Category: News

Armenian migration chief notes growing number of Iraqi asylum-seekers
Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
23 Feb 05

Text of Shushan Matevosyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayots
Ashkharh on 23 February headlined “The number of Iraqi asylum-seekers
has increased and no-one has been refused”
Lately, the number of those seeking asylum in the Republic of Armenia
has sharply increased in connection with the Iraq war. What are
statistical figures of asylum-seekers? What countries are they from?
The following is an interview with the chief of the Migration and
Refugees Department, Gagik Yeganyan.
[Gagik Yeganyan] Since 2000, our department has received applications
for asylum and refugee status from citizens of different
states. Before 2003, the number of applications was not so great. We
received 15-20 applications per year mainly from Afghanistan, Iraq and
African countries like Sudan and Somalia, as well as from Iran and
even from Ukraine and China.
As a rule, a great number of them were refused, as after the
examination it became clear that their reasons for leaving the country
were not true. Most of them left their home country due to difficult
social and economic conditions or in order to avoid military
service. They applied for asylum in Armenia as a transit state as
their real purpose was to settle in the West. And in order to settle
legally in any transit country, they applied for refugee status.
Incidentally, this is common among our compatriots as well.
In 2002, we initiated the adoption of a new law regarding temporarily
protected people. This law says that Armenia is expanding the circle
of people it protects. That’s to say, it receives not only potential
refugees, but also people who are in danger of being persecuted
because of wars or armed conflicts.
[Hayots Ashkharh correspondent] In fact, the adoption of the law was
well-timed, as it was followed by an influx of Iraqis who are seeking
asylum.
[Yeganyan] In this case, people were really forced to leave their
country and seek asylum because of the war.
Since 2003, the influx of applications from Iraq has increased
sharply. That year, we had 61 applications and they were all given the
status of temporarily protected people. Last year [2004], we had 142
applications. I think the influx of applications will be permanent.
[Correspondent] What does this status give people apart from
protection, accommodation, a job and financial aid?
[Yeganyan] It gives security and a chance to avoid persecution. They
have the right of legal settlement in Armenia at least for a year, and
one year later, their applications may be considered again. If the
situation remains the same in the countries of which they are
citizens, in that case, these persons’ status may be extended for one
more year. Those who want to become permanent residents of Armenia may
get different status up to citizenship during that year.
Incidentally, those who are Armenians by nationality are granted
Armenian citizenship in a simpler way. But we cannot promise anything
to those who are trying to settle their social problems by extending
their status.
[Correspondent] What is the number of those who sought asylum this
year?
[Yeganyan] I cannot mention figures, but undoubtedly the potential has
not been exhausted. It is presumed that their numbers will grow.
[Correspondent] Mr Yeganyan, recently there was an interesting report
in the press saying that the chairman of the Civil Service Council,
Manvel Badalyan, had informed the state juridical commission of the
National Assembly that an official had been granted the status of an
Armenian refugee in order to leave the country illegally. In fact,
this concerns your department.
[Yeganyan] We also registered such a case recently, but I do not think
that this is the case that was covered by the press. One of our
department employees illegally issued a reference to a citizen and
made him a refugee. In this case, the citizen tried to use the refugee
status to avoid military service. Thanks to the measures taken by our
department, the violation of the law was prevented.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian official, NATO envoy discuss Individual Partnership Programme
Arminfo
24 Feb 05
YEREVAN
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul Markaryan and the special
representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons, discussed the prospects for the
development of relations between Armenia and NATO in Yerevan today.
Simmons is also NATO’s deputy secretary-general for security
cooperation and partnership, the public relations department of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry has told Arminfo. Simmons’s visit is mainly
factfinding, during which he intends to familiarize himself in more
detail with the current problems, to report on his activities and to
introduce NATO’s newly-appointed communications officer, Romualds
Razuks, to the Armenian leadership.
During the meeting, the Armenian deputy foreign minister and the
special representative of the NATO secretary-general discussed spheres
which are a priority for Armenia in the context of cooperation with
NATO on the Individual Partnership Programme. The sides also discussed
the work that NATO’s communications officer will carry out in Armenia
and a number of organizational issues.
The NATO delegation led by Robert Simmons will leave Armenia tonight.

Armenian defence minister, NATO envoy discuss deepening relations
Mediamax news agency
24 Feb 05
YEREVAN
The secretary of the National Security Council of the Armenian
president and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, said in Yerevan today
that “if it was not for the unsettled conflict, Armenia would have the
possibility of wider involvement in different NATO programmes”.
Sarkisyan said this at a meeting with the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
Robert Simmons, the press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry,
Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, told Mediamax news agency today.
“I want to stress that we intend to follow the path we have chosen and
will consistently deepen our relations,” Sarkisyan said.
Speaking about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Simmons pointed out
that it is an obstacle standing in the way of the development of the
region’s countries.
“I think that a mutually acceptable solution will be found. NATO is
not directly involved in the settlement process, however, it is
closely following all the developments,” the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general said.

Turkish MPs fault France for raising alleged Armenian genocide in EU talks
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
24 Feb 05
Strasbourg, 24 February: Turkish MPs reacted to French MP Jacques
Toubon who brought alleged Armenian genocide to the table and wanted
Turkey to accept Sevres Treaty. Turkey’s relations with its neighbours
were discussed in the closing session of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
Commission (JPC) meeting held in Strasbourg on Thursday [24
February]. Turkey’s relations particularly with Armenia, Greece and
Cyprus were assessed during the meeting that was closed to the
press. Speaking at the meeting, Toubon said European Parliament made a
decision about the alleged Armenian genocide and argued that Turkey
should recognize the so-called genocide before joining European union
(EU).
[Turkish opposition] Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sukru Elekdag
denied the claims of Toubon, saying they were baseless. Explaining
Turkish-Armenian relations Elekdag said Turkey supported the idea that
allegations of genocide be searched solely by historians and not by
the politicians. Elekdag suggested that a committee of experts
composed of Turkish and Armenian historians be formed under the
auspices of UNESCO to investigate the issue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

World Bank official happy with tax reforms in Armenia
Arminfo
24 Feb 05
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received the director of the
World Bank [WB] office in Yerevan, Roger Robinson.
Robinson expressed satisfaction with an increase in tax revenues in
the state budget of Armenia in 2005 caused by the reforms in the tax
legislation, the Armenian presidential press service told Arminfo news
agency.
The guest also expressed satisfaction that the Tax Service had been
given the authority to collect the compulsory social payments.
The WB representative spoke highly of the reforms in the judiciary,
particularly, the construction of new court buildings financed by the
WB.
During the meeting, the sides touched on the number of issues
concerning the WB’s other programmes in Armenia.
To recap, 36 World Bank programmes to the tune of 820m dollars have
been implemented in Armenia since 1992.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh “most likely” ignored at Bush-Putin meeting – Azeri daily
Ekho, Baku
25 Feb 05

Excerpt from report by R. Tofiqoglu in Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on
25 February headlined “Have George Bush and Vladimir Putin ignored the
Karabakh problem?” and subheaded “US and Russian leaders did not speak
about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict at the joint press conference”
Contrary to predictions, most likely the expectations of the
Azerbaijani public have not been confirmed. The Nagornyy Karabakh
problem was not discussed at the Bratislava meeting [on 24 February]
between the US and Russian presidents, George Bush and Vladimir Putin.
Nevertheless, it is not ruled out that Bush and Putin discussed the
Karabakh issue at their over two-hour tete-a-tete meeting. They did
not however mention a word at the press conference ensuing the
meeting. Of course, nobody asked questions of this kind.
[Passage omitted: other aspects of the meeting]

PROTEST ACTION AGAINST DEMOLITION OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL
MONUMENT
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. “The Civil initiative of Kond safety” public
organization organized today a protest action against the demolition of a
building in the center of Yerevan.
The building was built in 1910-1914 and involved in the State list of
historical and cultural monuments.
As far as journalists know, it was bought by our compatriot from Diaspora
Nazaret Berberyan. The action participants covered the building with posters
“My elitist Erebuni” and “It is demolished by the state” and continued the
picket in front of the Armenian government’s building. -r-

SITTING OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Azg/arm
24 Feb 05
The Central Committee of the World Council of Churches called its
sitting in Geneva on Feb. 15-22. Archbishop Aghan Paliozian and Silva
Ghazelian represented the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Aram I
Catholicos of Cilicia presided the sitting.
Bishop Ilarion Alfeyev from Austria’s Russian Orthodox Church offered
in the course of the sitting to call for all WCC member-churches to
remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide in their prayers in
April of 24 and to organize further programs on this occasion. “The
road to justice and reconciliation as a necessary precondition
demands, from Christian standpoint, acceptance of the committed crimes
in order to heal the memories and bring forgiveness”, the Committee’s
statement reads.
The opening ceremony of the sitting was accompanied by archbishop
Aghan Paliozian’s prayer.

‘NATO DOES NOT DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION’
Azg/arm
24 Feb 05
Robert Simons Highly Evaluates Armenian Peacekeepers’ Activities
inKosovo and Iraq
Robert Simons, special representative of NATO Secretary General in the
South Caucasus and Central Asia, said in the course of his visit to
Yerevan that Armenia’s participation in the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, as well as the Armenian-Russian close relations have no
negative impact on the level of the relations between NATO and
Armenia.
“We have very good relations with Russia. Besides, we have stated for
many times that NATO doesn’t build its relations with countries based
oncompetition or taking into account this or that organization or a
union,” Robert Simons said during the press conference.
The position of NATO Secretary General’s Special representative in the
South Caucasus and the Central Asia was established in the autumn of
2004. It was emphasized in a separate point of the memorandum adopted
at the NATO Summitin Istanbul that the Alliance will pay special
attention to the regions of the South Caucasus and the Central Asia.
Simons stated during the meeting with Serge Sargsian, RA defense
minister, that NATO doesn’t compete with any neighboring country. In
response, Sargsian said: “I think that it is in the interest of our
country, if the relations between Russia and the US between Russia and
NATO, as well as the relationsbetween Russia and EU are on a higher
level.”
Armenia continues to successfully deepen relations with NATO. In 2004
Armenia participated in 47 arrangements of the Alliance, as well as in
5 military exercises. In 2005 RA is going to participate in 50
arrangements and 8 military exercises of NATO.
“Armenia proves that it is possible to have close relations with
Russia and be an active partner of the Alliance, at the same time,”
NATO Secretary General said in the interview to Mediamax on the eve of
his visit to Armenia in November 2004. “Armenia indeed has good
relations with Russia, but that shouldn’t hinder its relations with
NATO,” he said.
RA Defense Ministry’s Information and PR Department informed that
Serge Sargsian said in the course of the meeting with Robert Simons
that the cooperation with NATO is of great importance and is the
integral component for Armenia’s security. “I am glad that NATO also
emphasizes the importance of the relations with Armenia. I want to
emphasize once again that we will move in the direction we took and
will constantly deepen our relations. As for Armenia’s participation
in different programs of NATO, we will participate in them asmuch as
possible. Moreover, if we didn’t have an unsettled conflict, we would
have more opportunities to participate in such programs,” Sargsian
said.
Robert Simons stated at the press conference that “NATO does not
directly participate in conflict resolution and doesn’t discuss the
issue oflocating its peacekeeping forces in the region.” “NATO is
following the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan with great
attention, but it doesn’tmean that we are directly participating in
that process,” Simons said, adding that the OSCE Minsk group will
remain the most convenient format for the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.
Simons said that NATO doesn’t discuss the issue of locating its
peacekeeping forces in the region at all. He said that first of all,
the conflict shouldbe settled. Besides, the sides should apply to the
peacekeepers with the request of location themselves.
Simons said that NKR conflict hinders the development of the
region’ countries. “I believe that mutually acceptable agreement
will be achieved. NATO isn’t directly involved in the settlement
process, but we are following all the developments with attention,” he
said.
Simons highly evaluated the participation of the Armenian peacekeepers
in the activities in Iraq and Kosovo. He said that it testifies to
Armenia’s willingness to contribute to the maintenance of the
international security.The diplomat also highly estimated Armenia’s
determination to sign a program of individual partnership with
NATO. He said that NATO will spare no efforts to support the preparing
of that document but Armenia should decide the content and the
deadlines of the document’s signing. Earlier Lieutenant General Artur
Aghabekian, RA deputy defense minister, said that the Program of
IndividualPartnership will be ready in 2005.
In response to the question about the membership of the South Caucasus
states to the NATO, Simons said that “the doors of the alliance are
before of every country,” but today, “Albania, Croatia and Macedonia
are obvious candidates for the membership to NATO.”
By Tatoul Hakobian

WORLD CENTER FOR TRANSPLANTATION OF ORGANS TO CHILDREN ORGANIZES
CHARITABLE CONCERT IN WASHINGTON TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR TREATMENT OF
ARMENIAN CHILDREN
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. World Center for Transplantation of
Organs for Children has organized a charitable concert in Washington
to collect funds for treatment of children from socially unsecured
families in Armenia.
The press service of the Armenian foreign ministry informs ARMINFO
that the event was held with support of Armenian Embassy in the USA
and the Armenian Office of the World Center. The action organizers
invited laureates of international contest – Trio of State
Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia Lilit Zakaryan (violin), Vahan
Grigoryan (violoncello) and Shushan Hakobyan (piano). Participating in
the party held at the concert hall of the Austrian Embassy in
Washington were Chairman of the World Center for Transplantation of
Organs to Children Mark Crocker, his assistant Valeriy MacCafrey and
representatives of Washington Administration, World Bank and the
Armenian Diaspora of Washington.- M-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress