Category: News

A1 Plus | 21:17:42 | 22-09-2004 | Social |
ARMENIAN TYCOONS DEVISED TRICKS SHIELDING THEIR BODYGUARDS FROM LAW
Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office has sent the case on violence committed
against Aravot newspaper correspondent Anna Israelyan and Photolur
photographer Mkhitar Khachatryan to Kotayk community’s first instance court.
It should be reminded that both Anna and Mkhitar were badly beaten by a
well-known tycoon’s bodyguards and barred from doing their work.
The case papers sent so far didn’t reach the destination. Iravunk newspaper
and Noyan Tpan news agency voiced alarm at the lost case. Liberty radio
station correspondent tried to clarify the case fate.
Nothing became clear: the case left Prosecutor’s Office but hasn’t been seen
in court.
Anna Israelyan says there is nothing surprising in what happened. “Our
justice is good at doing miracles and our tycoon’s resourcefulness is
unlimited. They devised new and new tricks shielding their bodyguards from
the law”, she said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 21:27:31 | 22-09-2004 | Official |
OSKANYAN RECEIVES DIMITROV
Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan received OSCE Special Envoy on
Karabakh issue Phillip Dimitrov on Wednesday.
Dimitrov emphasized the extraordinary importance of quick solution of
Karabakh problem.
Phillip Dimitrov met with president Kocharyan, National Assembly speaker
Baghdasaryan and defense minister Sargssyan during his two-day visit to
Armenia.

OUR SPORTSMEN IN TEHERAN
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
22 Sept 04
Our delegation also participated in the 37th all-Armenian games in
Teheran held on September 8-18. Artsakh sportsmen participated in
three events. NKR vice minister of education, culture and sport
informed that our sportsmen won medals. Marine Musaelian (trainer Arto
Arstamian) took the third place in 400m and 800m footrace and won two
gold medals. Table tennis player Arayik Firian (trainer Sergey
Avanessian) won a silver medal. And the basketball team of women
(coach Anahit Gasparian) won the bronze.
ANAHIT DANIELIAN.
22-09-2004

AZERBAIJANI YOUNG MEN SHARE OPINIONS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
22 Sept 04
During the seminar held in Tsakhkadzor recently I met with two young
representatives of Azerbaijan. They shared their opinions and
impressions from the seminar, the role of the youth in the settlement
of the conflict and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Karabakh.
Hamlet ISMAILOV, Baku, director of the center of public diplomacy and
tolerance. `To be honest, I did not expect such a warm welcome. From
the very beginning, reaching Bagratashen, I watched the frontier
guards with suspect but everything was alright and they treated usin a
friendly and attentive manner. I want to thank all those boys who
protectedus but I must mention that we did not have to protect us at
all because everybody treated us well, which is very important for
us. Of course, at the beginning during the group discussions there
were disagreements between the Armenian young people and us in
reference to the problem of Nagorni Karabakh. However, little by
little we achieved mutual understanding. To tell the truth, I had
expected that as soon as we arrived we would hear accusations
addressed to Azerbaijan. Contradicting opinions were expressed only
during the debates. As to Nagorni Karabakh, we must continue
cooperation at least through Armenia because presently there is no
communication between Baku and Stepanakert. I think through seminars
and exchange programs we will achieve certain results in the upcoming
ten years. If I came to Armenia and everything is good, then I am
willing to participate in seminars in Karabakh as well. Of course, I
am not sure how we will be received because we are living at martial
law. I hope that the organization will be on a high level. During the
seminar there were certainmoments which I did not like. For example,
certain participants said they would speak Armenian because they lived
in Armenia. Or, during the group works Armenianyoung people suggested
to keep two minutes of silence in respect for the Armenian officer
killed in Budapest by an Azerbaijani. Yes, I think it was a crime, and
I agree that that man did not do a good thing but I cannot hold two
minutesof silence in respect for him. In Azerbaijan many are willing
to solve the problems between the two countries in a peaceful way but
there are also people who have the opposite opinion. If the problem is
not solved soon, unfortunately everything will lead to a war which is
not favourable for any of the parties. I think we should better
cooperate, for example in the economic sphere than fight. And we must
be aware that we must compromise, I mean the both parties. Of course,
I am for Karabakh being a sovereign republic within Azerbaijan granted
with big authorities. We lost Karabakh about 15 years ago and we must
thinkof how to attract the people of Karabakh to Azerbaijan. In my
opinion, for Armenia also it is profitable to cooperate with
Azerbaijan. I think that president Kocharian should arrive at the
point that it is time to cooperate with Turkey and Azerbaijan. As to
the role of the youth in the settlement of the conflict, I think that
neither in Armenia and Karabakh, nor in Azerbaijan youth plays any
role. Although they say the youth is the future of a country but the
settlement of the problem is ascribed to the politicians who should,
for example, learn a lesson from this seminar during which the young
people try to come to certain agreement.’
Roman TEMNIKOV, Baku, Vice chairman to the analytic center ` Country,
Democracy and Culture’. `This is my first visit toArmenia and frankly
speaking I was deeply impressed by how we were received. Everybody
knows that our countries are not on good terms. Naturally I came here
with precaution but to our joy we were received very well. From the
very beginning I felt the kind attitude of not only the citizens but
also the officers and soldiers of the defence army of Armenia. And
those on whose part I had expected hostile attitudes surrounded me
with warm treatment. I am glad to meat here Armenian young people not
only from the towns of Armenia but also Nagorni Karabakh. Attitudes
on both parties were so warm and friendly that it seemed there had
been no conflict between us. During these days I was endlessly
surprised at the resemblance of Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of the
landscape, customs, even dishes. Actually both the nations both fought
and lived side by side. This was obviously felt during the seminar
from the relationships between the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians. The
seminar was beneficial for the youth. Although it bore the name
`Caucasus in Europe’ the important thing was development of
cooperation. All the games organized during the seminar at first sight
seemed childish and senseless. But as soon as you think on the meaning
of these games and exercises, you understand that they are directed at
development of cooperation and supporting relationships. I am happy
that within the framework of the seminar we were given a chance to see
Yerevan which is really a beautiful city. We gladly visited the
ancient fortress of Yerevan, Erebuni. Before visiting here I had met
Armenians in Georgia, then they came to Baku and we had a long time
together but I had never met people from Karabakh. During this first
meeting I became sure that it is possible to talk quietly, to get on
well with them. It should be mentioned that this time too they were
very tolerant. In brief, I am pleased with the meeting. And if there
is any opportunity to take part in any undertaking in Karabakh I will
gladly receive the invitation. I will not be the first Azerbaijani
there because a number of reporters of different Azerbaijani mass
media and representatives of public organizations have visited
Karabakh. As to the role of the youth, I think that young people have
an important role in the settlement of problems. During the seminar I
met young people who have formed as individuals already. I am sure
that in the future they will occupy certain posts in their
countries. And naturally such people may havetheir influence upon the
country’s politics, and why not also of other states. I am sure the
problem will be solved soon, and why not through today’s youth. On the
cooperation between Karabakh and Azerbaijan I will say that presently
it is impossible for the simple reason that the conflict is continuing
still. Although there has been cease-fire for 10 ten years now, the
conflict has not been settled yet. The status of Nagorni Karabakh is
not certain yet, therefore Azerbaijan cannot establish economic,
diplomatic relations with Karabakh. Naturally, after the settlement
of the conflict everything will be settled.And in joint undertakings
(I mean those made through other countries) I think the status of
Karabakh will not obstruct the participation of Karabakh
representatives. And we may cooperate peacefully. If we view the
situation realistically, we should confess that there is normal
cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia, Armenia and Georgia but
the cooperation of the three countries is hindered by the unsettled
conflict. Of course, the integration of all the countries of the South
Caucasus would be ideal. In that case we would advance quietly and
integrate in the European Council. I think this is the dream of the
three states. But before that we have to solve all our conflicts.’
ANAHIT DANIELIAN.
22-09-2004

FOOD SECURITY: POSSIBILITIES AND PROSPECTS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
22 Sept 04
Security of food resources is vitally important for any country,
especially for a country with an unsettled conflict. The Republic of
Nagorni Karabakh is able to provide its food security in reference to
such kinds of food as cereals, vegetables, meat, etc. In 2003 the
total area under agricultural produce and grain was 43972.8 hectares,
in which the share of grain was 41147.8 hectares, potato 1348.8
hectares, vegetables 1393.1 hectares, fodder crops 46.5 hectares,
industrial crops 36.7 hectares. The average yield of main agricultural
products per hectare was the following: grain 2.13 tons, potato 9.46
tons, vegetables 8.5 tons. In the recent years there has been a
constant growth in the production of main agricultural products in
NKR. In 2003 87.4 thousand tonsof grain was harvested, against the
60.9 thousand tons in 2002 and 36 thousandtons in 2001. Last year the
yield of potato was 12756 tons, in 2002 12531 and in 2001 12661
tons. If in the republic effective technologies and irrigation system
was used in farming, the average yield per hectare would be 40-50 tons
of wheat thereby the total grain yield in 2003 would be 164-200
thousand tons.The crop yield per capita would be 1 tons of grain which
is a world standard of self-sufficiency in grain. The same refers to
other types of agricultural products. Fore example, in 2003 the
average yield of potato per hectare totaled 9.46 tons. But in case of
using effective technologies this rate would grow up to 40-50 tons,
and from 1384 hectares of area under crop it would be possible to
harvest 53930 tons of potato, or 371 kg per capita, which surpasses
the standard rate of consumption of this product three times. The same
refers to other kinds of vegetables. In 2003 the total area used for
vegetable growing was 1120 hectares, 12.7 thousand tons of vegetables
was harvested, and the average yield per hectare was 8.5 tons. A
person should have 250-300 g of vegetables per day, and the yearly
amount of vegetables to be consumed by a person is 91-109 kg. In 2003
in NKR 87.5 kg of vegetables per capita was produced. Whereas, by
using modern technologies in land farming it would be possible to
increase the average crop yield per hectare to 1.6 tons thereby
producing 17.9 thousand tons of vegetables on 1120 hectares of farming
land, which would mean 123 kg production per capita. Thus, from the
strategic aspect of food security, to achieve self-sufficiency in
agricultural production (provided that the population of NKR is
planned to increase up to 200 thousand) NKR will need to have 41
thousand hectares of arable land with an average crop yield of 5 tons
per hectare or 50 thousand hectares with 4 tons per hectare, 1200
hectares of potato with an average crop yield of 2 tons per hectare,
and 1500 hectares of vegetables with an average yield of 16 tons per
hectare. Therefore, a country with 200 thousand inhabitants needs to
have 53 thousand hectares of farming land to provide food security. At
the beginning of the 1980’s the total area under crop was 72 thousand
hectares in the Autonomous Region of Nagorni Karabakh, and it means
that the necessary area for self-sufficiency will be 73 per cent of
the area under crop in the former self-governing region. The problem
of irrigation is to be viewed in the context of using effective
technologies in increasing the crop yield per hectare. One ton of
grain needs to be irrigated 2-3 times a year each time using 500 cubic
meters of water. One ton of potatoes requires 100 cubic meters of
water, one ton of tomato needs 520-719 cubic meters of water, one ton
of cucumber 120-200 cubic meters of water. In order to grow 200
thousand tons of grain, 30 thousand tons of potato, 22 thousand tons
of vegetables in NKR 320 million cubic meters of water needs to be
used, which is 41 per cent of the volume of the water reservoir of
Sarsang. However, food security is not limited to agricultural produce
only. Meat, milk and dairy products are also an important component of
food security. In this context it is essential to increase the amount
of cattle, pigs, poultry. In 2003 the average amount ofmilk produced
by each cow during the year totaled 1444 kg or 3.9 kg daily which is a
very low rate. In 1975-1987 the average rate was 1750-2500 kg annually
(4.8-6.8 kg daily), and the highest rates were in the town Martakert
(3400-3470 kg yearly or 9.3-9.5 kg daily) and the village Gishi
(3100-3120 kg annually or 8.4-8.5 kg daily). To achieve
self-sufficiency in milk and meat production new kinds of cattle need
to be bred. Suppose a cow daily produces an average of9 kg of milk in
NKR. A person needs in average 1 kg of milk and dairy products
daily. To satisfy the demand of dairy products of the present
population ofNKR (about 150 thousand) it is necessary to breed 17
thousand head of cattle. And with the present rates of average
production of milk (i.e. 4 kg daily) the amount of cattle will need to
be increased up to 38 thousand. A person needs 81 kg of meat yearly,
including beef, pork, mutton and poultry. Satisfying the demand of 150
thousand people will require 20 thousand head of cattle, 60 thousand
pigs, sheep 140 thousand, 1.5 million domestic birds. And all
thisduring a single year only. But the amount of cattle needs to be
restored. According to agricultural standards, 100 cows may produce
100 calves, 100 sheep 120 lambs, 100 pigs 2200 piglets. What is more,
in case of free copulation one bull will be needed for 40-50 cows, one
male sheep for 20-30 female, one male pig for 10 female
pigs. Therefore, for restoring the amount of cattle additional 21
thousand head of cattle will be needed (20 thousand cows, 500-1000
bulls), 180 thousand sheep (170 thousand female and 10 thousand male
sheep) and 3.5 thousand pigs (3 thousand female and 500 male
pigs). All in all, to satisfy the demand of meat and milk of 150
thousand people there will be needed 42-60 thousand head of cattle
(depending on the average production of milk), 320 thousand sheep, 65
thousand pigs, as well as 1.8 million domestic birds (1.5 millionfor
meat and 350 thousand for eggs). By the way, in the years of
confrontation with Azerbaijan before restoring land communication with
Armenia the amount of cattle practically coincided with these days due
to which the population in blockade had a supply of agricultural
production. In 1988 there was 100 thousand head of cattle, 300
thousand sheep and 95 thousand pigs. According to agricultural
estimates, a head of cattle needs 100 liters of water daily, asheep
needs 10, a pig 25 and a domestic bird 1-1.2 liters of water. All in
all 4 million cubic meters of water will be needed yearly (1.5 million
for cows, 1.17 million for sheep, 0.6 million for pigs, and 0.79
million for poultry) which is only 0.6 per cent of the total volume of
the reservoir of Sarsang. To provide the supply of the main
agricultural products for the population 325 million cubic meters of
water or 54.6 per cent of the reservoir of Sarsang will be needed. Of
what was said above can be concluded that the Republic of Nagorni
Karabakh may fully provide the food security of its population in
reference to the main agricultural products. Moreover, our country may
have a significant contribution to the food security of Armenia. In
this context special importance is attributed to water security,
particularly the problem of protection of therivers Tartar, Khachen,
Aghavno, etc. And this aspect is one of the main components of the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Therefore, all possible efforts
should be made for the settlement of the conflict which actually means
the secure existence of the Armenian people on their land.
DAVIT BABAYAN.
22-09-2004

Azerbaijan not ready for concessions in Karabakh settlement – Armenian
minister
Mediamax news agency
22 Sep 04

Yerevan, 22 September: After the decision of the Azerbaijani
authorities to bar Armenian officers from coming to Baku to attend
NATO exercises, the Armenian side has serious reasons to doubt the
ability of the Azerbaijani authorities to make compromises in the
Karabakh settlement, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today.
Oskanyan added that by not allowing Armenian officers to come to Baku,
the Azerbaijani authorities actually gave in to the demands of “small
organizations” and such behaviour cannot but worry Yerevan in the
context of the negotiated settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

Armenian minister upbeat about improving ties with Turkey
Mediamax news agency
22 Sep 04

YEREVAN
“We never lose hope for a normalization of relations with Turkey,”
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today.
Vardan Oskanyan said he would meet his Turkish counterpart Abdullah
Gul during the UN General Assembly session in New York.
“The expectations from the meeting are as usual – to achieve positive
changes in relations with Turkey,” Oskanyan said. He acknowledged that
Yerevan is far less optimistic as to the prospects for
Armenian-Turkish relations than it was at the start of his meetings
with Abdullah Gul.
“Nonetheless, we are not losing hope,” Vardan Oskanyan said.

Azeri court sets free jailed anti-Armenian protesters
MPA news agency
22 Sep 04
BAKU
Judge Sahin Yusifov today presided over the trial of members of the
Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] in the Court of Appeal of the
Republic of Azerbaijan. They were given long prison sentences by the
Nasimi district court for taking part in the 22 June protest against
the participation of Armenian officers in NATO exercises in Baku.
Judge Yusifov commuted the verdict of the Nasimi district court to
suspended sentences and released the KLO members right in the
courtroom. The five-year imprisonment of Akif Nagi, chairman of the
KLO, was commuted to two years[‘ suspended sentence], the three-year
imprisonment of his first deputy Firudin Mammadov was commuted to one
year[‘s suspended sentence], and four members of the KLO were given
one and a half years’ suspended sentences instead of the previous
four-year imprisonment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia
International Religious Freedom Report 2004
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the law
specifies some restrictions on the religious freedom of adherents of
minority faiths, and there were some restrictions in practice. The
Armenian Apostolic Church, which has formal legal status as the
national church, enjoys some privileges not available to adherents of
other faiths.
There was no overall change in the status of respect for religious
freedom during the period covered by this report. According to
legislation passed in November 2003, the Law on Alternative Military
Service took effect on June 1, but had not been implemented by the end
of the period covered by this report. The law provides “conscientious
objectors” (after receiving the formal approval of a government panel)
the opportunity to serve in either noncombat military or civil service
duties instead of as conscripted military personnel. In June, the
Government again denied the Jehovah’s Witnesses application for formal
registration as a religious organization. The registrar’s office cited
technical problems with the application. Other denominations
occasionally report acts of discrimination, usually by mid-level or
lower level government officials.
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society
contributed to religious freedom; however, societal attitudes toward
some minority religions are ambivalent.
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country has a total area of 11,496 square miles, and its
population is approximately 3 million.
The country is ethnically homogeneous, with approximately 98percent of
the population classified as ethnic Armenian. Approximately 90 percent
of citizens nominally belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, an
Eastern Christian denomination whose spiritual center is located at
the cathedral and monastery of Etchmiadzin. Religious observance was
discouraged strongly in the Soviet era, leading to a sharp decline in
the number of active churches and priests, the closure of virtually
all monasteries, and the nearly complete absence of religious
education. As a result, the number of active religious practitioners
is relatively low, although many former atheists now identify
themselves with the national church.
For many citizens, Christian identity is an ethnic trait, with only a
loose connection to religious belief. Many Azeris left Armenia during
the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988-94, increasing Armenia’s
religious and ethnic homogeneity. The head of the Church, Catholicos
Garegin II (alternate spelling Karekin), was elected in 1999 at
Etchmiadzin with the participation of Armenian delegates from around
the world.
There are comparatively small, but in many cases growing, communities
of other faiths. The Government does not provide figures for religious
adherents, but the congregants themselves offered the following
estimates: Yezidi (a Kurdish religious/ethnic group which includes
elements derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism, with
approximately 30,000 to 40,000 nominal adherents); Catholic, both
Roman and Mekhitarist (Armenian Uniate) (approximately 180,000);
Pentecostal (approximately 25,000); Greek Orthodox (approximately
1,176); Jehovah’s Witnesses (approximately 7,500); Armenian
Evangelical Church (approximately 5,000); Baptist (approximately
2,000); unspecified “charismatic” Christian (approximately 3,000);
Seventh-day Adventist (800 to 900); the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (Mormons)(1,500 to 2,000); Jewish (500 to 1,000),
and Baha’i (over 200). In addition, small Muslim, Hare Krishna, and
pagan communities exist in the country. Yezidis are concentrated
primarily in agricultural areas around Mount Aragats, northwest of
Yerevan. Armenian Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christians are
concentrated in the northern region, while most Jews, Mormons, and
Baha’i are located in Yerevan. In Yerevan, there are approximately
1,000 Muslims, including Kurds, Iranians, and temporary residents from
the Middle East.
Members of Jehovah’s Witnesses continue their missionary work and
reported gains in membership during the period covered by this
report. Evangelical Christians and Mormons also sponsor missionary
programs in the country.
Section II. Status of Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the law
specifies some restrictions on the religious freedom of adherents of
faiths other than the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Constitution also
provides for freedom of conscience, including the right either to
believe or to adhere to atheism. The 1991 Law on Freedom of
Conscience, amended in 1997, establishes the separation of church and
state, but grants the Armenian Apostolic Church official status as the
national church.
As a result of extended negotiations between the Government and the
Armenian Apostolic Church, a memorandum was signed in 2000 that
provided for the two sides to negotiate a concordat. This was
scheduled to occur in time for the 1,700th anniversary celebrations in
2001 of the country’s conversion to Christianity; however,
disagreements in some areas precluded this and negotiations were in
progress at the end of the period covered by this report. The document
is expected to regulate relations between the two bodies, settle
disputes over ecclesiastical properties and real estate confiscated
during the Soviet period, and define the role of the Armenian
Apostolic Church in such fields as education, morality, and the media.
The law requires all religious denominations and organizations other
than the Armenian Apostolic Church to register in order to operate
without restrictions. A March 2002 cabinet decision abolished the
Council on Religious Affairs (CRA), and created a new office under the
Prime Minister to oversee religious affairs. A high-ranking official
from the former CRA was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Advisor on
Religious Affairs. In addition, the cabinet established the National
Minorities and Religious Affairs Department, which reports to the
Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff. The function of registering religious
groups in Armenia was transferred to the Office of the State
Registrar, with the Advisor on Religious Affairs and the head of the
National Minorities and Religious Affairs Department holding
consultative roles in the registration process. After establishing the
new agency, the Government required all groups wishing registration to
reapply. To qualify for registration, petitioning organizations must
“be free from materialism and of a purely spiritual nature,” and must
subscribe to a doctrine based on “historically recognized holy
scriptures.” A religious organization must have at least 200 adult
members. Unregistered religious organizations may not publish
newspapers or magazines, rent meeting places, broadcast programs on
television or radio, or officially sponsor the visas of visitors. By
the end of the period covered by this report, the Government had
registered 55 religious organizations, some of which are individual
congregations from within the same denomination.
There is no formally operating mosque; however, Yerevan’s one
surviving 18th century mosque, which was restored with Iranian
funding, is open for regular Friday prayers. While its legal basis is
tenuous since it is not registered as a religious facility, the
Government does not create any obstacles for Muslims who wish to pray
there.
The law permits religious education in state schools. Government
personnel train selected teachers from each school to teach the
religious education curriculum. The beliefs of the Armenian Apostolic
Church form the basis of this curriculum. If requested by the school
principal, the Armenian Apostolic Church sends priests to teach
classes in religion and religious history in those schools. Students
may choose not to attend religious education classes. Many schools
teach the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church as part of
coursework on religion, covering global religions in elementary school
and the Armenian Apostolic Church in middle school. Other religious
groups are not allowed to provide religious instruction in schools,
although registered groups may do so in private homes to children of
their members.
The Government’s new Human Rights Ombudsman, together with the head of
the Department on National Minorities and Religious Affairs, met with
many religious minority organizations during the period covered by
this report.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
During the period covered by this report, most registered religious
groups reported no serious legal impediments to their
activities. However, members of faiths other than the Armenian
Apostolic Church are subject to some government restrictions. In
particular the 1991 law prohibits “proselytizing” (undefined in the
law), except by the Armenian Apostolic Church, and restricts
unregistered groups from publishing, broadcasting, or inviting
official visitors to the country.
In June, the Government again denied the application of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses for formal registration as a religious organization. The
registrars’ office cited technical problems with the application. The
Jehovah’s Witnesses expressed satisfaction that they were making
progress toward registration and plan to correct the technical
problems and resubmit their application in the near future.
According to the head of the National Minorities and Religious Affairs
Department, some minority religious groups includingthe Molokany and
some Yezidi groups, which might number in the hundreds, have not
sought registration. The only previously registered religious group
that was denied reregistration was the Hare Krishnas, whose membership
had dropped below the 200member threshold.
Although the law prohibits foreign funding for foreign-based churches,
the Government has not enforced this ban and considers it
unenforceable. Travel by religious personnel is not restricted in
practice. No action has been taken against missionaries. Religious
groups did not report any investigations of missionaries during the
period covered by this report.
Abuses of Religious Freedom
At the end of the period covered by this report, 23 members of
Jehovah’s Witnesses remained in prison and 3 in pretrial detention
charged with draft evasion or, if forcibly drafted, with desertion due
to refusal to serve; 43 members who had been serving terms were
released to house arrest after serving onethird of their
sentences. Representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses said that those
imprisoned were members of their community who had been called for
military service and went directly to police to turn themselves in
rather than waiting until induction to declare conscientious
objection. The Law on Alternative Military Service took effect on June
1, but the Government had not created implementing regulations by the
end of the reporting period. The law will allow conscientious
objectors to participate in an alternative civil service instead of
compulsory military duty. One alternative method would allow
conscientious objectors to serve in the army without carrying arms for
36 months, and another would allow them to do civil service for 42
months. Both options are substantially longer that the 2 years of
service required of those in the Army. Government officials have
stated that the law would be implemented by Fall 2004; however, the
Government had not formed a committee to design these regulations by
the end of the period covered by this report.
There are reports that hazing of new conscripts is more severe for
Yezidis and other minorities and that military and civilian security
officials’ treatment of members of Jehovah’s Witnesses is even
harsher, because their refusal to serve in the military is seen as a
threat to national security.
During the period covered by this report, members of Jehovah’s
Witnesses did not report experiencing difficulty renting meeting
places as they had reported in the past. Lack of local official visa
sponsorship means that Jehovah’s Witnesses visitors must pay for
tourist visas. In previous years, there were reports that government
officials seized Jehovah’s Witness publications at the border. Members
of Jehovah’s Witnesses reportedly are allowed to bring in small
quantities of printed materials for their own use.
The International Helsinki Federation reported that there have been
numerous allegations in recent years that members of nontraditional
religions, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, have been dismissed from
their jobs or physically attacked due to their faith. A representative
of the Jehovah’s Witnesses stated that the organization was not aware
of any of their members being dismissed from his or her job during the
period covered by this report.
Other than Jehovah’s Witnesses who were conscientious objectors, there
were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of
minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from
the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be
returned to the United States.
Abuses by Terrorist Organizations
There were no reported abuses targeted at specific religions by
terrorist organizations during the period covered by this report.
Section III. Societal Attitudes
The generally amicable relationship among religions in society
contributed to religious freedom; however, societal attitudes toward
some minority religions are ambivalent.
The Armenian Apostolic Church is a member of the World Council of
Churches and, despite doctrinal differences, has friendly official
relations with many major Christian denominations, including the
Eastern Orthodox churches, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican
Church, and major Protestant churches. In 2001, the Armenian Apostolic
Church celebrated the 1,700th anniversary of the official conversion
of Armenia to Christianity.
Suppressed through 70 years of Soviet rule, the Armenian Apostolic
Church has neither the trained priests nor the material resources to
fill immediately the spiritual void created by the demise of Communist
ideology. Nontraditional religious organizations are viewed with
suspicion, and foreignbased denominations operate cautiously for fear
of being seen as a threat by the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Societal attitudes toward most minority religions are ambivalent. Many
citizens are not religiously observant, but the link between religion
and Armenian ethnicity is strong. As a result of the Karabakh conflict
with Azerbaijan, most of the country’s Azeri population, who were
almost all Muslim, left the country. The few Muslims remaining in the
country keep a low profile, despite generally amicable relations
between the Government and Iran.
There was no officially sponsored violence reported against minority
religious groups during the period. Yezidi children on occasion
reported hazing by teachers and classmates. Some observers reported
increasingly unfavorable attitudes toward members of Jehovah’s
Witnesses among the general population, both because they are seen as
“unpatriotic” for refusing military service and because of a
widespread but unsubstantiated belief that they pay money to the
desperately poor for conversions. The press reported a number of
complaints lodged by citizens against members of Jehovah’s Witnesses
for alleged illegal proselytizing. Representatives of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses reported a few cases during the year in which the Procurator
General’s office sent official warnings to individual members
regarding their proselytizing activities, and the group was at times
the focus of verbal religious attacks and hostile preaching by some
Armenian Apostolic Church clerics. In September 2003, teenagers in the
town of Aparan physically assaulted four Jehovah’s
Witnesses. According to a Helsinki Committee report citing eye-witness
accounts, a local priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church appeared to
have encouraged the attack.
Although it is difficult to document, it is likely that there is some
informal societal discrimination in employment against members of
certain minority religious groups.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the
Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. The
U.S. Ambassador and Embassy officials maintain close contact with the
Catholicos at Etchmiadzin and with leaders of other major religious
and ecumenical groups in the country. During the period covered by
this report, Embassy officials met with the Military Prosecutor to
discuss, among other topics, hazing of minority conscripts and the
status of Jehovah’s Witnesses, met with government officials to
discuss the proposed law on alternative military service,and continued
to meet with government officials to urge that progress be made toward
registering Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Embassy also maintains regular
contact with traveling regional representatives of foreign-based
religious groups such as the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses and
raises their concerns with the Government. Embassy officials closely
monitor trials related to issues of religious freedom and take an
active role in policy forums and nongovernmental organization
roundtables regarding religious freedom.
During the reporting period, the U.S. Mission hosted several
roundtable meetings and receptions in honor of U.S. representatives of
religious organizations. Leaders of local minority religious groups
were regularly welcomed at these events.
Released on September 15, 2004

Armenia not to trade Karabakh for share in regional projects, minister says
Mediamax news agency
22 Sep 04

YEREVAN
“Armenia cannot be intimidated by statements that it may remain
sidelined from regional oil, gas and transport projects,” Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today.
The Armenian minister said that “Nagornyy Karabakh has no price and is
not an object of bargaining, therefore, we are rejecting suggestions
that by safeguarding its interests the Armenian side is depriving
itself of the opportunity to take part in major regional projects”.
Vardan Oskanyan added that if neighbouring countries were interested
in the rehabilitation of the Kars [Turkey] – Gyumri [Armenia] railway,
Armenia would welcome that.
“At the same time, if there is an intention to build the Kars-Tbilisi
railway, we have no objections to that. In fact, Armenia may even use
it itself,” Vardan Oskanyan said.
“We have never linked the Nagornyy Karabakh problem with regional
problems and have no intention of doing so in the future either,” the
Armenian foreign minister said.