Category: News

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 22 2004
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT YEREVAN AND TBILISI
YEREVAN/TBILISI, April 22 (RIA Novosti) – Joschka Fischer, Foreign
Minister of Germany, will make an official visit to Armenia and
Georgia.
According to the department of information and the press of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry, Mr Fischer will meet with President Robert
Kocharyan and other political leaders of Armenia on Thursday. “They
will discuss bilateral relations and regional processes.”
The Georgian Foreign Ministry says the agenda of the two-day visit
includes meetings with President Mikhail Saakashvili, Prime Minister
Zurab Zhvania and Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili.
On Friday April 23 Mr Fischer will attend the international
conference South Caucasus – Central Asia, to which the ambassadors of
Germany to South Caucasus and Central Asian states have been invited.
According to the German Embassy in Tbilisi, one of the key issues at
the conference will be promotion of bilateral economic co-operation.
The share of German investments in the overall volume of foreign
money in Georgia is only $30 mln. The Embassy explained this by the
fact that “the unfavourable investment climate, corruption and red
tape did not create an attractive environment for German
investments.”

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
APRIL 16-22, 2004
HIGHLIGHTS:
YPC GENERAL MEETING
INTERETHNIC TANGLE IN THE MEDIA MIRROR
JOURNALISTS INJURED ADDRESSED THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR
WAN AND WEF PRESIDENTS REMIND ABOUT THE DUTY OF THE STATE
ASSOCIATION OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST AGAINST THE MUNICIPALITY OF YEREVAN
“KENTRON” TV COMPANY TO CHANGE OWNER?
FRIENDSHIP ORDER TO TRANSLATOR AND PUBLICIST
“AYB-FEH” IS SEVEN YEARS OLD
“DEMO” AND “ASPAREZ” ON THE WEB
YPC GENERAL MEETING
On April 21 a regular General Meeting of Yerevan Press Club was held. At the
meeting the reports of the YPC Board (presented by YPC President Boris
Navasardian) and Auditing Commission (presented by the Commission Chairman
Mher Davoyan) were heard, and the YPC President, Vice President, members of
Board, Council and the Auditing Commission were elected. At the session the
Executive Director and the composition of YPC Commission on Professional
Ethics were approved. The renewed composition of these bodies is presented
at the YPC web site in “Structure” section.
The General Meeting also resolved to amend the YPC Statutes, as well as
discussed a number of other issues.
INTERETHNIC TANGLE IN THE MEDIA MIRROR
On April 16-18 in Tsaghkadzor a seminar “Ethics of the Interethnic Coverage”
was held. The event was organized by Yerevan Press Club and Friedrich Ebert
Foundation and brought together representatives of media, non-governmental
(including journalistic) organizations, state structures of Armenia.
The urgent issues in the very complicated relations within the region were
viewed primarily in the context of their media coverage. The newest history
of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, plentiful in interethnic
conflicts and tense inner political situations, makes the protection of the
journalists, working in the “hot spots”, even more important. It is the
discussion of what are the legal guarantees of this protection in the
documents of the Council of Europe, where the states of the South Caucasus
are members, that the seminar opened with. The tasks of the press at this
stage of the regional and international relations, the need to preserve the
“make no harm” principle when covering the interethnic issues, how Armenian,
Georgian and Azerbaijani media follow the norms of professional ethics and
what stereotypes they use when speaking about interethnic problems – all
these subjects caused the heated debate among the meeting participants. At
the seminar the results of the media monitoring studies on the coverage of
the Karabagh problem and interrelations Armenia-Azerbaijan-Turkey,
administered by Yerevan Press Club jointly with the partners from other
countries of the region since 2001, were presented. The different attitudes
expressed at the event and the vivid emotional background came to reconfirm
how complicated the interethnic South Caucasus tangle is and the significant
responsibility to be shouldered by the “fourth estate” in untying it.
JOURNALISTS INJURED ADDRESSED THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR
On April 16 “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily published “The Notification on the
Crime Committed”, sent on the previous day, April 15, by the Chief Editor of
the publication Nikol Pashinian to the RA General Prosecutor Aghvan
Hovsepian. The letter tells about the beating of “Haikakan Zhamanak”
correspondent Haik Gevorgian during the opposition rally in the early
morning of April 13 (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 9-15,
2004). In the opinion of the newspaper, the Deputy Head of RA Police
Hovhannes Varian is guilty of committing the crime.
Proceeding from the narration of the events of the night by Haik Gevorgian
and basing on the fact of physical and moral damage incurred by the
journalist, the daily solicits to institute criminal proceedings against
Hovhannes Varian by Articles 164 (“Impeding the legitimate professional
activity of journalist”) and 309 (“Exceeding the official authority”) of the
RA Criminal Code and bringing him to account.
On April 16 a similar address but referring to the Head of the Police of
Center Community of Yerevan Hovhannes Tamamian was filed with the General
Prosecutor by the correspondent of “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper Mher
Galechian, beaten and arrested in the early morning of April 13. In the
piece “How It Happened”, published on April 15 in “Haikakan Zhamanak”, the
journalist gave a detailed description of the act of violence and his
illegal detainment. In the letter to the General Prosecutor Mher Galechian
mentioned that the people who attacked him took his bag containing a
recorder, photo camera, owned by “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” Editor, 300
thousand drams, the round seal of “Ogostos” press dissemination agency and
documentations of the public organization “Shamiram”. According to the
journalist, when he was released from the cell of preliminary detainment
where he had spent 16 hours, the bag was not returned to him. Galechian
demanded to hold Hovhannes Tamamian accountable for impeding with the
exercise of a professional activity by the journalist, for illegal
detainment and for appropriation of his property.
It should be noted that the RA Criminal Procedure Code has a clause
according to which the media reports about crimes committed are a ground to
institute criminal proceedings (Article 176, Cl. 2). At the same time Clause
1 of Article 180 stipulates that the crime reports must be considered and
resolved without delay, and should it be deemed necessary, the legitimacy
and sufficiency of grounds should be verified – within 10 days since the
receipt of the report.
Meanwhile, on April 20 in a number of Armenian media the statements of
Hovhannes Varian and Hovhannes Tamamian were published, in which they deny
being involved in illegal actions against journalists.
As a response to the statement of Hovhannes Varian, “Haikakan Zhamanak” in
the issue of April 21 places the half- and full-faced photos of the Deputy
Head of Police. The editorial comment mentions that these are the photos of
“a dangerous criminal”, who, as it appears, “has endowed himself with the
authority of the Deputy Head of the RA Police and likes to introduce himself
as Hovhannes Varian”. This man, as the newspaper writes, took the editorial
camera of Haik Gevorgian and ordered “the criminals with batons that
accompanied him” to beat the journalist. The edition addresses the law
enforcement bodies to identify the person in the photos who “introduces
himself as the Deputy Head of the RA Police Hovhannes Varian”.
WAN AND WEF PRESIDENTS REMIND ABOUT THE DUTY OF THE STATE
On April 19 the Presidents of the World Association of Newspapers Seok Hyun
Hong and the World Editors Forum Gloria Brown Anderson addressed a statement
to the RA President Robert Kocharian. The letter voiced concern over the
events of April 5 and in the early morning of April 13 that resulted in
violence towards the journalists who were covering the situation (see
details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 2-8, 2004 and April 9-15, 2004).
The heads of the organizations uniting 18,000 publications of 100 countries
ask the Armenian President to ensure that a thorough investigation into the
incidents is conducted and to do everything possible for the journalists to
exercise their professional activities unimpeded.
“We respectfully remind you that it is the duty of the state to provide an
environment in which journalists are able to carry out their professional
duties without fear of intimidation. Such incidents foster a climate of fear
that inhibits journalistic investigation and can promote self-censorship”,
the letter by the heads of WAN and WEF stresses and a hope for the quickest
possible response of the Armenian President is expressed.
On April 16 the statement of Armenian Assembly of America was released,
where the need of a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition of
Armenia is emphasized. AAA also urges the Armenian authorizes to “take
resolute steps to protect journalists from interference and violence as they
perform their professional duties”.
ASSOCIATION OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST AGAINST THE MUNICIPALITY OF YEREVAN
On April 14 the Association of Investigative Journalists and its Chairman
Edik Baghdasarian filed a suit with the court of primary jurisdiction of
Center and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan against the Yerevan
municipality.
According to Edik Baghdasarian, he is demanding that the city administration
ensures his right to information, necessary to finish the journalistic
investigation on the illegal building up of the public green zone around the
National Opera and Ballet Theater. During the past years 12 cafes and
restaurants were built on those grounds. The destruction of the green
“spots” that Yerevan is not very abundant in has always caused numerous
public protests, neglected by the city authorities. An opinion is voiced
that there is not a single incidental person among the owners of the cafes
and restaurants around the Opera Theater, they all belong to people,
well-known in the country.
Edik Baghdasarian addressed the present Mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharian
with request to access the resolutions of the city administration on using
this public territory for construction, adopted in 1997-2003, but was
repeatedly refused with varying pretexts. After this the journalist
addressed a letter to the Control Chamber of the RA President, from where it
was redirected back to the municipality, where the journalist is still being
refused information. Thus, according to Mr. Baghdasarian, he only has to
hope for a court decision to get access to documents, basing on which the
construction in one of the most beautiful places of the Armenian capital was
made.
“KENTRON” TV COMPANY TO CHANGE OWNER?
By unofficial information, confirmed by a number of sources, the Deputy of
the RA National Assembly, Chairman of the United Labor Party of Armenia
Gurgen Arsenian arrived at an agreement with the RA NA Deputy, President of
“Multi Group” Company, businessman Gagik Tsarukian on selling him “Kentron”
TV company. There is also a supposition that the management of the TV
company will be headed by Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily Aram Abrahamian.
FRIENDSHIP ORDER TO TRANSLATOR AND PUBLICIST
On April 21 a well-known Armenian translator and publicist Armen
Hovhannisian was awarded a Friendship Order at the Embassy of Russian
Federation in the Republic of Armenia. This award was conferred on Armen
Hovhannisian by a decree of the Russian President for the valuable
contribution in the development of the cultural cooperation between the two
counties. The literary “archive” of Armen Hovhannisian contains translations
of works by Dostoevsky, Bulgakov, Shukshin, Solzhenitsyn and other classics
of Russian literature into Armenian.
Yerevan Press Club sincerely congratulates Armen Hovhannisian on the award,
hopes that his gifts to the Armenian reader will continue and adds a tiny
bit of pride – the wonderful translator and talented publicist is a member
of our organization.
“AYB-FEH” IS SEVEN YEARS OLD
April 21 marked the seventh anniversary since “Ayb-Feh” news agency of “A1+”
TV company went on air. The popular “Ayb-Feh” newscast has been out of air
since April 2, 2002, when “A1+” TV company was refused a broadcast license.
Having been deprived of air, “Ayb-Feh” continues to give up-to-date
information to the public on what is happening, working online on “A1+” web
site.
Yerevan Press Club congratulates the staff of “Ayb-Feh” and again wishes to
get back on air soon!
“DEMO” AND “ASPAREZ” ON THE WEB
Now the first public newspaper of Karabagh “Demo” (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, March 26 – April 1, 2004) can be viewed online at:
. More detailed information on the publication can be
received via e-mail: [email protected]
Since April 21 the world wide web has another Armenian site – that of
“Asparez” Journalists Club of Gyumri (). Its Russian
and English versions are expected to be launched soon.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

A1 Plus | 13:58:33 | 22-04-2004 | Politics |
CANADIAN PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Canadian Parliament passes historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
a massive margin of 153 to 68.
Motion M-380 seconded by Sarkis Assadourian, M.P. Brampton Centre won the
resounding approval of the House of Commons.
The successful motion called on the House of Commons to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide of 1915 and condemn this act as crime against humanity.

CENN – APRIL 22, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. EBRD To Increase Central Asian Antipoverty Programs
2. Construction of Modern Nuclear Power Plant a Viable Option
3. IUCN Promotes Environmental Flows at CSD-12 Meeting in New York
4. Announcement of the Ministry of Environment of Georgia
1. EBRD TO INCREASE CENTRAL ASIAN ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS
Source: EurasiaNet.org,
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) President Jean
Lemierre said on 19 April that the bank plans to boost investment in the
seven poorest countries in which it operates. In a press release issued
on 19 April, the EBRD said the so-called “early transition countries”
(ETCs) are Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, and Moldova. In these countries, where more than 50 percent of
the population lives below the poverty line, the bank will provide
private-sector credits of 500,000 euros to 2 million euros
($593,000-$2.4 million) to develop the banking sector and aid the growth
of small and medium-sized businesses. To this end, the EBRD is appealing
to donors to provide additional funds that would allow the bank to
increase investment in the seven ETCs from the current 90 million euros
to 150 million euros. DK
2. CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT A VIABLE OPTION
Source: Armenpress, April 21, 2004,
Armen Movsisian, the Minister of Energy Sector of Armenia stated that
Armenia’s nuclear power plant will operate until an alternative energy
source, with the capacity of producing the same amount of energy at
equal cost is found. He added that the European Union’s proposed $100
million in assistance covers only an eighth of the total funds necessary
to find an alternative energy source.
He suggested that the construction a modern nuclear power plant in
Armenia presents a more viable solution than the option of producing
alternative energy; however, Movsisian noted that Armenia’s budget is
unable to cover the immense cost in building a new plant.
Asked about the handling of nuclear waste, the minister said that by way
of a grant from the French government, dry warehouses currently in use
were built for that specific purpose.
3. IUCN PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS AT CSD-12 MEETING IN NEW YORK
Source; IUCN, April 21, 2004
What is vital for healthy functioning river systems and critical for
achieving economic prosperity and the conservation of biodiversity? The
answer, offered by IUCN at the meeting of the 12th session of the UN
Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-12), is environmental flows.
`Environmental flows’ means enough water is left in our rivers and is
managed to ensure downstream environmental, social and economic
benefits. Following a delegates’ debate on balancing water issues, IUCN
held a highly interactive side event on Environmental Flows for
Sustainable Development. Close to 60 participants discussed the
importance of environmental flows for people and nature, considered
experience already gained in achieving environmental flows, and explored
the next steps in promoting and implementing environmental flows for
sustainable development. IUCN’s guide `Flow – The Essentials of
Environmental Flows’ was also presented. CSD-12, held from 19-30 April
in New York, focuses on water, sanitation and human settlements.
4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT OF GEORGIA
Source: `Sakartvelos Respublica’ (`Republic of Georgia’), April 22, 2004
In accordance with the Georgian legislation, Ltd `Gachiani – 2004′
submitted EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of Georgia to obtain
an environmental permit for the activity of first category – Project on
the Enterprise for Extracting Copper from the Amortized Utilizable Acid
Accumulators in Gardabani Region, Village Gachiani.
In accordance with the Georgian legislation, entrepreneur Leri
Zeinkalashvili submitted EIA report to the Ministry of Environment of
Georgia to obtain an environmental permit for the activity of first
category – Project on Mini Manganese Washing Enterprise in Chiatura.
EIA reports are available at the press-centre of the Ministry of
Environment (68, Kostava str., VI floor) and at the Department of
Environmental Permits and State Ecological Expertise (87, Paliashvili
Str., Tel: 25 02 19). Interested stakeholders can analyze the document
and present their comments and considerations until June 8, 2004.
Public hearing will be held on June 8, 2004 at 12:00, at the conference
hall of the Ministry of Environment.
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

PRESS RELEASE
ref: pr/04/04/009
Assembly of Armenians of Europe
Rue de Treves 10, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 647 08 01
Fax: +32 2 647 02 00
The Assembly of Armenians of Europe expresses its solidarity and its
support to the survivors of the Genocide of Rwanda
Brussels, April 22, 2004 – On April 7th, 2004 the symbolic day of the
10th anniversary of the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda, the Assembly of
Armenians of Europe participated in the commemoration soiree organized
by the Association IBUKA – Memory and Justice (Belgium) in order to
express its solidarity and support with the survivors and parents of
victims.
H.E. the Ambassador of Rwanda in the Kingdom of Belgium, representatives
of international and local organizations, survivors of the genocide and
their parents attended the commemoration ceremony, which took place in
the cultural centre of Auderghem (Brussels).
On December 23, 2003 the General Assembly of UN declared 7 April 2004
“Mediation Day on the Genocide in Rwanda”. Koffi Annan UN’s secretary
general asked “the population of the world everywhere” whether in a
large city or a faraway rural area, to stop to observe 1 minute silence
at noon.
The genocide of 1994 in Rwanda was not committed only against the people
of Rwanda, but against humanity. Therefore, humanity should mobilize
their efforts and power for the purpose of eradicating the impunity by
supporting the International Criminal Court for Rwanda sitting in
Arusha.
Ms. Irene Shaboyan, the representative of the Assembly of Armenians of
Europe reminded the audience of the fact that in 1940 the impunity of
the massacres of Armenians encouraged Adolph Hitler and his army to
proceed with the annihilation of “enemy” population.
“History comes to prove that the commemoration and contrition that
followed the second world war unfortunately were not enough to prevent
further genocides and in particular the indifference and cynics.
The monster that was released in 1915 will demand other victims to be
sacrificed at the altar unless it is pushed back into its cage again.
Obviously the criminals of the genocide of Rwanda, like Adolph Hitler,
were encouraged by the probable impunity, knowing in advance that the
genocide is not necessarily condemned or the executors punished. Strange
things happen even in Europe. The country which perpetrated the genocide
of Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians and continues the intimidations
against 15 million Kurdish population in Trukey, claims the EU
membership and will become a candidate to the EU accession”, added Ms.
Shaboyan.
H.E. the Ambassador of Rwanda asked the audience to think about all
those nations “that passed through the same horror: the genocide of
Armenians, of Jews and other genocides not recognized yet will always
remind us of the imminent danger”. H.E. the Ambassador clearly pointed
out the inability and unwillingness of the international community,
which had failed to fulfill its duty ‘by abandoning the people of
Rwanda”. According to the H.E. the Ambassador the international
community should at least join its efforts at the second phase in order
to give back to the survivors their lost dignity and respect.
“Could we hope that this time, after the genocide of Tutsi in April 1994
in Rwanda, such a shame will not happen in future? Alas, there are
already negative signs predicting the existence of the Nazi spirit in
Europe! Today, the events in the Balkans reveal the germs of genocide”,
said he in his speech.
The Jewish chorus “Shoresh” was also present at the commemoration soiree
expressing its solidarity to the people of Rwanda through the songs of
morning and hope.

Armenian paper accuses presidential press service of harassment
A1+ web site
21 Apr 04
The editor-in-chief of Ambion [Rostrum], Narine Lazarian, today
issued a statement which said: “The press service of the Armenian
president periodically impedes the work of Ambion newspaper.
“Having learnt about a scheduled meeting between [Armenian President]
Robert Kocharyan and Steven Mann, the new US cochairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group, the newspaper’s correspondent Goar Veziryan called the
presidential press service to ask them to put her name on the list of
reporters covering the meeting. She was not refused. However, later
the correspondent was barred from the presidential residence.
“On 20 April, when the correspondent tried to find out what measures
had been planned, an employee of the presidential press service
shouted on the phone: `Do you have no self-respect?’
“Bearing in mind public demands and the political realities of the
past year, we should ourselves put the same question to Robert
Kocharyan.”

Armenian leader says opposition “obstinate child”
Arminfo
20 Apr 04

YEREVAN
The Armenian authorities will respond to the opposition’s protests
appropriately, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told a news
conference in Yerevan today, commenting on the actions of the Armenian
opposition which had led to the aggravation of the political situation
in the country.
The Armenian leader said that the opposition had the only way out of
the current situation – to return to their deputy duties without any
preconditions. “If they do not want to fulfil their duties, this is
their own business,” the president said.
He compared the opposition with an obstinate child who does not want
to eat and demands a toy. He said that in order to improve the
situation, one should leave the child hungry for a couple of hours,
then he will eat his meal himself.

Armenian leader calls on people to pay no heed to opposition protests
Arminfo
20 Apr 04
YEREVAN
“We should not allow 1 per cent of the population to mislead entire
Armenian society and to make the authorities take popular steps which
are catastrophic for the country’s destiny,” Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan told a news conference today, commenting on the opposition’s
[protest] actions.
The head of state said that the fight was being held not against the
president but to define the single leader of the Armenian opposition,
which is a profitable status, and that the objectives of this fight
have nothing to do with the constitutional order. The president called
on the public not to pay any attention to the number of people who
attend the rallies. He said that 23,000 people made up 1 per cent of
the electorate and that the rallies did not attract so many people.
He said that at one time, the nuclear power station and the chemical
giant of the country, the Nairit plant, had been mothballed at the
demand of 30,000 protesters, as a result of which the country incurred
significant damage, and its negative consequences have not yet been
eliminated. “If the two enterprises had not been put in mothballs, we
would have been at a higher stage of economic development,” Robert
Kocharyan said.

New party set to restore public trust in Armenian authorities
Arminfo
20 Apr 04

YEREVAN
A new party is currently being set up amid the tense political
situation in the country. The party is to restore people’s trust in
the authorities, the leader of the Democracy and Peace Party, Spartak
Melikyan, said at the party’s founding congress today.
He said that the opposition should stop demands of the incumbent
president’s resignation, as one should resort to this step only in
case of emergency. At the same time, the party leader condemned the
authorities actions to disperse opposition rallies. Melikyan noted
that if relevant conditions were not created for the development of
small and medium-sized businesses in the country, the party was ready
to side with the opposition.
[Passage omitted: minor details]

Officials deny Karabakh forces involved in dispersing opposition demo
Arminfo
20 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The break-up of the unsanctioned march on the night of 12-13 April was
carried out exclusively by the Armenian police.
Commenting on the statement by the leader of the National Unity Party,
Artashes Gegamyan, that people with a Karabakh accent dispersed the
opposition’s rally, the press service of the Armenian police told
Arminfo news agency that this is nothing but provocation.
Some time ago, the government of Karabakh also dismissed reports by
the Armenian opposition that the Karabakh power-wielding bodies took
place in breaking up the rally in Yerevan.