Author: Tavakalian Edgar

Catholic World News
March 23 2005

Iraq: Easter under curfew

Baghdad, Mar. 23 (FIDES/CWNews.com) – Christians in Iraq will
celebrate Easter under a curfew, the Fides news service reports.

Chaldean, Armenian, Syrian and Latin Catholics in Baghdad will
celebrate Holy Week in a climate of apparent calm, but in a constant
state of tension and fear of violence and attacks.

A lay Catholic in Baghdad told Fides about the situation: “Services
for Holy Week and Easter will be in the mornings only because of the
curfew. This means we cannot hold the Easter Vigil Mass at night and
Easter will be very quiet. Many families are too afraid to go to
church. For us the situation is calm; there is tension among Muslim
groups but it does not affect Christians. However violence affects
everyone and is the cause of fear.”

“In northern Iraq it was a tradition for Catholics to take part in
Holy Week services at the various ancient Chaldean and Syrian
monasteries. But today most people are too afraid to go anywhere, or
let their children go to church. There will be less people at
services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. People know their lives
are in danger all the time and this is deeply worrying. Even the
bishops fear violence and many prefer to live somewhere else rather
than at the bishop’s residence or the church.

“Nevertheless our hope was strengthened at the sight of smiling
children waving palms and singing on Palm Sunday in Baghdad. We hope
they will live in democracy, serenity, social harmony, freedom of
expression and religion. This is our prayer for Easter.”

Putin to pay working visit to Armenia

Ros Business Consulting, Russia
March 22 2005

RBC, 22.03.2005, Moscow 12:10:07.President of Russia Vladimir Putin
is expected to pay a working visit to the Republic of Armenia on March
24-25, the Russian President’s press service has reported. The press
service has pointed out that Vladimir Putin proposed to take part in
the opening ceremony of the Year of the Russian Federation in Armenia.

SEYRAN OHANIAN: AZERBAIJAN CREATES TENSION ON CONTACT LINE OF NKR AND
AZERI ARMED FORCES

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Azeri party creates tension on the
contact line of Nagorno Karabakh’s and Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces.

Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanian, NKR Defence Minister, declared to
the Public Television of Armenia that the Azeri party constantly
carries on sniper firing and tries to advance its positions creating
tension. At the same time, the General emphasized that the “defence
capability of the units of NKR Defence Army is at a high level and
they are able to provide the security of the republic and people.”

Agence France Presse
March 16 2005

Alarmed over freedoms, Turkish media seek suspension of new penal
codeDocument Actions 16/03/2005

The Turkish media have launched a campaign to halt a much-hailed,
EU-backed penal code just days before it comes into effect, saying it
contains severe restrictions on freedom of the press.
The new penal code may result in “many arbitrary prosecutions… and
pack prisons with journalists,” press groups said Wednesday in a
letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The campaign to suspend and amend the law, which took the government
by surprise, came only two weeks before it comes into force on April
1 and almost half a year after it was adopted by parliament in
September amid much fanfare and praise from the European Union.
The reform was one of the most notable measures Brussels sought from
Ankara in the run-up to a landmark decision in December to give
Turkey the green light for accession talks.
“The big media groups were under the spell of the EU campaign. They
either failed to see or did not want to see the dangers of the law,”
said Oral Calislar, a member of the Turkish Journalists’ Association
executive board.
Journalists also say recent attacks on the media by Erdogan raised
doubts over the government’s democratic credentials and forced them
to take a closer look at the penal code.
“The Musa Kart incident sparked it off and fuelled suspicions,”
Calislar said, referring to a cartoonist who was sued by Erdogan and
then fined for depicting the premier as a cat entangled in a ball of
wool.
Experts say penal code provisions concerning the media contain terms
vague enough to leave prosecutors and judges with room for arbitrary
decisions and re-introduce jail terms for journalists, although such
penalties were purged from the press law in another reform last year.

Provisions on slander and the protection of privacy, they maintain,
are too restrictive and may deal a heavy blow to investigative
journalism.
One article of particular concern foresees up to 15 years in jail for
those who disseminate propaganda via the media against “basic
national interests” in return for material benefits from foreigners.
The article raised alarm when it emerged that explanatory notes in
the draft said it targets those who may, for instance, advocate the
withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus and support claims that the
massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire was genocide.
“What will happen, for example, to an institution that receives funds
from the EU and criticizes Turkey’s Cyprus policy?” Calislar asked.
“Who can guarantee that any move to prosecute it will fail?”
Dozens of dissident journalists, writers and intellectuals have been
imprisoned in Turkey in the past for voicing their opinions.
Adem Sozuer, a jurist who took part in drafting the penal code,
acknowledged that some provisions in the law should be amended, but
maintained that it guarantees freedom of the press and of opinion.
“With this law, Turkey has undoubtedly taken a step forward,” he
said.
The reform, which overhauled Turkey’s 78-year-old penal code borrowed
from fascist Italy, won praise in particular for increasing penalties
against human rights abusers and torturers and improving women’s
rights.
The government ruled out suspending the code, saying amendments could
be made later if the law creates serious problems in practice.
“I do not believe that the journalists’ suspicions will be justified
after the law takes effect,” said Koksal Toptan, the head of the
parliament’s justice commission.
“We have to see the law’s implementation. If deficiencies emerge,
they will be addressed,” he said.

LANGUAGE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR OF STATEHOOD

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
15 March 05

Since January 1, 2005 the department for language has been operating
under the NKR Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. We had a talk
with the head of the department Lernik Hakobian about the functions,
problems and prospects of the department. `Mr. Hakobian, it is certain
that the use of language as a public phenomenon must be controlled. We
would not like to dwell on the problems connected with language
frequently covered in press. First we would like to find out the main
functions and responsibilities of the department.’ L.H.: ` The main
function of the department is implementation of a common policy on
language, administration of the NKR law on language and state language
policy, standardization of the literary Armenian language and its use
in all the spheres of life, organization of scientific conferences,
consultation, etc. devotedto the language policy. The department will
inspect the implementation of the state language policy by the state
governmental and local governmental bodies, meeting the demand for
Armenian language competence of state officials and people involved in
the sphere of service, use of the Armenian language in education,
admittance exams and teaching, paperwork, signs, postal stamps and
envelopes, street advertisement, seals, and if necessary, use of other
languages along with the Armenian. The department will control the use
of Armenian in documents of foreign governmental bodies and companies
liable to governmental control, obligatory teaching of the Armenian
language in ethnic communities, conducting their documentation and
keeping seals in Armenian along with their own language.’ S.K.: `What
measures will you take in case of a breach of the law on language?’
L.H.: `The department has sanctions; according to the civil code,
violation of the law on language is liable to a fine. Generally, there
is punishment for violation of any law. Why should the breach of the
law on language remain unpunished? By the way, the size of the fine is
considerably large.’ S.K.: `Probably, the department will undertake
propaganda among thepopulation.’ L.H.: `Certainly. People, for
example, are not acquainted enough with the law on language, the
requirements of the state language policy. One of the most important
tasks of the department is to work with the population through the
mass media, by way of meetings, discussion of their applications and
suggestions. Thus, the citizens may consult the department for making
signslater to avoid problems. The survey we conducted in such a short
period of time showed that the relevant body allows installing
advertisement hoardings guided by the law on advertisement neglecting
the law on language. Often, the two laws are breached at the same
time. Similar mistakes happen in other spheres of life. To prevent
this kind of controversies it is necessary to cooperate with the
relevant bodies fulfilling those functions.’ S.K.: `In whatform are
you going to administer control?’ L.H.: `Control will be administered
bythe department in accordance with the relevant laws, the regulations
of the ministry and other legal acts. Time to time we shall inspect
offices to find out whether paperwork is conducted in Armenian. We
shall visit public places to find out if the signs and advertisements
correspond to the law on language. The department will check the
language of the mass media, publications, official speech, education
and culture, the system of foreign languages teaching, etc.’ S.K.:`Do
you have relationships with the similar organization in the Republic
of Armenia?’ L.H.: `So far we have had exchange of experience. The RA
State Language Department formed a consulting group aimed to work with
similar departments. Soon the group will be invited to Artsakh.’

SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN.
15-03-2005

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 15 2005

AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY: FRIENDLY AND BROTHERLY RELATIONS CONTINUE
[March 15, 2005, 12:05:02]

Foreign minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov on
March 14 has met the delegation led by the deputy foreign minister of
Turkey, ambassador Ahmad Uzumchu.

In the meeting, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov emphasized the developing
bilateral relations between two countries. He gave to the guest
detailed information on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, saying that the OSCE fact-finding mission has visited the
region to establish settlement of the Armenians in the occupied
Azerbaijan territories. As is known, the final report of the mission
will be disclosed on March 16 at the sitting of the OSCE Permanent
Secretariat.

Foreign minister of Azerbaijan stressed necessity of bringing to the
notice of world community of the policy of genocide and ethnic
cleanse of the Armenian aggressors pursued against peaceful people of
Azerbaijan during the conflict. He assessed ignorance of the true
history as distortion of reality.

Deputy foreign minister of Turkey, ambassador Ahmad Uzumchu conveyed
greetings of his country’s foreign minister Abdullah Gul to Mr.
Mammadyarov and stressed confidence for further development of the
fraternal relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. He highly
appraised the consultations in the course of his visit to Azerbaijan.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the
Turkish diplomat said Turkey would always support efforts of
Azerbaijan for peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The parties also exchanged views on a range of questions of mutual
interest.

Inner strength is a key factor

Editorial

Yerkir/arm
11 March 05

Recent talks about the functions of the Armenian studies among the
scholars and especially historians mostly are about challenging the
foreign infringements against our history and culture.

But without preserving and developing the science, education and
culture, it is hard to imagine how we can challenge the infringement
on our heritage. Moreover, it is even harder to say which of those
infringements are more dangerous: the ones made in foreign countries
or those that are aimed at setting “nests” in this country. What’s
more important for the Armenian studies, preservation of national
values or their preservation from external aggression?

Hence, the third and fourth functions of the Armenian studies —
preservation and development, and the “export” — are so interrelated
that it is crucial to defy which of those functions do not belong to
understanding our identity through developing the science, education
and culture but those that include our reaction to the policies
conducted from outside.

To balance the external front or to implement joint projects by
clarifying our task of making our national organism healthier, we
would be able to preserve the functions of the Armenian studies and
meanwhile ensure a “joint front” against the infringements of the
outside world.

Only by uniting the three functions against the fourth would make the
struggle more meaningful regardless how strong it is. So the struggle
against the outside strategies would be as efficient as the “inner
strength is.

HEADS OF FORESTRIES OF AKHALKALAKI AND ADYGEN REGIONS OF GEORGIA
ARRESTED

AKHALKALAKI, March 11 (Noyan Tapan). Gurgen (Valiko) Serobian,
the Head of the forestry of the Akhalkalaki region, was recently
arrested, he was immediately taken to the investigatory isolator of
Tbilisi. Serobian was accused of non-payment of taxes to the state
and the sale of contraband forest materials. According to the A-Info
Agency, after the arrest Serobian?s health condition worsened, and
they had to took him to the isolator?s hospital. The regional policy
of Samtsekh-Javakheti repeatedly warned that in case of the export of
contraband forest materials, they will undertake quite strict steps.
The Head of the forestry of the Adygen territory was also arrested
before Gurgen Serobian?s arrest.

RUSSIA WILL NOT ACCEPT ULTIMATUMS

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 11, 2005

MOSCOW, March 11 (RIA Novosti) – Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the
International Committee of the Federation Council (the upper house of
the Russian Parliament), regrets the decision taken by the Georgian
Parliament the day before on the withdrawal of two Russian bases from
Georgia.

“In my opinion, such flatness in relations between Moscow and Tbilisi
is unacceptable,” he told RIA Novosti on Friday.

According to the committee chairman, there are a lot of political
problems, let alone the technical difficulties of withdrawal. “One
should not forget that when one power leaves another fills its place.
Vacuum is quickly filled. I think that, taking into consideration
Russia’s services to Georgia, Moscow has the right to demand
guarantees that the withdrawal, in political sense, would not be used
as a reason to allow the deployment of troops of a third country or
to take some other extreme action,” he stressed.

According to Mr. Margelov, one should not forget about the Chechen
problem and the unclear position of Georgia over the Pankisi Gorge.

“Georgia wants Russia to withdraw troops as soon as possible, and
Moscow has no reason or desire to resist it. However, it would be
only fair to put in a claim in response, demanding guarantees that
Georgia would stop posing a terrorist threat to Russia,” Mr. Margelov
said.

The committee chairman also said that Moscow had “other methods of
pressurizing Tbilisi,” apart from military bases. “And the Georgian
attitude towards Russia is playing against both Moscow and Tbilisi,”
he noted.

There are two Russian bases in Georgia: in Batumi (Adzharia) and
Akhalkalaki (Georgian-Armenian border). The headquarters of the Group
of Russian Forces in Transcaucasia is stationed in Tbilisi. The
resolution taken the day before stipulates the deadline – May 15 –
for determining the date for the Russian troop withdrawal. Otherwise
they would be “outlawed.”

Armenian president dissatisfied with social insurance collection

Public Television of Armenia
10 Mar 05

[Presenter] The Armenian Tax Service collected 8.7bn drams [18.5m
dollars] in social payments in January and February, which is 2bn
more than last year.

President Kocharyan thinks that this is not the result that was
expected when the Tax Service was given the authority to collect
compulsory social payments.

During a working meeting today Robert Kocharyan, the prime minister,
the ministers of labour and social security, finance and economy,
the director of the State Social Insurance Fund and the head of the
State Tax Service discussed social insurance payments.

[Correspondent] During today’s working session, which discussed issues
connected with the social payments, President Kocharyan noted that,
after the function of collecting social payments was handed over to
the tax service, there needs to be a discussion on what improvements
can be seen in this process.

[Robert Kocharyan, captioned] It is obvious that there is positive
change, but this is not what we were expecting. We have reserves
and we must work more actively, taking into consideration that we
are planning to increase pensions and we must be confident that the
government is able to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities
before the pensioners.

[Correspondent] The president noted the importance of reform of the
minimum wage in increasing the collection of social payments and the
struggle against latent employment. Kocharyan also noted that it must
be explained to the public that those who receive shadow wages and do
not pay taxes today are depriving themselves of a pension in future
in accordance with payment for their work.

The president also noted that, as pensions are to be increased,
all the processes regarding this sphere should be settled to instil
confidence that the government is able to fulfil its obligations before
the pensioners. Ways to improve the system of family allowances were
considered as well.

At the end of the session President Kocharyan ordered the minister
of finance and economy to discuss issues regarding the completion of
the state budget planning process a month earlier and to view raising
the minimum salary from 2006.

The State Tax Service was instructed to examine international
experience and implement additional measures to reduce shadow
employment.

The president instructed the minister of labour and social affairs to
present efficient mechanisms for preventing delays in paying family
allowances, while the director of the State Social Insurance Fund will
have to clarify the lists of pensioners and exclude any possibility
of the illegal insertion of other names.