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ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/06/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ARF Western Region Announcement on Recent Political Developments in Armenia 2) AADLC Launches ArmeniansforKerry.com 3) Media Outcry as Journalist Attackers Stay Unpunished 4) Yedelian First Elected Armenian Councilor in Australia 1) ARF Western Region Announcement on Recent Political Developments in Armenia Recent internal political developments in the Republic of Armenia are approaching the brink of outright confrontation between the opposition and the authorities, and threaten the independence of the country, its security, and stability. This tense political environment causes serious concern not only for citizens of Armenia, but also Armenians in the Diaspora, including those in the Western United States. Gravely concerned over these developments, the Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western Region announces the imperative of engaging in political dialogue in order to immediately diffuse the tense situation that threatens our homeland. In its April 5 announcement, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's Supreme Body of Armenia, characterized the political formula for mutual concessions in order to bring the country out of the current impasse. In turn, we appeal to Armenians of Western USA to practice vigilance--to reject deceptive provocations, insulting expressions, and extremist announcements that serve to fuel the already tense situation both in Armenia and the Diaspora, including our region. American Armenians have a historic mission to always stand by and support Armenia. We can uphold this sacred mission only by way of a healthy national outlook. Thus, American Armenians must serve as an example to political forces inside Armenia to be able to overcome this difficult phase that threatens our nation. On this issue, the Central Committee of the ARF Western region, places total faith in the sound judgment of our public. Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western Region Central Committee Glendale, April 6, 2004 2) AADLC Launches ArmeniansforKerry.com FULL-FEATURED WEBSITE OFFERS ACTIVISM TOOLS, RESOURCES, ON-LINE CONTRIBUTIONS, AND SIGN-UP PAGE FOR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS ARLINGTON, VA--The Armenian American Democratic Leadership Council (AADLC) has launched <;, a powerful, full-featured website providing the growing number of Armenian American supporters of John Kerry with activism tools to support the presumptive Democratic nominee's campaign for the Presidency of the United States. "We are pleased, through ArmeniansforKerry.com, to provide Armenian Americans--Democrats, Independents, and cross-over Republicans--with solid information and practical tools they need to help elect John Kerry as President," said AADLC spokesperson Tsoghig Margossian. "We look forward to working with the growing number of Armenian Americans supporting the Kerry campaign in educating voters, generating campaign support and financial contributions, and mobilizing grassroots pro-Kerry get-out-the-vote efforts leading up to Election Day on November 2." The welcome message on the website notes: "On the issues Armenian Americans care about--as Armenians and as Americans--John Kerry is the clear choice. He is a candidate that our nation's more than one and a half million citizens of Armenian heritage can be proud of, for his record of service to our nation, and for personal involvement in all the vital issues of special concern to Armenian Americans--genocide recognition, a strong Armenia, increased aid, expanded trade, and an end to the blockades." The website continues: "In sharp contrast, George W. Bush has broken his promises and repeatedly betrayed the trust of the Armenian American community, opposed the issues they care about, and presided over the most anti-Armenian administration in modern history. Almost immediately after taking office in 2001, he abandoned his campaign pledge to properly recognize Armenian Genocide." Among the main features of ArmeniansforKerry.com are the following: * ArmeniansforKerry.com documents Senator Kerry's 20-year pro-Armenian record in the US Senate and includes direct links to his key speeches on a range of issues of concern to Armenian American voters. * ArmeniansforKerry.com has an easy-to-use sign-up page for volunteers, for e-list updates, and for individuals who want to have their name listed on the website as supporters of John Kerry for President. * ArmeniansforKerry.com features an on-line donation feature that automatically tracks campaign donations made by Armenian Americans. * ArmeniansforKerry.com features a photo gallery, including a front-page photo of Senator Kerry speaking in front of an Armenians for Kerry sign during his victory speech on the day of the Virginia Democratic primary. Video footage of the AADLC campaign volunteers holding these signs was broadcast internationally on the CNN cable network. * ArmeniansforKerry.com "press room" provides, in one place, coverage of Armenians for Kerry that has appeared in the Armenian American media. * ArmeniansforKerry.com includes extensive links to the main JohnKerry.com website, including background information, press information, videos, community outreach, volunteering, events, an on-line forum, photos, meet-ups, and voter registration. The AADLC has an extensive, nation-wide record of activism in support of Democratic Presidential candidates spanning the past several elections. For more information about the AADLC: Visit: Email: [email protected]. 3) Media Outcry as Journalist Attackers Stay Unpunished YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia's leadership showed no signs on Tuesday of impending punishment for violent youths that attacked journalists at an opposition rally in Yerevan, leading to the indiscriminate smashing of TV and still cameras. "All of this is incompatible with democratic principles and civilization in general," said Astghik Gevorgian, chairwoman of the Armenian Union of Journalists. The Armenian Press Club issued a more strongly-worded statement accusing law-enforcement agencies of "neglecting their professional duty." President Robert Kocharian's spokesman Ashot Kocharian said, "We condemn any illegal act, especially one directed against journalists and representatives of mass media." He would not say whether any orders were issued by the president in connection with the incident. "It is incomprehensible why law-enforcement bodies did not intervene in those actions," said deputy speaker of Armenia's parliament Tigran Torosian, "Regardless of who the perpetrators of that violence are, they must be unconditionally identified and punished." Eyewitnesses say scores of police officers looked on as about two dozen thugs beat journalists and smashed cameras that documented their violent attempts to disrupt Sunday's rally. The officers, among them the deputy chief of the national Police Service, ignored pleas to stop the rampage. The trouble-makers left the scene unimpeded. The chief of the Yerevan police department, Nerses Nazarian, sought to justify the police inactivity with claims that his subordinates had been issued with orders to intervene in the proceedings only "in extreme cases." Risking a further media outcry, he portrayed the attack as a mere "dispute of individuals with opposite views." Several of the attackers were videotaped by a cameraman who managed to escape unscathed. Kentron was the sole Armenian TV channel to provide detailed coverage of the attack. Other stations which also lost cameras, chose to cover-up the matter up--an act strongly criticized by Boris Navasardian, chairman of the Yerevan Press Club, who said that pro-Kocharian channels are acting against "journalistic solidarity." 4) Yedelian First Elected Armenian Councilor in Australia SYDNEY--Newly elected Councilor for Central Ward, Ryde City Council, Sarkis Yedelian became first Councilor elected in Australia of Armenian ancestry. "I am deeply humbled and grateful to the people of Ryde for their support and trust," Yedelian said on Monday. Yedelian was elected on a platform which offered a fresh approach to dealing with Council issues, and bringing accountability. "Ryde city is a great place to live, and I'll be doing everything I can to ensure it remains so," Yedelian said. Yedelian, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, operates a camera and video production business in Gladesville. He is a founding and current board member of Community TV Sydney Ltd., CH31, and is also the president of Armenian TV Sydney Incorporated. Established in 1994, it is the first and remains the only Armenian TV broadcast service in Australia run entirely by volunteers and producing 3 hours of broadcasting each week. He is married with two children. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

2004 WEEK OF REMEMBRANCE
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS IN GLENDALE
City of Glendale, California
April 6, 2004
April 19 – An educational student discussion moderated by Sonali
Kohatkar from KPFK radio will be aired on GTV6 (check GTV6’s programming
schedule for time.) Topic will be: “Man’s Inhumanity to Man.” Panelists
include Dan Alba from “Facing History and Ourselves” and Professor John
Roth from Claremont McKenna College.
April 24* *- Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road (see below
for map) – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Annual Commemorative Event. Members of
the public are encouraged to visit the Civic to view an art exhibit,
donate blood to the American Red Cross, or donate books and audio
materials pertaining to Man’s Inhumanity to Man for possible inclusion
in the Glendale Central Library’s planned “Genocide Collection”. At 7:00
pm, a program consisting of musical selections by local groups and
performance artists will be presented. At the program’s close, a
candlelight vigil will be held outside the Civic Auditorium.
April 25 – The Civic will again open at 10:00 am until 5:00 pm for
another opportunity for the public to visit the art exhibit and donate
blood.
For more information, contact Zizette Ayad at (818) 548-4844.
************************************
GENOCIDE COLLECTION BOOK DRIVE
Donate a book, spread the word!
The City of Glendale, in conjunction with the Annual Commemorative Event
Committee, is co-sponsoring a book drive from April 6 until April 30 to
commemorate atrocities suffered by mankind throughout the 20th Century.
Donated items may include books and audio materials which will be
evaluated for possible inclusion in the Glendale Central Library’s
“Genocide Collection” for the benefit of the public good.
Donations may be left at any Glendale Public Library Branch during
operating hours.
In addition, donations can be made at the Glendale Civic Auditorium,
1401 N. Verdugo Road between the hours of 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on
Saturday, April 24 and the hours of 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, April
25.
For more information, contact Zizette Ayad at (818) 548-4844.

A1 Plus | 21:40:44 | 06-04-2004 | Social |
WHO WERE THE SPONSORS OF THE BEATING YESTERDAY?
The attempts to establish the identity of the young men of athletic figures,
with shaven heads, who beat some journalists and broke cameras, provoked
disorders during the meeting of Artashes Geghamyan with the electorate
continue.
We found from well-informed sources that the most aggressive ones were the
body-guards of MP, known oligarch Levon Sargssyan /Lyovik of Mill
nicknamed/. There were witnesses saying MP was in person watching the
beating.
The young man having attacked “Aravot” Daily correspondent used to be the
body-guard of Gagik Tsarukyan 4 months ago but now protects another man.
—

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
April 6, 2004
DO WE NEED EDUCATIONAL REFORM?
The delegation of the RA Ministry of Education headed by minister
Sergo Yeritsian visited NKR to get acquainted with the educational
system in Artsakh and to discuss the project of the new state system
of secondary education. Apparently, our educational system is on the
threshold of serious reforms as a result of which Artsakh and Armenia
will have a system similar to the European system of secondary
education. The essence of these reforms is making secondary school 12
years as the schoolchildren are now overloaded. If starting from this
point, we must admit that 5-6 year old children will now be
overloaded. And besides, this system will shorten the childhood of our
children. Perhaps it is preferable to consider seriously the program
of physical training of our children. If the schooling age is
nevertheless lowered, the school should be divided to junior and
senior schools, but is this possible in our conditions? Another
important fact: a twelve-year secondary education is directly
connected with military service. Boys will have to go to the army
immediately after finishing school and most of them will simply have
no chance to get a higher education. Our poll of public opinion showed
that the approach of the society to this reform is not
unanimous. Heads of educational departments and certain teachers
welcomed it, and at the same time cautiously expressing their
disagreement to the current complicated school curriculum, they
implied that pupils of senior classes had better spend one more year
at school than join the ranks of unemployed or tramps. Parents are
absolutely against the 12-year secondary education. After school boys
will not have time to enter a higher educational institution. The
opinions of the schoolchildren are also different: some of them are
for the Western system of education, but the majority is worried about
spending two more years at school. The relief is that adoption of the
new system is planned gradually, during 12-13 years. It is important
to work out the mechanisms of implementation of this plan properly. It
is time to give up the idea that the school is a link preparing to
enter a higher educational institution. According to the NKR minister
of education, culture and sport Armen Sarghissian, the pupils will
have the opportunity to get narrow specialization in senior
classes. It is not obligatory to have a higher education especially
that a greater part of them will be employed in the sphere of economy
and service. Therefore, it is important to open different technical
colleges. And on the whole do we need this school reform? According
to the RA minister of education Sergo Yeritsian, we are of a high
opinion about our educational potential, which is not, however,
justified. S. Yeritsian cited the following fact: UNESCO conducted
checking of the knowledge of natural sciences of learners in 50
countries and Armenia was in the 45th place. This means that we have
problems in our educational system. Therefore it is necessary to think
about fundamental changes in the educational system. It is desirable
that it was not merely adding two more years to the 10-year
course. And finally, the words of the NKR minister of education that
our educational system should not fall behind the European and world
educational level. And on the other hand, we do not have the right to
accept this new system without taking into consideration the national
peculiarities.
EVIKA BABAYAN

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
April 6, 2004
“MOVEMENT-88” UNIFICATION AROUND STATE BUILDING
On April 2 the founders of the new public-political organization
“Movement-88” member of parliament Edward Aghabekian and candidate of
sciences in physics and mathematics Gagik Baghunts gave a press
conference. At the beginning of the press conference it was mentioned
that in the current political situation Karabakh is facing the problem
of to be or not to be. In order to survive, live and develop we need
to mobilize all our material, mental and spiritual potential to build
a self-sufficient democratic state. Edward Aghabekian mentioned that
the new organization will neither be opposition, nor support the
authorities. “We will raise problems; whether these will coincide with
the opinion of the government, or not, is not our problem,” said
E. Aghabekian. Nevertheless, the organization will be nominated at the
parliamentary elections in 2005. The participants of the movement say,
with our foreign problems we must have a strong civil state. As ways
of achieving this Gagik Baghunts mentioned transparency and balance
between the power branches, adoption of the new Constitution,
reconsideration of the manpower policy, development of the economy
based on investment of high technologies. According to E. Aghabekian,
the Constitution must clearly distinguish the duties of the power
branches. E. Aghabekian characterized the authorities as an elite
specialized in illegal economic activities. According to the
participants of the movement, economic development in Karabakh is
obvious but there is a problem with its even distribution. “Economic
polarization causes loss of human capital. We say everyone should be
equal before the army and before the law,” said E. Aghabekian. During
the press conference the problem of Karabakh was also touched upon.
E. Aghabekian mentioned that it is time for Armenia and Karabakh to
clearly outline their relationships and confirm the independence of
NKR. As to the home political situation in Armenia, the members of the
movement said they do not want to deal with these processes. E.
Aghabekian said, Karabakh must enter dialogue with Azerbaijan on a
horizontal plain. He thinks that we must live, develop and build a
state not overlooking the outer threat. The founding group will soon
publish the program of the organization. Then the founding meeting
will take place and the organization will be registered. During the
press conference the leader of the National-Democratic Party Murad
Petrossian announced that the party is declaring itself member of the
“Movement-88”. He mentioned that the principles declared by the
founders of the movement – correct manpower policy, rule of law and
public control – are close to his heart. The members of “Movement-88”
promised to meet regularly with the mass media.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
April 4, 2004
MILITARY ACTIONS NOT PROFITABLE FOR ARMENIA
In his interview to the Baku newspaper “Echo” the chairman of the
Helsinki Association Mikael Danielian announced that the authorities
of Armenia have no way out in solving problems with the opposition but
to resume military actions with Azerbaijan. In the announcement it is
even mentioned that the military actions in the conflict area will be
resumed in April. Several days after the publication M. Danielian
appeared in hospital after an assault. In this reference the chairman
of the NKR National Assembly committee of foreign relationships Vahram
Atanessian mentioned that such announcements are based upon
suppositions and personal opinions on the home political tensions. He
mentioned that the resumption of the military actions is possible as
long as the conflict is not settled. On the other hand, the
destabilization of the situation is unreal on the part of the Armenian
authorities. He proves this opinion by two circumstances: first, any
destabilization arouses a more uncontrollable situation, and second,
if Yerevan officially declares war, it will have to assume the
responsibility for today’s situation as well, which is
favourable for Baku. That is to say, the authorities of Armenia do not
need the resumption of the military actions. According to V.
Atanessian, neither the government, nor the opposition of Armenia use
the whole potential of the dialogue. “Even if there is serious
disaccord between the government and the opposition of Armenia, there
exist constitutional ways of settling it,” mentioned V. Atanessian,
supposing that in the upcoming months a buffer force will form in
Armenia, which will undertake the responsibility of starting dialogue
between the government and the opposition. Commenting on the mentioned
announcement, the coordinator of the Karabakh non-governmental
organization “Helsinki Undertaking 92” Karen Ohanjanian said that in
the current situation it is almost impossible to solve any home and
foreign problem through military ways, as any disruption of the
maintained balance may bring about sad consequences for the
breaker. According to K. Ohanjanian, judging by the results of the
OSCE Minsk Group monitoring, at the Karabakh-Azerbaijani border
nothing prompts about preparations for starting military actions. As
to the accident with Mikael Danielian, K. Ohanjanian appeals to the
government of Armenia to start a serious prosecution involving the
public representatives. “The protector of human rights is the face of
the state. If something similar takes place, it means the country is
approaching a dangerous line,” said K. Ohanjanian.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN

Geology, Oil and Gas Potential, Pipelines, and the Geopolitics of the
Caspian Sea Region
Ocean Development & International Law
35:19-40, 2004
BY PHILIP D. RABINOWITZ, MEHDI Z. YUSIFOV, JESSICA ARNOLDI, EYAL HAKIM
Department of Geology & Geophysics
Texas A & M University
College Station, Texas, USA
EXCERPT
Legal Issues in the Caspian Sea
The exporting of fossil fuels from the Caspian region will require the
development of pipelines that traverse political boundaries. There are
many scenarios for pipeline routes, as discussed above, each having
both political and economic problems. What is discussed below are the
current legal status of the Caspian Sea and the regional conflicts
that pose political risks that must be taken into consideration before
decisions are made. Before the breakup of the Soviet Union, treaties
of 1921 and 1940 established an exclusive 10-mile fishing zone for the
Soviet Republics and Iran and referred to the Caspian Sea as the
Soviet-Iranian Sea. However, these treaties did not cover ownership of
seabed boundaries or which state had jurisdiction respecting oil and
gas exploration. In the post-Soviet era, conflicting approaches have
been proposed to dividing the offshore regions among the five
independent countries bordering the Caspian Sea. Some important
agreements have been reached, but there are still a number of
outstanding problems. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS) provides that a state may claim a 12-nautical-mile (nm)
territorial sea and a 200 nm exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The
Caspian Sea is not wide enough to allow for the full extent of 200 nm
EEZs for states on opposing coasts. The threshold legal question is
how the Caspian Sea is to be classified. If the Caspian Sea is
classified as a sea, then UNCLOS is applicable; however, if it is
classified as a lake, then UNCLOS is not applicable and the Caspian
Sea is free of the international rules governing oceans (Oxman,1996;
Sciolino, 1998).
The initial Russian position, addressed to the UN General Assembly in
1994, was that international ocean law, particularly those pertaining
to territorial seas and EEZ, do not apply since the Caspian is a
landlocked body of water without natural links to the worlds’ oceans
(Gouliev, 1997). Their position was that there are no grounds for
unilateral claims to areas of the Caspian and that the entire sea is a
joint venture area (a “condominium” approach). The implications are
that any activity with respect to utilizing the seabed by one country
encroaches upon the interests of all the other bordering countries. In
1996 Russia softened their position by suggesting the establishment of
a 45 nm EEZ for all littoral states with joint ownership beyond the 45
nm limit.
The Azerbaijan position differed considerably from that of the initial
Russian position. Azerbaijan claimed that the Caspian Sea falls within
the jurisdiction of the international Law of the Sea. Using this
approach, a median line is drawn using the shores with the coastal
states having full sovereignty in their respective sectors. In 1997,
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as between themselves, agreed to an
approach based on the median line principle. Russia and Kazakhstan in
1998, and Russia and Azerbaijan in 2001 also agreed to this approach
to delineate their respective offshore areas. Thus, Russia,
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have agreed to divide the seafloor into
sectors or zones between corresponding neighboring and oppositely
located states.
Turkmenistan agrees to this approach in principle, but not in method,
claiming that application of a median line does not take into account
the peculiarities of the shore line, in particular, the potentially
oil rich Absheron Peninsula that is presently claimed by
Azerbaijan. Iran, however, still disagrees with any division of the
Caspian using median lines. Iran originally favored the “condominium”
approach but later considered dividing the Caspian into five equal
areas with each state having sovereignty over 20% of the seabed
resources and water. Utilizing median lines, Iran’s sector of the
Caspian does not have the potential fossil fuel resources. Iran’s
method of dividing the Caspian gives them not only a larger share of
the Caspian Sea than the median line approach but as well would place
potential oil-rich seafloor regions claimed by Azerbaijan in their
sector (Croissant, 1998; U.S. Energy Information Administration,
2001).
Because of the above disagreements, there are conflicts between
Azerbaijan and Iran. In 1999, Azerbaijan accused Iran of licensing
Royal Dutch Shell to do seismic exploration in an area the Azeri
government claimed was in their sector. In July 2001, the Iranian Oil
Ministry issued a warning to foreign energy firms not to work with the
other four Caspian states in the disputed areas of the Caspian
Sea. The day after the warning was issued, Iranian ships intercepted a
British Petroleum (BP) seismic exploration ship (the Geofizik-3) that
was undertaking exploration in the Araz-Alov-Sarq fields in the South
Caspian Basin. These fields, located ~90 miles southeast of Baku,
Azerbaijan, were licensed by the Azeri government to a BP consortium
and are in a region over which Iran claims sovereignty. This incident
was the first overt military act in the Caspian Sea since the breakup
of the Soviet Union (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2002).
According to Dr. Elmar Mamedyarov, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of
Azerbaijan, the dispute between Iran and Azerbaijan regarding the
legal status of the Caspian is a “component of the tension that has
arisen in the area” (Calabrese, 2001). This tension includes the
Iranian support of Armenia in the conflict over Nagorno-Karakh, a
highly contentious region, and one that pits Armenia and Azerbaijan in
a state of “cold war.”
The U.S. presence and influence in Azerbaijan has also fueled tension
in the region, especially since Iranian companies are excluded from
U.S. energy projects in the Caspian. Conflicts regarding seabed
sovereignty also exist between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Though as
noted earlier Turkmenistan has agreed in principle with Azerbaijan,
Russia, and Kazakhstan respecting use of a median line to divide up
the seabed, exactly where to draw this line has created a major
dispute with Azerbaijan. The Absheron Peninsula of Azerbaijan juts
into the Caspian Sea. Because of this coastline “anomaly,” strict
application of a median line gives Azerbaijan more of the mid-Caspian
than Turkmenistan would agree to cede. Turkmenistan claims the border
should lie on a line drawn using the shores of the two states lying
opposite. This would give Turkmenistan a larger share of the
mid-Caspian, an area where there is significant oil potential (the
Serdar/Kyapaz oil fields). Though considerable rhetoric has arisen
between the two countries, hostilities have thus far been
nonexistent…
Copyright: Taylor & Francis Inc.

Armenian press body condemns attacks on reporters covering opposition rally
Mediamax news agency
6 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The National Press Club of Armenia (NPC) issued a statement today,
condemning attacks on journalists by unidentified people during an
opposition rally in central Yerevan on 5 April.
During the rally, 15 to 20 young people with an athletic build
attacked the filming crews of the Armenian Public TV and the private
TV companies Kentron, HY Noyan Tapan and Shant, and reporters of
Aravot and Aykakan Zhamanak newspapers. They deliberately broke video
and photo cameras that belonged to the abovementioned mass media.
“This odious step is directed against freedom of speech and pursues
one aim – to hamper the reporting of unbiased information about the
developments in Armenia,” the NPC statement read.
The NPC demanded that the Armenian authorities punish the perpetrators
of the attack on the journalists and prevent such incidents in the
future.
The authors of the statement also appealed “to respect their
professional duty” to those journalists who the NPC said “have
distorted facts thus rendering support to the bandits”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS countries to hold joint air-defence exercise
ITAR-TASS news agency
6 Apr 04
MOSCOW
Over 100 military units and subunits of the CIS countries’ unified
air-defence system will be taking part in command-and-staff training.
ITAR-TASS was told today by the head of the Russian Air Force press
service, Col Aleksandr Drobyshevskiy, that “on Wednesday 7 April there
will be command-and-staff training under the leadership of
Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Army Gen Vladimir
Mikhaylov – the chairman of the coordinating committee of the CIS
countries’ air defence – and involving management bodies and duty
forces of the unified air-defence system of the member states of the
CIS”.
The training will be directed from the central command post of the
Russian Air Force.
“During the training, about 10 different points will be practised,
relating to the improvement of the CIS unified air-defence system,”
Drobyshevskiy said. “More than 100 units and subunits of the air
forces and air-defence forces of the CIS countries and 80 aircraft
will be taking part in the training.”
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan and Russia are taking part in the command-and-staff
training of the CIS unified air-defence system.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian police arrest 127 opposition members, party leader says
Mediamax news agency
6 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Leader of the National Unity Party Artashes Gegamyan said in Yerevan
today that the Armenian president and the defence minister bore
personal responsibility for the provocation that took place during an
opposition rally in central Yerevan on 5 April.
During the rally, some unidentified people tried to throw eggs at
Artashes Gegamyan. Seeing that journalists were filming this, 15 to 20
young people attacked the filming crews of the Armenian Public TV, the
private TV companies Kentron, Hai TV and Shant, and the reporters of
Aravot and Aykakan Zhamanak newspapers. The video and photo cameras of
the abovementioned media were broken.
Addressing a briefing in Yerevan today, Artashes Gegamyan said that
“the plan of provocations was approved on the previous day at a
meeting with the Armenian president, and only the fact that people
exercised restraint helped prevent disorder”. According to the
opposition politician, the persons who attacked media representatives
during the rally were the “bodyguards of some oligarchs”.
Artashes Gegamyan expressed confidence that the authorities were
preparing for more provocations on 9 April, the day when the National
Unity Party and the Justice bloc will start their actions of protest
in the streets.
At 1019 gmt, Noyan Tapan news agency quoted Gegamyan as saying that
the police arrested 127 members and activists of the National Unity
Party on 4-5 April.