Author: Mamian George

GREEN MOVEMENT ACTIVIST MARIAM SUKHUDYAN FROM A WITNESS BECAME A DEFENDANT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.08.2009 18:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mariam Sukhudyan, the youth green movement activist
of S.O.S Tegout, was summoned on 15 August to Erebouni Criminal
Investigation Department to give an interview concerning the charge
of libel in accordance with Part 1, Article 135 of the Criminal Code
of RA.

On 13 November 2008, the Public TV Channel prepared a program where
one of the pupils at Nubarashen Boarding School ¹ 11 told about
sexual harassment by the teacher. The TV program used video fragments
submitted activists of S.O.S Teghout who are also engaged with the
protection of the rights of vulnerable social layers.

As Mariam Sukhudyan told a PanARMENIAN.net reporter, the video
material, for which I am accused, is shot based on testimony of
children from the Boarding school. "I am sure, the reason for such
absurd accusation is my active participation in the movement to
protect environment, and Teghout forest, in particular".

Based on this TV program, Erebouni Criminal Investigation Department
conducted an investigation, and as a result, the criminal case
¹12105809 was initiated on 11 February 2009.

However, the charge was not sexual harassment, but libel in accordance
with Part 1, Article 135 of the Criminal Code of RA. Mariam Sukhudyan
and other volunteers of the green movement were summoned as witnesses
to this case in May 2009.

However, Mariam Suhkudyan received a summons on 13 August 2009, that
says she is to appear to Erebouni Criminal Investigation Department
as an accused.

"EcoLur" calls on to the public at large, including state bodies
to pay appropriate attention to this case and reminds that the
democratization process declared by the President of our country
supposes the participation of the public in the country governance,
and S.O.S. signals are one of its manifestation forms.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
Aug 13, 2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan received today newly appointed Brazilian ambassador
to Armenia Marcela Nicodemos.

Public relations department of the NA told Armenpress that greeting
the guest the head of the parliament congratulated the ambassador on
starting her mission in Armenia and expressed hope that during her
tenure bilateral cooperation will develop and deepen in favor of the
two peoples.

The interlocutors agreed that there are no political controversies
between Armenia and Brazil. In this respect the NA speaker noted that
the positive atmosphere formed in the political relations creates a
good basis for developing cooperation in the trade-economic, cultural
and other spheres. The sides also discussed prospects of activating
contacts between the parliaments of the two countries.

At the end of the meeting H. Abrahamyan wished success to the
ambassador in her activity.

LEBANESE-ARMENIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS KASHATAGH; INVESTMENTS PLANNED
Anahit Danielyan

2009/08/10 | 15:30

Nagorno Karabakh economy

Today, NKR Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan met with representatives
of Lebanon’s "ArtsakhFund" and a group of Lebanese-Armenian
businessmen. The foreign delegations are in Karabakh to get acquainted
with the investment climate and to carry out some specific projects
to develop the economy in Kashatagh.

The Lebanese-Armenian businessmen, heading the suggestion of PM
Harutyunyan to launch a livestock distribution program in Kashatagh,
toured the area and met with local residents to get a better idea of
how such a project might best be realized. In their meeting with the
prime minister they offered their suggestions and concerns.

PM Harutyunyan told the visiting businessmen that the program would
be carried out jointly by the "ArtsakhFund" and the NKR Ministry of
Agriculture’s "Village and Agriculture Assistance Foundation".

"The government will carry the full weight of the risk by guaranteeing
a total return of the loans," PM Harutyunyan stated.

During the meeting, it was suggested that the program start small
and gradually grow in scope.

5TH INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT GRAND PRIX TO BE HELD IN JERMUK

NOYAN TAPAN
AUGUST 6 2009
YEREVAN

The 5th stage tournament of the Chess Grand Prix consisting of 6
stages will be held on August 9 in Jermuk. It is devoted to Tigran
Petrosian’s 80th anniversary. Grand masters Levon Aronian and Vladimir
Hakobian are among 14 participants. The one-circle tournament will
finish on August 23.

DISPUTE BETWEEN HERITAGE OPPOSITION PARTY AND HEAD OF RPA PARLIAMENTARY FACTION GATHERING PACE

ArmInfo
2009-08-04 19:15:00

ArmInfo. The reason of the continuing dispute between Heritage
opposition party and Head of RPA parliamentary faction Galust
Sahakyan was the latter’s statement made on July 24 who accused Raffi
Hovannisian, Heritage Party Leader, of signing the document entitled
"Nagorny Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan" in 1992 within the frames
of the OSCE Committee of Ministers.

Heritage party faction disseminated a statement on August 4 saying that
R. Hovannisian made relevant refutation on July 27. Nevertheless, on
July 28 G. Sahakyan explained that another representative of Armenia
approve the above document. G. Sahakyan blamed R. Hovannisian for
heading the Foreign Ministry of Armenia in the period when the force
in power of Armenia intended to "handoff Karabakh". Later on July
31 G. Sahakyan declared on the air of Radio Hay that R. Hovannisian
had been against recognizing independence of the Nagorny Karabakh
Republic. Dwelling on G. Sahakyan’s words, the authors of the statement
say that G. Sahakyan discredits the Republican Party of Armenia as
well as wonder if President of Armenia, RPA Chairman, Serzh Sargsyan
should make apologies.

In addition, Heritage Party faction sets forth 5 reasons to recognize
the Nagorny Karabakh Republic. Reason One: the NKR meets the criteria
of the Statehood under International Law. Reason Two: The people of
Nagorny Karabakh have exercised their right to self-determination
through a referendum. Reason Three: It is de-facto independent. Reason
Four: Azerbaijan abused civil, human and cultural rights of the people
of Nagorny Karabakh while it was under Azerbaijani rule. Reason Five:
Without the international guarantees against Azeraijani aggression,
which only recognition can ensure, Azerbaijan will continue to pursue
a military solution aimed at the elimination of Nagorny Karabakh’s
Armenian population.

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

========================================== =======

Tuesday 4 August 2009
UZBEKISTAN: REGISTRATION A WEAPON AGAINST FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

One of the most widespread human rights violations committed by Uzbekistan
– highlighted by the recent UN Universal Periodic Review – is its ban on
and punishments for religious activity without state permission. Forum 18
News Service has found that this is a serious problem for Muslims,
Protestant and Catholic Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses and people of other
faiths, and that even those who want state registration face systematic
obstruction. The Deputy Head of the state-controlled Muslim Board implied
to Forum 18 that controlling religious communities is a motivation for
this. Discussing small unregistered mosques, he said that "we cannot
control what is going on inside those mosques. Forum 18 has asked officials
why Uzbekistan creates registration difficulties, and why unregistered
religious activity is punished. The state Religious Affairs Committee
refused to discuss this with Forum 18. "I don’t know," was the answer of a
judge who has presided at a trial of Baptists for unregistered religious
activity. An official responsible for registration in the capital Tashkent
replied that "these are our internal issues, and you have no competence to
interfere."

UZBEKISTAN: REGISTRATION A WEAPON AGAINST FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

By Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18 News Service <;

Uzbekistan has recently been through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
mechanism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, and its response
to recommendations was considered in Geneva on 27 July. Despite this
process, religious believers of a wide variety of faiths – including but
not restricted to Muslims, Protestant and Catholic Christians, Jehovah’s
Witnesses – continue to complain to Forum 18 News Service that the country
continues to routinely commit serious violations of freedom of religion or
belief.

One of the most common violations is the use of registration as a weapon
against citizens’ religious freedom. The most recent known instance of this
were fines imposed on two Baptists, combined with threats that they would
face criminal prosecutions unless their church registered within one year
(see F18News 31 July 2009
< e_id=1333>). The two – Vladimir
Khanyukov and Said Tursunov – are members of a Baptist church in Mubarek
which belongs to the Baptist Council of Churches. These churches refuse to
seek state registration – as is their right under international law – as
they fear that registration would enable state interference in their
religious activity.

Uzbek claims on registration under the UN UPR mechanism

In response to a recommendation under the UN mechanism (by the Kingdom of
the Netherlands) that Uzbekistan "fully respect the freedom of religion or
belief", it claimed in part – falsely – that: "As in majority of countries
with rule of law, the religious organizations must obtain legal
registration and have a transparent accounting" (see document
A/HRC/10/83/Add.1 of 13 March 2009).

The Uzbek response to the Dutch recommendation went on to claim that: "As
a matter of fact the violation of those rules leads to amenability." The
"amenability" claimed may be a reference to the continuing unsuccessful
attempts to suppress religious activity without state permission.

Uzbekistan, in defiance of international human rights standards, has made
unregistered religious activity a criminal offence. Yet as Professor
Malcolm Evans of Bristol University has observed, "requiring faith
communities to register is almost impossible to reconcile with
international and OSCE [Organisation for Secuity and Co-operation in
Europe] human-rights standards" (see
< ml>). "Unless it is for the
purposes of tax benefits or to obtain charitable status, there should be no
need for compulsory registration."

Similarly, another recommendation to Uzbekistan (by the United Kingdom)
was that it should "introduce a simpler registration process for religious
organisations than currently exists". In response, the Uzbek delegation
stated that "currently there is an ongoing work on introducing amendments
and supplements in the Law On freedom of conscience and religious
organisations." This is not the first time there have been indications that
Uzbekistan may be planning to change its Religion Law, the last such
significant indication being in late 2007 (see F18News 5 November 2007
< e_id=1043>). The latest Uzbek
response failed to explain how and why any changes to the Religion Law
might end arbitrary denials of registration applications, and simplify the
highly cumbersome procedures for submitting applications (see below).

The Uzbek Delegation also claimed that 2,300 religious organisations "of
16 religions or beliefs" exist, including 2,050 Muslim, 179 Christian
(including Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Full Gospel, Seventh-day Adventist,
Lutheran, Catholic, Armenian-Apostolic Church, Protestant, Jehovah’s
Witness, New Apostolic, Bible Society), eight Jewish societies, six Baha’i
communities, one Hare Krishna community and a Buddhist temple.

It is impossible to verify these figures independently, and the state
Religious Affairs Committee refused on 31 July to discuss the issue with
Forum 18. However, religious believers of a wide variety of faiths have
often complained to Forum 18 that such official statements mask violations
of freedom of religion or belief (see eg. F18News 16 February 2007
< e_id=913>).

Registration of Muslim communities under pressure

Uzbekistan devotes great attention to controlling all religious
communities, with the majority Muslim communities being subject to tight
internal and external controls (see the latest F18News Uzbekistan religious
freedom survey < 1170>).

Many mosques are reportedly either being closed or stripped of their
registration in rural areas, an independent human rights defender – who
wished to remain anonymous for fear of state reprisals – told Forum 18 on
29 July. "The government is against establishing mosques in kishlaks
(villages)," he complained. "Not only it is difficult to register
independent small mosques in rural areas, but also those which have
registration are being stripped of it." The human rights defender gave the
example of a small mosque in Gulistan mahalla (a residential area) in the
southern Kashkadarya Region’s Nishan District, built by the local Muslims
on their own initiative several years ago. This mosque was stripped of its
registration in June. "I personally talked to the local Muslims," the human
rights defender stated. "They were ‘advised’ by the local Justice
Department to re-register the mosque as a tea house."

It is difficult to assess the overall situation of religious communities
in Uzbekistan, as many religious believers are not willing to discuss their
problems for fear of reprisals from the authorities.

Abdulazim Mansurov, Deputy Head of Uzbekistan’s state-controlled Muslim
Board, told Forum 18 that on 31 July that registration of mosques is not a
"problem." "2,050 mosques currently function, which is far more than the 84
mosques that existed during Soviet times." Asked whether he considers this
number to be large enough, as this figure approximates to one mosque for
every 10,000 to 15,000 Muslims, Mansurov stated that "not every Muslim
attends a mosque."

Asked about the mosque in Kashkadarya’s Nishan District, Mansurov said, "I
am not aware what exactly happened with that mosque." He added that
Uzbekistan does "not need small mosques in kishlaks. We cannot control what
is going on inside those mosques. Who knows what kind of dangerous ideas
some extremists can teach people in them? We have registered with the
Justice Ministry all the large mosques that we need, and they can serve all
the Muslims. Muslims from kishlaks can attend bigger, cathedral mosques in
neighbouring areas. We can control what is going on inside the big mosques.
We appoint imams for all the registered mosques."

Mansurov of the Muslim Board confirmed that work was taking place on the
current Religion Law. "Of course laws should be constantly worked on,
because times change and the situation changes" he stated. Asked if anyone
from the Muslim Board was involved in this, he stated that "our lawyers
take part in it." He added that he did not what parts of the law were being
worked on.

Other state-permitted faiths denied registration of their communities

Congregations which do not seek state registration, such as those of the
Baptist Council of Churches, are not permitted to "legally" operate
anywhere in Uzbekistan. However, even congregations of non-Muslim faiths
who are permitted to operate in some parts of the country face great
difficulties in registering their communities in other parts of the
country.

There are seven Catholic parishes in Uzbekistan, but two of them – in the
central town of Navoi and in the town of Angren near Tashkent – have been
unable to gain registration, Bishop Jerzy Maculewicz – who leads the
Catholic Church in Uzbekistan – told Forum 18 on 30 July. Bishop Maculewicz
did not want to discuss details, but said that "the main difficulty is to
find places in those towns to build the church buildings" and where the
communities could be officially registered.

During his visit to the Holy See in October 2008, for his regular "ad
limina" five-yearly meeting with the Pope, Bishop Maculewicz told the
Vatican newspaper ‘L’Osservatore Romano’ of the "many difficulties" in
officially opening these two parishes. St Joseph’s Parish in Navoi lodged
its registration documents with the local authorities in March 2006. The
Parish bought a private flat from a parishioner in 2000 and had worshipped
there, but this became impossible. Since 2006, Catholics wanting to attend
Mass have had to travel 120 kms (75 miles) to Bukhara [Bukhoro] or 150 kms
(95 miles) to Samarkand [Samarqand], the nearest registered Catholic
parishes. The Angren Parish – which bought a small one-storey house from a
parishioner in 2006 – does not have the 100 adult citizen members required
to apply for registration.

Bishop Maculewicz also told the ‘L’Osservatore Romano’ that the
authorities had not given permission to found a branch of Caritas, the
Catholic charity, in the country. However, nine nuns of the Missionaries of
Charity order founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta support prisoners and
the poor in Tashkent, and individual parishes conduct small-scale
charitable activity. He added that Catholics had asked to be allowed to
open a home for people leaving hospital who need care during convalescence,
but after a year and a half have still received no response from the
government. Charitable work by religious believers has sometimes come under
suspicion from the authorities (see F18News 0 October 2006
< e_id=852>).

Baptists from the Baptist Union told Forum 18 that, of the 60
congregations in the Union, only about 20 have been able to gain state
registration. "All the rest are in a position of illegality," Baptists told
Forum 18. They complain that since 1998 "not one congregation" has been
able to gain registration. "The authorities always find various pretexts to
refuse registration."

Registration for Russian Orthodox Church "not a problem"

In contrast, the Russian Orthodox Diocese in Tashkent told Forum 18 that
gaining registration for new parishes when required is "not a problem." "We
simply provide all the necessary documents," an aide to the bishop,
Metropolitan Vladimir (Ikim), told Forum 18 from Tashkent on 16 July. The
aide said that some 40 parishes now have registration in Uzbekistan,
including a relatively new parish in Nukus where a church building is now
being constructed.

The aide also pointed to an old church that has been returned in the small
town of Yangi Chinaz in Tashkent Region. "We hope we will soon get
registration." The aide told Forum 18 that, despite this Parish not yet
having registration, priests can travel to it on Sundays and religious
festivals to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

How can communities gain state registration?

To gain state registration, communities must first have 100 adult Uzbek
citizens willing both to be identified as founders and to supply their
personal details to the authorities. Then, religious organisations must
submit two letters of guarantee: one from the district Hokimat, confirming
that the organisation to be registered has a building which corresponds to
public health and fire safety requirements; and one from the mahalla
committee, stating that other mahalla residents do not object to the
organisation. Public health, fire safety and similar requirements are
sometimes used to provide excuses to harass religious organisations (see
eg. F18News 11 January 2006
< e_id=714>).

Mahalla committees are used by the authorities as a key instrument in
their attempts to control Uzbek society (see eg. F18News 1 December 2005
< e_id=698>). Uzbek officials
wrongly claim that the alleged unwillingness of local residents allows the
state to, under international law, stop religious organisations from
operating (see eg. F18News 9 January 2008
< e_id=1068>).

Even when a religious community has followed the state’s demands and
obtained permission to exist from a local authority, registration – and
hence permission to carry out any religious activity – can still be
refused. This has happened in the case of the Eskhol Full Gospel Church in
the capital Tashkent, which has repeatedly been denied state registration.
Officials have claimed that the Church’s "letters of guarantee", or formal
permission to function in a geographic area, from the Hokimat (local
administration) of Tashkent’s Chilanzar district and from the First Katta
Mahalla (residential district) Committee did not correspond to official
requirements (see F18News 8 August 2008
< e_id=1169>).

However many religious communities do not get as far through the
application process as this. When Jehovah’s Witnesses in the town of Kagan,
on the outskirts of Bukhara [Bukhoro], tried to register between 2006 and
2008, they faced harassment, a police raid and the ten community members
were threatened with death and each given fines of five years’ minimum
wages. Bailiffs have made repeated visits to seize property to pay the
fines (see F18News 9 January 2008
< e_id=1068>).

Similarly, the latest registration application of a Jehovah’s Witness
community in Tashkent’s Sergeli District was rejected in February 2009. The
community has repeatedly lodged applications each year for many years, with
no success.

Can communities keep state registration?

Even if a community has managed to become registered, there is no
guarantee that it will be able to keep this status – even if it complies in
full with all the authorities’ formal demands. The Jehovah’s Witness
congregation in the eastern Fergana [Farghona] Valley was closed by the
authorities, even though the congregation repeatedly insisted over the
months in which the authorities moved to close it that it and its members
were fully compliant with Uzbek law (see eg. F18News 5 May 2006
< e_id=774> and 15 February 2007
< e_id=912>).

The one remaining congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the country – in
Chichik [Chirchiq] near Tashkent – comes under occasional attack from the
authorities. If this congregation loses its registration, all Jehovah’s
Witness activity in the entire country will automatically be banned under
Uzbek law (see F18News 8 April 2009
< e_id=1282>).

Why does Uzbekistan create problems?

A leader of a Protestant Church in Tashkent, who wished to remain unnamed
for fear of reprisals from authorities, told Forum 18 that "in 2005 our
leaders were being tried by courts for having meetings at a private home."
The Protestant complained that "we told the court that we did not have
minimum of 100 people, but we are a community and want to exercise our
faith. We were given small fines, and were forced to attend an existing
registered church." The Protestant added that the authorities are trying to
catch small religious groups and force them to dissolve. "When a community
grows," the Protestant noted, "there is a need for a new place to worship.
But if the number of believers is under 100 then you cannot legally meet in
a separate place for worship. This way the authorities want to stop
communities from growing."

Forum 18 has asked officials why Uzbekistan creates registration
difficulties or totally denies this possibility, and why unregistered
religious activity results in fines or even imprisonment.

The state Religious Affairs Committee refused to discuss these questions
with Forum 18.

"I don’t know," was the answer of Judge Rajabov, who presided at the most
recent known trial for unregisteed religious activity (see F18News 31 July
2009 < 1333>). "Those
communities which are denied registration may complain against the Justice
Departments," he added.

Asked the same questions, Zukhra Muzaffarova, Deputy Head of Tashkent City
Department of the Justice Ministry, told Forum 18 on 29 July that "you
should not draw a parallel between our work and the courts." She warned
Forum 18 to "stay away" from Uzbekistan’s internal affairs. "These are our
internal issues, and you have no competence to interfere" she said brushing
off Forum 18’s question why her Department refused to register Sergeli
District’s Jehovah’s Witnesses Community. "Religious communities should
talk to us not to you about their registration issues," she stated. "Let
them apply, and we will register them in accordance with the law." She
declined to further discuss the issue with Forum 18. (END)

For a personal commentary by a Muslim scholar, advocating religious
freedom for all faiths as the best antidote to Islamic religious extremism
in Uzbekistan, see < 338>.

For more background, see Forum 18’s Uzbekistan religious freedom survey at
< id=1170>.

Full reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Uzbekistan
can be found at
< mp;religion=all&country=33>.

A survey of the religious freedom decline in the eastern part of the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) area is at
< id=806>, and of religious
intolerance in Central Asia is at
< id=815>.

A printer-friendly map of Uzbekistan is available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=uzbeki& gt;.
(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

ARMENIAN WRITER ARMEN MARTIROSYAN DIES AT 66

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.07.2009 17:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One of the most prominent representatives of 1970s’
literature world, author of 10 books of prose and poetry, Armenian
writer Armen Martirosyan died at 66.

Farewell ceremony will take place on July 31 at Komitas Chamber
Music House.

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ENTERS AGREEMENT PHASE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.07.2009 16:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The agreement will be signed with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) over loan funds for the feasibility study (FS)
of the Iran-Armenia railroad construction project, Gurgen Sargsyan,
Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia said today.

According to Gurgen Sargsyan, within a year, an agreement will be
signed with ADB under which Armenia will receive funding to implement
the feasibility study.

CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURAL ISSUES

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
July 27, 2009

Today, a conference with heads of village communities and
agriculturists participated by NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan,
Minister of Agriculture Armo Tsatryan, Deputy Minister Vladimir
Chakiyan, head of Martakert regional administration Sergey Ohanyan,
was conducted in Martakert. Issues on state of agriculture, raising
the land cultivation level and those connected with the harvest of
cereals in Martakert region were discussed.

Artyusha Ghoukasyan, head of the Department of Agriculture, Land
Surveying and Land Use of the regional administration, presented brief
information on the harvesting process and tillage. The NKR Minister of
Agriculture Armo Tsatryan spoke on the requirements, the fulfillment
of which will contribute to the development of agriculture.

The NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan delivered a comprehensive
speech round the problems originated in the sphere of agriculture. He,
particularly, noted that the results recorded in this sphere, which
are, first of all, a consequence of land cultivation low standards are
not satisfying ones. The Prime Minister stated that only the farmers
implementing correct and efficient cultivation of arable lands will
be provided government assistance.

S. SARGSYAN, "I WILL VISIT TURKEY ONLY IN CASE OF HAVING AN OPEN BORDER OR BEING IN THE THRESHOLD OF LIFTING BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA"

ARMENPRESS
July 28, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will
accept the Turkish President’s invitation on watching the response
game of Armenian and Turkish national football teams only in case
of the implementation of the reached agreements and the visibility
of real steps. "I will leave for Turkey in case of having an open
border or being in the threshold of lifting blockade of Armenia",
– Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan noted at the meeting with the
President of Serbian Republic Boris Tadic who has paid a 2-day working
visit to Armenia.

At their face-to face talk he presented the developments followed
the undertakings directed towards the regulation of the relations.

"A little time has remained for the response game of Armenian and
Turkish national football teams. In the conditions of the present
realities we expect to witness constructive steps in near future,
by which our partners will try to provide corresponding environment
for the response visit of the Armenian President", – the Armenian
President underscored.