some of New York’s technical
innovations. She said the courts in Armenia have a long road to travel in
terms of achieving technological parity.
“It is rather interesting,” Nikoghosyan said of the court system’s use of
even such basic technology as electronic recording of proceedings. “We do
not have that much automation.”
A similar but more extensive court modernization project is under way in
Macedonia, and Traficanti hopes to take part in that effort as well.