Category: News

Armenian minister vows to secure independence of legal system
Arminfo
23 Feb 05
YEREVAN
We have the political will to create the necessary conditions for
securing the independence of the Armenian legal system, Justice
Minister David Arutyunyan told today’s ceremony to open a complex of
new offices for the Court of Appeal for criminal and military cases,
the Court of Appeal for civil cases and the Economic Court.
However, the independence of courts should not be turned into
irresponsibility, he said. Armenian judges should work hard enough on
this issue. In the past, Armenia did not manage to maintain the
genuine independence of the legal system, which could inspire
confidence in society. “This is temporary,” the minister said. At the
same time, he said that public opinion polls and the statistical data
of the country showed that progress was being made in the legal
system. The same progress has also been mentioned by international
structures.
Such an opinion was expressed by the consulting service for foreign
investment in 2004. Arutyunyan said that serious threats endanger the
system at this stage. This is proved by the experience of eastern
European and the CIS countries.
[Passage omitted: Arutyunyan cites Russia’s example]

Armenia offers “preferential” railway tariffs to Azerbaijan, Turkey
Regnum, Moscow
22 Feb 05

Armenian Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan has
said that Armenia is ready to introduce preferential railway transit
tariffs to Azerbaijan and Turkey should the railway blockade of
Armenia from Georgia and Turkey be lifted. In an interview with the
Russian news agency Regnum, he said that there is no need to build an
expensive stretch of railway connecting Georgia and Turkey when there
is a fully operational link via Armenia. Although the launch of the
train ferry service between the port of Kavkaz in Russia and the
Georgian port of Poti will allow Armenia avoid expensive detour via
the Ukrainian port of Ilichevsk, Armenia will not be able to meet its
needs for cargo turnover with Russia until the Abkhaz section of the
Transcaucasus railway is restored, he added. Manukyan also said that
knowing that political factors change quickly, Armenia is building a
new highway connecting it with Iran and repaired the critical parts of
its railway. The following is excerpt from unattributed interview with
Armenian Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan as
carried by Regnum news agency web site on 22 February headlined
“Armenia is ready to introduce preferential transit tariffs for
Azerbaijan and Turkey: interview of Armenian Transport and
Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan with the Regnum news
agency”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Strategic location
[Journalist] Minister, as is known, Armenia has officially joined the
North-South international transport corridor (ITC). What prospects
does the participation in the ITC open for the republic?
[Manukyan] I will only add that Armenia is also a member country of
TRACECA [Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia], the West-East
communication project.
Armenia’s desire to join the North-South ITC was voiced by me in St
Petersburg in 2002, at the meeting of the transport ministers of
Armenia, India, Iran and Russia. Our application was accepted, and in
October 2004, my Russian colleague Igor Levitin congratulated us on
our official accession to the ITC. The main goal of the project is
transportation of cargo from the Baltic states across Russia and the
Caspian Sea towards Iran, and thence via Afghanistan to India. To
service this route, the Transcaucasus railway can be used if the
Abkhaz section [in Georgia] is unblocked.
Upgrades to transport infrastructure
Naturally, we should prepare for this in advance: Armenia has invested
huge sums in bringing the routes of international importance back into
order. It is now possible to say with certainty that the main roads in
Armenia meet the international standards. The most dangerous sections
of the railway, with total length of 70 km, have been repaired with
assistance from the World Bank. If in the past average speed of a
train on the Gyumri-Ayrum section was 25 km per hour, now the
technical condition of the railway allows the trains to travel at
55-60 km per hour.
On the other hand, it is known that speed is the most important factor
of profitability. The same World Bank has elaborated the programme for
the development of the transport system of our country, which will
cost 40m dollars, of which 16m dollars will be spent on development of
the railway system. An independent audit company has already drawn up
a business plan for the development of the system and renewal of the
entire carriage park. I want to note that the state will fund the
programme as well.
Of course, Armenia’s involvement in the North-South ITC is crucially
important to our country, so we eagerly take part in all measures that
are organized within the framework of the project. I am absolutely
certain that time will come when political problems will be resolved
and this corridor will be operated at its full capacity. The same can
be said about the TRACECA programme. In any case, Armenia occupies an
advantageous position as it is located at the crossing of these roads
– both from north to south and from west to east. My goal as the
transport minister is to keep our main roads ready, so that when
issues of political nature are resolved, we do not have to do all this
in an emergency mode.
The second main highway Megri (on the border of Armenia with
Iran)-Kapan, which we plan to build, is also directly related with the
North-South ITC. This project is of immense strategic importance to
Armenia. At present, these two towns are connected with just one road
which traverses the Kadzharan mountain pass. In Soviet times it was of
local importance, that is to say, it could not be used by heavy hauler
lorries with more than 30-tonne capacity. After the aggravation of the
political situation in the region, the road via Naxcivan [Azerbaijani
exclave] was closed and Armenia was forced to invest huge sums in the
Megri-Kapan highway, which in some areas goes up to the heights of
over 2,400 m (above the sea level). Nonetheless, the road remains
hardly passable in the winter. With the length of 74 km and average
acclivity of 12-14 degrees, average speed of travel for heavy haulers
does not exceed 30-35 km per hour.
Perhaps you know the story of the project for building the Kadzharan
tunnel. Why we decided not to proceed with this undertaking and
instead to opt for building the new road Megri-Kapan…[ellipsis as
published]. I want to note that the alternative to the tunnel was
studied and elaborated on instructions by the country’s
president. When we build the second road, we will effectively ensure
the second access point to Iran, hence the strategic importance of
this project. According to preliminary estimates, building the tunnel
on the old road would cost about 45m dollars, although I think that
expenses would reach at least 60m dollars.
[Passage omitted on technical details]
I have already noted that the new highway will fit very well into the
North-South ITC, but we will build it with money from the Armenian
budget. In other words, we are making preparations. What remains to be
done is that international structures that are interested in full
utilization of communications assist in the integration of our main
roads into transit routes.
[Journalist] Is the deadline set for the beginning of the
implementation of this project?
[Manukyan] The tender has already been announced and is under way. The
construction will start on 1 April, and it is expected to be put into
operation in 2006.
Need to resume railway service to Turkey
[Journalist] What is the state of the Armenian railway at present?
[Manukyan] In 2004, we transported 2.7m tonnes of cargo using the
Armenian railways, employing 20-30 per cent of the carriage park. If
the Kars-Gyumri section and the Abkhaz section of the Transcaucasus
railway are reopened and Armenia, using its transit potential, ensures
delivery of cargo to Turkey and Russia, the total cargo turnover will
reach 10-20m tonnes. Even in this case, after the modernization under
the World Bank programme, our carriage park will be able to handle the
task.
I would like to underscore once again that at present our railway,
from the border with Georgia in the north and to the border with
Naxcivan in the south, is in good repair. If, as the European
Commission wants, Azerbaijan agrees to use these trunk railways, they
can be used both as part of TRACECA and as a component of the
North-South ITC. This will noticeably cut expenses on transportation
of the cargo.
[Journalist] A few days ago, the co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council, Kaan Soyak, said in Yerevan that if the
settlement of political problems between Turkey and Armenia is dragged
out, the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway might become the reality. In
the conditions of the continuing blockade of Armenia by Turkey, to
what extent does the Armenian side calculate the possibility of
ensuring an alternative railway service to Iran?
[Manukyan] We have never been, and never will be, sitting on our
hands, allowing Armenia to be outstripped. To date, we have submitted
two programmes to international organizations. These are Vardenis
(Armenia) – Jolfa (Iran) and Yeraskh (Armenia) – Jolfa sections. Of
course, these are very expensive, but potentially undoubtedly
profitable programmes. I think that solutions shall be found. By
connecting our railway system with the Iranian one, we will gain
access to the markets of the Middle East and Asia. The Iranian side is
ready for this too.
As for the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway…[ellipsis as
published]. Currently it is talked about both in Turkey and in
Georgia. But when the Kars-Gyumri (Armenia) -Tbilisi railway already
exists, when there is the terminal on the Armenian-Turkish border for
preparing the train for switching to a different width of the railway
track, building a new 150-kilometre section is absolutely
unreasonable, first and foremost, from the economic point of view. The
initiators of this talk say that building the 150-kilometre section
will require 250-300m dollars, but the terrain in that area is such
that this sum will not be enough to build 150 km of the railway.
In addition, why should so much money be invested, for what purpose?
Here we are dealing with an attempt to put political pressure on
Armenia, to isolate it from access to transport hubs. A sensible
person should realize that it does not make sense to look for an
alternative to the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi trunk railway, which is ready
for operation. Besides, Armenia does not stipulate any preconditions,
we also say that we will provide preferential transit tariffs should
this service be put into operation. Factors of a purely political
nature hinder the adoption of an economically sound plan, but politics
is liable to changes. We will see…[ellipsis as published]. But I
repeat, we do not sit on our hands and have no intention to.
Mutual benefits of lifting the blockade
[Journalist] But is the Armenian economy ready for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border?
[Manukyan] Of course, our economy is ready. Many people say that we
will be subjected to economic expansion by Turkey. But economic
expansion is out of the question. These sorts of statements are made
by people who have no idea about the economy and business, and they
are profoundly wrong. Moreover, their statements are damaging to our
economy. If the borders are opened, trade relations with Turkey will
be normalized: Armenia has an appropriate legal framework for
this. Trade will be conducive to the development of both countries.
Recently even a Turkish businessman said in Yerevan that turnover
between Armenia and Turkey in the conditions of closed borders amounts
to 120m dollars annually, but I am certain that this sum is much
larger. In most cases, goods from Turkey arrive in Georgia and are
then sent to Armenia as Georgian goods. So, there is legal and
illegal turnover of goods between Armenia and Turkey, and according to
my assessment, turnover between Armenia and Turkey is greater than
that between Armenia and other countries.
I have already said that if the border is opened, we will be ready to
provide preferential tariffs for our transport infrastructure to
Azerbaijan and Turkey, and this is a transit route for them. The issue
of regional transport communications should finally be
resolved. Transport is the foundation of a country’s development, it
is a business which should be viewed in isolation from
politics. However, some countries unfortunately use it for political
purposes.
Georgia-Russia train ferry
[Journalist] Thanks to your efforts, as well as effort of your
colleagues in Georgia and Russia, the idea of launching the seaport of
Kavkaz is drawing to near to the logical conclusion. At which stage is
the project today? And when will the ferry start to operate at full
capacity between the seaport of Kavkaz and Poti (Georgia)?
[Manukyan] The agreement on launching the train ferry service between
the seaport of Kavkaz and Poti has been reached by the presidents of
Georgia, Russia and Armenia. [Passage omitted: details of talks]
It is noted in the agreement that the ferry should operate for two
months from the moment of signing the agreement, in other words, we
have time till 10 March. According to the preliminary agreement, the
first ferry was to leave on 10 February, but later we had to review
this deadline and to extend it to 28 February. The first ferry will
carry 24 carriages, and the cargo for it has already been prepared.
As for the importance of the ferry, it is hard to overestimate
it…[ellipsis as published]. This is a direct railway link with
Russia. In the past, we used to travel to Poti, then bore huge
expenses on taking the cargo to the Ukrainian port of Ilichevsk, and
only from there we would proceed to Russia. If in 2001, expenses for
taking one carriage to Ilichevsk amounted to 900 dollars, now they
have reached 2,100 dollars. This is connected with the fact that the
Ukrainian company Ukrferry is a monopolist and is reviewing its
tariffs almost on a daily basis.
With the launch of the ferry service between the port of Kavkaz and
Poti, there will be competition, and we will be sending the cargo that
are bound for Russia to the port of Kavkaz, we will also be able to
ship to Europe via the same route – it is cheaper. As for Ilichevsk,
the cargo bound for Ukraine will go there. Given the fact that Georgia
also does not have a railway link with Russia in the conditions of
disuse of the Abkhaz railway and sends its cargo via Azerbaijan,
covering some 720 km of extra distance and paying for transit, the
port of Kavkaz is an economically profitable project both for Armenia
and Georgia.
Reopening of Abkhaz railway would benefit all
[Journalist] Can one say that with the launch of the port of Kavkaz,
the need for railway service between Armenia and Russia will be fully
satisfied, or the restoration of service via Abkhazia remains a
priority?
[Manukyan] It is possible to say that the link between Armenia and
Russia has to some extent been ensured. Of course, it will only be
possible to talk about full-fledged link after the Abkhaz section of
the Transcaucasus railway is put into operation. With participation of
the heads of railway departments of the three countries, appropriate
working groups have been created, which we intend to join into a
single commercial body.
Incidentally, you must probably know that at present this railway is
used from Moscow to Sukhumi. There is a problem: the bridge over the
River Enguri is dilapidated, and now the assessment of the cost of
repairing it is under way. On the Georgian side the railway is also
in normal condition. Of course, there is also a political aspect of
the issue – the Georgian side talks about the need for return of the
refugees to Gali [District]. Let us see how the events will unfold
after the [last presidential] election in Abkhazia. Perhaps the sides
will reach certain agreements on this issue. This will be beneficial
for all the countries of the region, including Georgia, which
currently has to resort to transit via Azerbaijan.
[Passage omitted: about mobile communications]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD BANK EXPERTS CONSIDER POSSIBILITY TO FINANCE PROJECT ON
DISCOVERY OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. Armenian Government appealed to the
World Bank for financing the works on exposure of geothermal energy in
the Syunik region, chief of the fuel-energy resources department of
Armenia’s Energy Ministry, candidate of technical sciences Andranik
Aghabalyan told ARMINFO.
He said that the WB experts will prepare a project report this spring
and evaluate the works expediency. In case of positive conclusion a
borehole will be drilled in the Syunik region. It is planned to
discover a conditioned steam for production of energy and then to
construct the first geothermal electric power-station in Armenia.
Aghabalyan noted that “Armenergo” CJSC ordered to conduct nearly
$50.000 geophysical and geochemical researches last year the Gyumri
Scientific Research Institute of geophysical and engineering
seismology. The most perspective plot and the spot for drilling of the
first borehole were fixed as a result.
Armenia’s Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan informed journalists earlier
that the program on using of geothermal energy for power purposes
should be elaborated and confirmed by the end of 2005. -r-

World’s First Anti-Smoking Treaty Becomes Law
MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — The world’s first
tobacco control treaty, the World Health Organization Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), becomes binding
international law on Sunday, 27 February 2005. One of the most
rapidly embraced UN treaties of all time, the WHO FCTC is aimed at
improving global health by reducing tobacco consumption, currently the
cause of premature death for nearly 5 million people every year.
”The devastation caused by the tobacco pandemic dwarfs SARS and the
recent tsunami. Every year, five million people die from
tobacco-related diseases. In the Western Pacific Region alone, 3000
people die each day from tobacco use,” stated Dr Shigeru Omi, Director
of WHO’s Western Pacific Region. “Now we have the global tools to
fight a global problem. It’s time for all countries to join the
battle.”
The WHO FCTC is intended to control what has become the second biggest
killer of our time. Tobacco consumption is the single leading
preventable cause of death. It will prematurely end the lives of 10
million people a year by 2020 if current trends are not reversed.
Tobacco is the only legal product that causes the death of one half of
its regular users. This means that of the current 1.3 billion smokers
worldwide, 650 million people will die prematurely due to tobacco.
Convention provisions set international standards on tobacco price and
tax increases, tobacco advertising and sponsorship, labelling, illicit
trade and second-hand smoke.
The WHO FCTC was unanimously adopted by the Fifty-sixth World Health
Assembly in May 2003, following almost three years of negotiations.
During the year that followed, while it was open for signature, 167
countries and the European Community signed, and 23 countries became
contracting parties.
On 30 November 2004, the 40th country ratified the convention,
triggering a 90-day countdown for its entry into force. As of 23
February 2005, a total of 57 countries had ratified the convention.
In the Western Pacific Region, 13 countries have ratified the
convention. They are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands,
Fiji, Japan, the Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand,
Palau, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Viet Nam. Fiji was the first
Western Pacific country to ratify, on 3 October 2003.
Notes to editors:
The 40 contracting parties to the WHO FCTC as of 30 November 2004 were
Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada,
Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan,
Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico,
Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau,
Panama, Peru, Qatar, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.
The treaty continues from now on to be open for ratification,
acceptance or approval for those countries that have signed, and is
open for accession for those that have not. There is no deadline for
countries to become contracting parties. Any state that becomes a
contracting party will be bound by the treaty 90 days following the
deposit of its instrument of ratification (or equivalent) in the
United Nations headquarters in New York.
The body that will govern the WHO FCTC is the Conference of the
Parties (COP). The first session of the COP will take place within a
year from the date of entry into force, as specified in the
convention. The first session has tentatively been scheduled for
February 2006. The COP is expected to determine further procedural and
technical issues relating to its future development.
For current status and full text of the WHO FCTC, please visit:
_
()
. For further information, please contact: Burke Fishburn, Tobacco
Free Initiative, WHO WPRO Tel: +63-2-528-9894 Email:
[email protected] All WHO press releases, fact sheets and
features, as well as other information can be obtained at
_
() .
SOURCE World Health Organization
02/24/2005 02:27 ET

AZERBAIJANI ORGANIZATION FOR LIBERATION OF KARABAKH (OLK) WILL START
MASS ACTIONS OF PROTEST AGAINST ARRIVAL OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION IN BAKU
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. Azerbaijani Organization for Liberation
of Karabakh (OLK) will start mass actions of protest against arrival
of Armenian delegation in Baku, Day.az reports.
“As long as the military groupings of Armenia are in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, no arrival of Armenia state officials at
any level will be allowed. The Azerbaijani Government must not allow
participation of Armenian delegation in TRACECA annual conference.
Otherwise, OLK will use all the methods to prevent this event,” OLK
Chairman Akif Nagi says. In his words project TRACECA is not of more
importance for Azerbaijan than the cooperation with NATO. He promised
uninterrupted actions of protest in front of the building of the
Cabinet of Ministers if the Government takes no measures to prevent
the arrival of Armenians.
According to the source, the Armenian delegation headed by Minister
for Transport and Communication Andranik Manukyan is planned to
participate in the 4th conference of the Intergovernmental Permanent
Commission of TRACECA fixed for April 21-22 in Baku. Chairman of the
Natinoal Commission of Azerbaijan in the project TRACECA is Vice Prime
Minister Abid Sharifov who headed the Azerbaijani delegation at the
3rd conference in Yerevan in 2003.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GALOUST SAHAKIAN: IF GEORGIAN OR UKRAINIAN SCENARIOS OF CHANGE OF
POWER IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA, THEN WE SHALL LOSE ARMENIA
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. The statements of the opposition on the
intention to hold a revolution in Armenia this spring is simply an
absurd, Head of the faction of the Republican Party of Armenia Galoust
Sahakian told ARMINFO.
Galoust Sahakian forecasts that no revolution, change of power,
overturn will take place in the republic. He also considered
improbable the assistance of the West to one or another opposition
forces of Armenia in implementation of revolution, as it took place in
the Ukraine and in Georgia. “And, nevertheless, if such a scenario is
implemented, then we shall lose Armenia”, Galoust Sahakian
mentioned. It should be noted that recently three opposition forces –
the bloc Justice, the parties National Unity and New Times declared
about the intention to hold three revolutions in Armenia this spring.

STATE COMMISSION FOR ORGANIZING 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
HOLDS ITS REGULAR MEETING
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. The state commission for organizing the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide held its regular meeting
today.
The commissioners considered the improved version of the anniversary
program. It starts in Apr by an international conference entitled “XXI
Without Genocides.” Attending the event will be representatives of the
Armenian communities of the countries recognizing the Armenian
Genocide.
The commissioners also considered the list of books on the Armenian
Genocide to be published by the IT Foundation under the program. A
special task force has been set up to carry out information work.

ICAO REVISERS GIVE HIGH ASSESSMENT OF AVIATION SAFETY SPHERE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. The aviation safety in Armenia meets
ICAO standards, mainly. Such was the conclusion of the experts of the
Commission of the International Civil Aviation Organization and the
Conference of European Civil Aviation after inspections at relevant
structures in Armenia.
Talking to ARMINFO, Press Secretary of the Head Department of Civil
Aviation Serge Manukyan says that as a result of two-week inspections
the experts gave a high assessment of the contractual basis and the
measures taken at the airport “Zvartnots” regulating the flight safety
sphere. The experts also expressed satisfaction with the equipment of
the airport’s security services.
It should be noted that SCJSC “Armaeronavigation” works on the
up-to-date French equipment with dispatchers having rather high
qualification. “Armaeronavigation” plans service of flights at the
airport “Shirak” and “Stepanavan” to bring it to European
standards. “Armaeronavigation” serves some 20 flights daily at the
airport “Zvartnots.” Armenia has become a member of ICAO in 1992.

MAIN FACTOR HINDERING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN ARMENIA IS
IMPERFECTNESS OF LEGISLATION
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23. ARMINFO. The main factor hindering development
of tourism in Armenia is imperfectness of the legislation. Executive
Director of the Union of Tourist Operators of Armenia on Entry Tourism
Araik Vardanyan says talking to ARMINFO, Wednesday.
He says that the Union was registered in Dec 2004 and united 12
tourist firms, which has already distinguished them as serious
organizations in the native tourist market. Among them the director
mentioned “Intour,” “Armenian Tavel-M” Armen Tour Travel, “Sputnik,”
“Tatyans Travel,” “Avarayr,” “Menua Tour” Levon Travel and
others. Despite the fact that the Justice Ministry of Armenia has
registered over 4,000 firms allegedly engaged in tourism, some 50
companies are really engaged in the market, that is why the tourist
market has not been formed fully in the country, Vardanyan says. He
says that the official statistics that 260,000 foreign tourists
visited Armenia in 2004 does not correspond to reality as even those
arriving on business tours and employees of embassies, offices of
international organizations and even long-distance drivers from Iran
are calculated. He says that the Union was created just to study the
tourist market of the country, contribute to its development, organize
seminars and conferences on tourism in Yerevan and abroad, Araik
Vardanyan says.
As regards the imperfectness of the legislation in the sphere and in
particular of the law on tourism adopted in 2003 he states that
Armenia lacks 2-3 staff hotels, meanwhile tourists prefer just this
category of hotels. Besides, the country’s interregional roads are in
a poor state, there is lack of even toilets. Air tickets to Armenia
are too expensive, if a trip to Spain costs 600-700 EUR for average
European, a 3-4 daylong tour to Armenia makes up 1,000 EUR. State
mechanisms – taxation and customs services, local self-government
bodies, which receive direct incomes from tourism development, play an
invaluable part in solution of these problems. One should understand
a simple truth – tourist is industry that develops longing many
branches of economy. That is why these issues must be solved at the
level of the government and improvement of legislation, Vardanyan
says.

«21st CENTURY WITHOUT GENOCIDES»
A1+
23-02-2005
Today the program of the events dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide was established. A session of the National Committee
of the Events to the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took
place in the Government presided over by PM Andranik Margaryan, head of
the Committee.
The program will start in April with an international conference with
the motto `21st century without Genocides’ devoted to the Armenian
Genocide and the defense of human rights. Events are foreseen in
Artsakh, communities of the Armenian Diaspora and in several countries
officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.
The list of the books to be published in connection with the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has also been established. A
working group has been formed regulating the preaching works in order to
organize the preaching in reference to the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide,