Author: Jalatian Sonya

RUSSIA, ARMENIA TO HOLD JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE
RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 6 2005
TBILISI, September 6 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) -Russia and
Armenia are to hold a joint military exercise from September 7 to 14,
a spokesman for the Russian armed forces announced Tuesday.
Vladimir Kuparadze, Press Officer of Russia’s South Caucasus Command,
said the exercise will be held at the Bagramyan firing range in
Armenia and that it will involve both air and ground forces.
It will be held in keeping with the CIS Collective Security Treaty,
which also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief
================================================
Monday 5 September 2005
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: BAPTIST CONSCRIPT NOW IMPRISONED
Military leaders in the unrecognised republic of Nagorno-Karabakh in the
South Caucasus have successfully appealed to the courts for Gagik Mirzoyan
– handed a suspended sentence in July for refusing to handle weapons or
swear the military oath on grounds of religious faith – to be sent to
prison. On 5 September Hadrut district court imprisoned the embattled
Baptist conscript for one year. The court told Mirzoyan that if he
declared then and there he would swear the oath it would free him and send
him back to his unit. “Gagik responded that he couldn’t do so as the Bible
doesn’t allow it,” a fellow Baptist told Forum 18. “He was sentenced and
police took him away immediately.” Two Jehovah’s Witnesses have also been
sentenced to prison in Nagorno-Karabakh this year for refusing compulsory
military service because of their religious convictions.
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: BAPTIST CONSCRIPT NOW IMPRISONED
By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service
Two months after a court in the unrecognised republic of Nagorno-Karabakh
in the South Caucasus gave Baptist conscript Gagik Mirzoyan a suspended
sentence for refusing to swear the military oath or bear arms because of
his religious convictions, a court has increased the penalty at the urging
of military leaders. The district court of Hadrut in south-eastern Karabakh
sentenced Mirzoyan today (5 September) to one year’s imprisonment. “This is
bad news,” Albert Voskanyan, director of the Centre for Civilian
Initiatives, told Forum 18 News Service from Karabakh’s capital
Stepanakert. “Mirzoyan is likely to be brought here to Stepanakert in the
next few days and then, it seems, to the prison in Shushi.”
Already held in Shushi prison for refusing military service on grounds of
religious conscience is Jehovah’s Witness Areg Hovhanesyan, sentenced on
16 February to four years’ imprisonment (see F18News 22 February 2005
<;). "We were there in court with Gagik's family today," a fellow-Baptist told Forum 18 from Stepanakert on 5 September. "Gagik looked well, but he was much thinner, perhaps because of all the worry over the past few months." The Baptist reported that the court told Mirzoyan that if he declared then and there he would swear the oath it would free him and send him back to his unit. "Gagik responded that he couldn't do so as the Bible doesn't allow it. He was sentenced and police took him away immediately." The Baptist, who preferred not to be named, insisted that Mirzoyan is prepared to conduct an alternative service. "He's ready to serve even in a dangerous position, such as in a frontline medical unit, as long as it is without weapons and without swearing the oath," the Baptist told Forum 18. "He believes this would be a witness for others to his faith." Mirzoyan, a Karabakh native and a member of a local congregation of the Council of Churches Baptists, was called up last December. He announced immediately that he was not able to serve with weapons or swear the military oath on grounds of religious conscience. In the wake of his conscription he was beaten up in two different military units and served 10 days in military prison (see F18News 6 January 2005 <; and 15 April 2005 < le_id=544>).
Nagorno-Karabakh has compulsory military service for all young men, with
no alternative service provision. At a trial at Hadrut district court on 7
July, Mirzoyan was found guilty under Article 364 part 1 of the criminal
code (Nagorno-Karabakh has adopted Armenia’s criminal code), which
punishes “refusal to perform one’s military duties” with detention of up
to 3 months, disciplinary battalion of up to 2 years or imprisonment of up
to 2 years. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. However, the court
ruled that the sentence should be suspended under Article 70 of the
criminal code, which covers conditional punishments. Mirzoyan was then
sent back to his military unit in Hadrut district (see F18News 13 July
2005 <;). The Baptist said that conditional sentences are given so that those sentenced "think over" what they have done. "But as they saw no progress in persuading Gagik to take the oath, the military leadership appealed against his suspended sentence and the case was brought to court again." Karabakh officials have revealed to Forum 18 in recent months that letters about Mirzoyan's case had arrived in Stepanakert from around the world. Local Baptists say some 500 letters alone reached the court ahead of the 7 July trial. The Stepanakert Baptist told Forum 18 he understands that "the young state" of Nagorno-Karabakh is wary over allowing an alternative to compulsory military service as long as hostilities with the Azerbaijani government are unresolved. "There is still a state of war, and the authorities fear other people will try to follow the example of anyone allowed to do alternative service. But if such alternative service is hard and even dangerous, it will separate out those who want to do it because of their love of the Lord." Also sentenced in Karabakh this year for refusing military service on religious grounds was another Jehovah's Witness Armen Grigoryan, an Armenian citizen who had been illegally deported from Armenia to serve in Karabakh against his will. Grigoryan was returned to Armenia to serve his two year sentence (see F18News 7 July 2005 <;). Jehovah's Witness sources told Forum 18 on 26 July that Grigoryan is now being held in the prison in the town of Nubarashen close to the Armenian capital Yerevan. A printer-friendly map of the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is available at <;Rootmap=azerba>
within the map titled ‘Azerbaijan’.
A printer-friendly map of Armenia is available at
< a&Rootmap=armeni>
(END)
© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News
Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

STUDENTS DOING LESSONS IN BOOKSTORES
A1+
| 15:02:56 | 06-09-2005 | Social |
“We have a very small number of professional literature in the Armenian
language”, director of Noyan Tapan bookstore Hayk Lazarian noted
when commenting on one of the most serious problems our students face
at present. “And the ones we have are too expensive, so the students
have to make notes in the bookstore”, he added.
The Russian translation of juridical, economic or medical textbooks
poses problems to the Armenian school leavers.
“I have to go to the bookstore because there are no textbooks in
the Armenian language in the library”, first year student of the
medical university Samvel Karapetyan says. He spends much time in
the bookstore, where students are allowed to use books, the price of
which starts with 3000 AMD.

FACTBOX-Governments line up to help after Katrina
Sept 3 (Reuters) – Hurricane Katrina has devastated New Orleans
and U.S. Gulf Coast states, killing hundreds of people and possibly
thousands, and drawing support pledges from rich and poor, traditional
friends and foes of the United States.
The State Department said offers of help had been received from:
Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada,
China, Columbia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan,
Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden,
Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates,
and Venezuela.
International organisations also offered help ranging from medical
teams to tents to cash donations. They include NATO, the Organisation
of American States, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and the
World Health Organization.
A State Department official said a needs assessment was being done
to determine which offers would be accepted.
The United Nations has offered to help coordinate international
relief. Following is a list of some of the aid offered by governments.
ASIA
AUSTRALIA: “We’re going to provide A$10 million and the bulk of
that money, if not all of it, will go to the American Red Cross,”
said Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. The Australian
government said there may be up to 24 Australians trapped in Louisiana
in the aftermath of Katrina.
CHINA: China offered $5 million in aid for victims of Hurricane
Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast ahead of President Hu Jintao’s
U.S. visit. If needed, the Chinese government is also prepared to
send rescue workers, including medical experts, officials said.
JAPAN: Will provide $200,000 to the American Red Cross to assist
victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said on
Friday. Japan will also identify needs in affected regions via the
U.S. government and will provide up to $300,000 in emergency supplies
such as tents, blankets and power generators if it receives requests
for such assistance, the ministry said.
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces, responding to requests by
the United States Texas Army National Guard, has sent three Chinook
helicopters to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to help in relief efforts. The
government said the Chinooks will help to ferry supplies and undertake
airlift missions.
SOUTH KOREA: Has pledged aid and is waiting for a U.S. response,
a government official said. “We have sent our intention to offer
recovery aid,” a Foreign Ministry official said on Friday.
SRI LANKA: Will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross.
AMERICAS
CANADA: Offered to help in any way it can and the navy is preparing
a ship full of emergency disaster relief supplies to be sent when a
request comes.
CUBA: Cuban President Fidel Castro offered to fly 1,100 doctors to
Houston with 26 tonnes of medicine to treat disaster victims.
MEXICO: Is sending 15 truckloads of water, food and medical supplies
via Texas and the Mexican navy has offered to send two ships, two
helicopters and 15 amphibious vehicles.
VENEZUELA: President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States,
offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to
the disaster area.
EUROPE:
EUROPEAN UNION: EU countries are ready to give the United States oil
if it requests help, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on
Friday. But British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said this was not
what the EU had in mind when it discussed how to help.
FRANCE: Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said France was ready to
offer support, telling TF1 television: “We have rescue teams based
in the Caribbean and we are naturally ready to provide aid to the
Americans, and that is what we have told them.”
GERMANY: Has offered mobile units to provide clean water, military
hospital facilities and medical aid.
ITALY: Has offered to “immediately” send aid and evacuation
specialists, Italy’s civil protection unit said. Authorities have
prepared two military transport planes to fly amphibious vessels,
pumps, generators, tents and personnel to New Orleans and other
areas. They were awaiting word from U.S. officials, the unit said.
NETHERLANDS: Will provide teams for inspecting dykes and for
identifying victims if there is a formal request from the United
States. It will also send a frigate from Curacao to New Orleans
shortly to provide emergency assistance, the government said.
RUSSIA: Has offered to help with rescue efforts, but is still awaiting
a reply from Washington. “Above all with heavy transport planes,
which can be loaded with helicopters and generators — as there is no
electricity in the area of the catastrophe,” Defence Minister Sergei
Ivanov said.
SPAIN: Expects to receive a formal request to release gasoline stocks
to the United States and is prepared to grant it, an Industry Ministry
spokesman said.
SWEDEN: The Rescue Authority said it was on stand-by to supply water
purifying equipment, healthcare supplies and emergency shelters
if needed.
MIDDLE EAST
SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Refining, a Houston-based subsidiary of state
oil firm Saudi Aramco, will donate $5 million to the American Red
Cross to support relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
QATAR: Pledged $100 million in aid to the disaster victims, the
official QNA news agency reported.
(For more news about emergency relief visit Reuters AlertNet
email: [email protected]; +44 207 542 2432)
(Compiled by Matthew Bigg in London)
09/03/05 11:44 ET
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA’S POSITION ON KARABAKH UNCHANGED
Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 04:27
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I have never given occasion to think that our
position on the Karabakh issue underwent changes”, Armenian President
Robert Kocharian stated in Stepanakert today. Our position remains
the same and the developments of recent 14 years proved that Nagorno
Karabakh is able to have independent state system”, he said noting that
in a number of issues Nagorno Karabakh can serve as an example to other
post soviet countries. “Karabakh cannot be a subject of speculation
and the Armenian people know that”, the RA President stated. When
commenting on the Kazan meeting Robert Kocharian noted that it showed
some positive tendencies. He also noted that though indirectly Karabakh
participates in the negotiation process and discussions are being held
with the NKR President. In his turn Arkady Ghukasian refrained from
commenting on the settlement process alleging its secrecy. “I think
it is not time to open the brackets yet. However the process proceeds
well and Nagorno Karabakh has no reason for concern”, he said. To note,
Robert Kocharian is in Karabakh to take part in the events dedicated
to the 14-th anniversary of the declaration of the republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBBEN DOUBTFUL FOR ARMENIA QUALIFIER
Supersport, South Africa
Sept 1 2005
Chelsea winger Arjen Robben is doubtful for the Netherlands’ World
Cup qualifier against Armenia on Saturday with an ankle problem.
The Dutch are already without striker Roy Makaay, who left their
training camp in Noordwijk earlier on Thursday because of a knee
injury.
Maakay will return to his club, Bayern Munich, for treatment and is
due to contact the Dutch team’s technical and medical staff on Sunday
to decide whether he will play against Andorra next week.
Robben will have a fitness test on Friday on the ankle injury he
sustained in a Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion
last week.
“Arjen trained separately today but he did well and proved fit in
controlled training without any ball contact,” coach Marco van Basten
told a news conference.
“Tomorrow after the group training we will take a decision about the
coming match but we have some good alternatives.”
Arsenal winger Robin van Persie could replace Robben on the left
flank for his first start.
Defenders Tim de Cler and John Heitinga and midfielder Nigel de Jong
were dropped by Van Basten, who reduced his squad from 23 to 19 men.
“We made this choice because the other players are better and also
because we want two substitutes, one right and one left footed,
for every line,” the coach said.
The unbeaten Dutch are top European Group One a point ahead of the
Czech Republic. They play Armenia away on Saturday and then host
Andorra four days later in Eindhoven.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Henk Timmer
(AZ Alkmaar)
Defenders: Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Jan Kromkamp
(Villareal), Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar), Khalid Boulahrouz (HSV Hamburg),
Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven), Theo Lucius (PSV Eindhoven)
Midfielders: Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax Amsterdam), Wesley Sneijder
(Ajax Amsterdam), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Rafael van der Vaart
(Hamburg SV), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Ajax Amsterdam), Robin van Persie (Arsenal),
Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy
(Manchester United), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven)

OFFER REJECTED
A1+
| 17:27:06 | 31-08-2005 | Politics |
Today at 03:00 p.m. the session of the Central Electoral Committee was
to take place, in the agenda of which the offer of Felix Khachatryan,
representative of the Justice bloc in the Committee, was included.
Khachatryan offered to turn to the RA Government with the request to
introduce changes to the RA Electoral Code.
As we learned from the CEC news service, the session did not take
place, as the agenda did not get the necessary number of votes. Those
who were opposite mentioned that the acting Electoral Code has been
adopted recently, and time is needed to put its separate clauses
into practice.

Christian schools sue UC system
Coalition claims admissions officials discriminate against religious courses
By Michelle Maitre, STAFF WRITER
Tri-Valley Herald, CA
Daily Review Online, CA
The Argus, CA
Aug 30 2005
A coalition of Christian schools has filed a federal lawsuit accusing
University of California admissions officials of discrimination for
refusing to accept certain high school courses taught from a religious
viewpoint. The suit, filed Aug. 25 in Los Angeles district court by
the Association of Christian Schools International and Calvary Chapel
Christian School in Murrieta, also says UC’s policies violate rights
of free speech and religion.
The suit says some courses containing Christian views aren’t accepted
as part of UC’s “a through g” requirements, which outlinethe courses
students must take to qualify for admission.
The suit says UC doesnt recognize certain classes, including those that
challenge evolutionary theory or others with titles such as Special
Providence: Christianity & the American Republic and Christianity and
Morality in American Literature, yet allows courses in subjects such
as Armenian Studies, Latin American Literature and more.
Of all the various viewpoints that are permitted, as they should
be, thats (Christian) the one theyve chosen to single out and treat
differently and very unfavorably, said Wendell Bird, an Atlanta-based
attorney for the schools association, which represents more than 800
religious schools in California.
Plaintiffs in the suit include six students in grades 10 through 12
at the Murrieta school who say they will be ineligible for UC because
their course work wont be accepted. The suit seeks an injunction
against UCs practices.
UC spokeswoman Ravi Poorsina said officials hadnt seen the suit and
couldnt address its specifics. Still, she said, the university has a
responsibility to set course requirements that will prepare students
for UC course work. UC serves 208,000 students at 10 campuses,
including Berkeley.
Its not intended to single out any one group or type of school or
religious belief, Poorsina said.
UC reviews numerous proposals each year from public and private
high schools seeking to add new courses, she said, and ultimately
approves about 85 percent, adding that others may be approved after
additional work.
There are many courses that have religious undertones or represent the
religious side of things that are approved, Poorsina said. I dont know
about these specific courses (in the lawsuit), but its not cut and dry.
Robert John Russell, professor of theology and science at the Graduate
Theological Union in Berkeley, said universities are within their
rights to set standards for the course work theyll accept.
Religious belief can cloud the debate, but the ultimate decision
comes down to whether a student has received quality instruction,
Russell said. A student who received poor instruction in biology –
say with old textbooks – would not meet the same standards as a
student who received rigorous instruction.
Russell argues that creationism is a theological debate, rather than
scientific instruction.
Its almost ludicrous anyone would even take this seriously, Russell
said. It seems absurd that a student who had poor
biology would meet the same standards as a student with good biology.
..This has nothing to do with First Amendment rights. .
Bird said UCs policies are interfering with schools and parents rights
to teach according to their beliefs. The policy has implications for
curricula at other private schools, he said.
Something that discriminates against or penalizes one religious faith
is so easily extended to penalize others, said Bird, who said students
from Christian schools typically outperform their peers from public
schools. In our view, were fighting for their right as much as the
right of our Christian schools.

RESETTLEMENT IN ARTSAKH
Nvard Ohanian
Azat Artsakh Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
29 Aug 05
Avetyats Yerkir NGO was officially registered in Karabakh in
2000. Before that the organization had been working out various
programmes of resettlement, looked for ways of cooperation with
sponsors, then started implementing the programme of resettlement
of the village of Norashen in the region of Hadrut. Since its
establishment Avetyats Yerkir has been carrying out programmes in the
region of Nor Shahumian and the southern part of Hadrut region. We
talked to the chairman of the NGO Vahram Gevorgian about the programmes
carried out by Avetyats Yerkir in the current year. Nvard Ohanjanian:
“Vahram, would you outline the work done and to be done this
year.” Vahram Gevorgian: “The resettlement of the village of Knaravan
in the region of Nor Shahumian is going on. A medical station and the
municipality are being built, a school is planned to be built. Six
houses have been reconstructed, five families have already moved to
their houses. Three houses are being built. We carry out excavations
in the church of Handaberd. The archaeological studies have ended
recently due to a group of archaeologists from Armenia. We intend
to reconstruct the chapel. In Knaravan we have loaned cattle to new
settlers and have aided those who are interested in beekeeping. We
have also built a nursery school in the border village Talish in
Martakert region, which will be operated this September. It should be
noted that almost every year the sponsors visit Talish, meet with the
children under school age, organize games, talk to them, etc. A larger
programme is the resettlement of the village of Ijevanatun in Hadrut.
The historical inn was build built there by Armenian masters with
the support of the Persian shah. This year five houses and a school
will be built there. By the way, the government will also organize
certain work in this village. We have discovered khachkars in the
village of Haykavan. The medical station and the municipality built
last year were repaired this year. Cattle loan was provided to four
families. A school was built in the village of Tsamdzor. The cultural
centre in Shushi is being built. We have started the excavations in the
castle near the wall of Shushi (which is an older construction than
the wall of the fortress). We have started archaeological studies of
Tigranakert at the foot of Mount Shahbulagh, near Nor Maragha. Our aim
is to find the exact location of the ancient town.” N.O.: “Who are your
sponsors? Does Avetyats Yerkir have permanent supporters?” V.G.: “We
are supported by both individuals and organizations. The programmes of
Knaravan and the cultural centre in Shushi were brought into being by
the Karapetian family. The chairman of the cultural society Narekatsi,
American citizen Narek Harutyunian intends to establish a branch of
the society in Shushi, and the father of Narek, Karapet, supports the
programmes of resettlement in Knaravan. The sponsor of resettlement
of Talish is Armenia-Diaspora Connection. The society Yerkir remains
the organization which sustains relationships between us and other
similar organizations and sponsors. Charles Ghazerian remains the
permanent supporter of our organizations.” N.O.: “Have there been
cases when your cooperation with the sponsors did not produce expected
results? What are the causes of failure of certain programmes?” V.G.:
“The only organization with which our cooperation was stopped is the
French branch of the Armenian General Benevolent Union. We began
the resettlement of Norashen in cooperation with them. We also
proposed the programme of resettlement of the village of Akn but they
refused, probably preferring cooperation with similar organizations
of Armenia. It should be noted that it took us three years of effort
to find supporters for the programme of Ijevanatun. We present 8-10
programmes to sponsors annually, and they support the programmes
which they approve. Last year our programmes were too many, and we
decided to include Ijevanatun in the programmes of this year. ” N.O.:
“Do you cooperate with governmental organizations in working out and
implementing programmes of resettlement?” V.G.: “We do not have joint
programmes but all our programmes are to be agreed on by different
governmental organizations, the ministries of town planning, culture,
the department of resettlement. There were cases when we shared the
work with governmental organizations. In Knaravan we loaned cattle to
people, the government will also do. In Ijevanatun electrification
will be totally carried out by the government. In brief, both of us
work without troubling each other.”

MOSNEWS, Russia
Aug 26 2005
Russian MP Completes Sex Movie Depicting Ukrainian PM, Georgian
President
MosNews
Russian parliamentarian Aleksei Mitrofanov of the notorious LDPR
party reported this week that he had completed shooting a 26-minute
soft porn titled Yulia. The main actors in the film have the same
first names and bear a striking resemblance to Ukrainian Prime
Minister Yulia Timoshenko and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
The popular Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda has published an
extensive report about the film. The article said that the producer
had to abandon plans to invite Russian porn star Elena Berkova to
play Yulia Timoshenko as the actress’ relatives in Ukraine had been
receiving threats.
Instead, actress Elena Bond was cast to play the role. Ethnic
Armenian Alen Melik-Grigoryan played Georgia’s president Saakashvili.
Ukraine and Georgia have both protested against Mitrofanov’s project,
and Ukrainian media has spread a rumor that a gay porn film featuring
look-alikes of Russian President Vladimir and former Ukrainian PM
Viktor Yanukovich is being made.
Mitrofanov dismissed all the criticism as groundless. He told the
media that the Yulia film will take foreign relations to new heights
– – literally and figuratively. `Political erotics are a new genre
that I have discovered,’ he said. `The film is about politics. It
makes a political statement, they don’t just [have sex].’
`Is the film The Interpreter propaganda or big cinema?’ Mitrofanov
said. `Is the film JFK propaganda or big cinema? Why is it that in
America these films are considered big cinema but films like this in
Russia are considered propaganda? This is big cinema and I am a great
master.’
Photo: