Category: News

Pravda Ru
Something to remember: 13 years ago we said “yes” to USSR
03/18/2004 18:05
A referendum regarding the issue of USSR took place on March 17th 1991.
Members of the referendum tried to decide whether the country should be kept
as a union of republics. Despite the fact that majority of the members had
answered positively on the posed question, several months later the union
has crumbled.
13 years ago, Soviet citizens were addressed the following question: “Do you
consider preserving the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics in a form of
renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, with guaranteed human
rights and personal freedom of people of various nationalities?”
Some republics and regions have also included some of their own questions.
Based on the official soviet data, 147 million people (80%) voted. Among
them, 112 million (76,4%) voted for preserving the USSR. Armenia, Georgia,
Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, and Estonia ignored voting altogether. In 1996,
Russian State Duma passed a specific resolution thus admitting legal power
of those results of the referendum of March 17th, 1991.
Interestingly, Russians already started to forget those results of the
referendum. When asked who they voted for, 40% turned out to vote “For”,
another 40% could not remember, 13% had troubles answering the question.
At the same time, amount of those who do not regret the USSR”s collapse has
reduced almost in half. While in 1992 32% of Russians did not wish for the
collapse, today there remain only 15%. 80% of people think that USSR should
have been preserved. 58% of Russians however consider it impossible to
reconstruct former Union. Only 30% still believe in the possibility.
Here is a reminder for those who do not remember:
An agreement entitled “Belovezhskoe Soglashenie” was signed on December 8th
1991 between Belarus and Ukraine. The agreement ascertained the fact that
the Union of Soviet Republics had ceased to exist and a new Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) has been formed. The agreement was signed by the
following parties: Boris Yeltsin, Stanislav Shushkevish and Leonid Kravchuk.
“Belavezhskoe soglashenie” has later been referred to as the conspiracy of
the traitors and the three men were called names to their faces. All three
of them are still alive; none of them is at power; all of them have a rather
controversial reputation in their now-independent countries.
In conclusion, one’s role in the history has been acknowledged even by the
Bolsheviks, even though according to their theory, even the most gifted
individual is nothing without the support of the masses. Based on numerous
examples from the history of our nation, our geniuses were capable of doing
pretty much anything.They could easily make a mess and have future
generations clean up after them, or they could simply give away a
significant portion of the country’s vast territory to a neighbor.for free.
Yegor Belous

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street, NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
March 18, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
OVER 65 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS COHOST ANCA ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
OBSERVANCE ON CAPITOL HILL
WASHINGTON, DC – A growing bipartisan list of over 65 Senate and
House members – including several key Committee leaders – have
joined the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in co-
hosting the tenth annual Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol
Hill. The event will take place at the historic Cannon Caucus room
on Wednesday, April 28th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
The Senate co-hosts include Finance Committee Chairman Charles
Grassley (R-IA), Government Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan
Collins (R-ME), Agriculture Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS),
Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA), Armed
Services Committee Ranking Democrat Carl Levin (D-MI), as well as
Senators George Allen (R-VA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Elizabeth Dole
(R-NC), John Ensign (R-NV), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Barbara Mikulski
(D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI).
In the House, co-hosts include Congressional Genocide Resolution
lead cosponsors George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) as well as House Financial Services
Committee Ranking Democrat Barney Frank (D-MA) and Representatives
Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Gresham Barrett (R-SC), Shelley Berkley (D-
NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Benjamin
Cardin (D-MD), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph
Crowley (D-NY), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna
Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Bob Filner
(D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey
(D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-
NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Gerald Kleczka (D-WI), Dennis Kucinich
(D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), William Lipinski (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jim McDermott (D-
WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal
(D-MA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Steven Rothman
(D-NJ), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Christopher
Shays (R-CT), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Bennie
Thompson (D-MS), John Tierney (D-MA), Christopher Van Hollen (D-
MD), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Joe Wilson (R-SC),
Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
“We are pleased to see so many legislators from across the nation
joining together with the Armenian American community in this
solemn remembrance,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
“Armenian Americans value their principled support and appreciate
their commitment to ensuring that the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide are used to prevent future crimes against humanity.”
The ANCA’s Annual Capitol Hill Observance provides Members of
Congress the opportunity to commemorate the Armenian Genocide with
members of the Armenian American community. This year, the ANCA
will be honoring New York Times Best Selling Author Peter Balakian,
who, over the past decade, has emerged as an exceptionally
powerful, eloquent, and effective voice against Armenian Genocide
denial, most recently through the publication of “The Burning
Tigris,” his landmark study of the U.S. humanitarian response to
the Armenian Genocide.
Joining Armenian Americans and elected officials at the observance
will be survivors of the Armenian Genocide, members of the
diplomatic community, and leaders of civil and human rights
organizations.
The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region, Western
Region and Washington headquarters cordially invite community
members from across the U.S. to participate in the Capitol Hill
Genocide Observance.
For further information, contact the Armenian National Committee of
America Washington office at (202) 775-1918 or the Eastern or
Western Region headquarters at (617) 923-1918 and (818) 500-1918
respectively.
#####

ArmenPress
March 18 2004
PRO-GOVERNMENT LAWMAKERS DENOUNCE OPPOSITION CALLS FOR CHANGE OF
POWER
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: Pro-government members of Armenian
parliament denounced today opposition calls for quick change of
power, warning that any anti-constitutional action would destabilize
the domestic situation.
On Monday the political council of the largest opposition
Ardarutyun bloc decided to start a massive campaign of rallies and
demonstrations to force president Kocharian to resign, setting early
April the deadline. Ardarutyun also hopes that another major
opposition party, the National Unity of Artashes Geghamian will join
its massive street protests.
During a parliament briefing today Karen Karapetian of People’s
Deputy independent parliamentary group argued that “stability is more
important for me and what is being done within the boundaries of the
Constitution is similarly acceptable, ” “Our group has always been
for constructive approaches. We denounce opposition when its moves
run counter to the laws and similarly we call on government to
correct its mistakes,” he said.
Galust Sahakian, the head of the influential Republican party’s
faction, doubted opposition’s resoluteness to stage rallies in front
of government buildings. “To come and stand in front of the
presidential palace and demand the president’s resignation is not a
political process and I do not think that people would come to spend
day and night in front of the presidential residence,” he said.
Sahakian said his Republican party is trying now to establish a
dialogue with the opposition to understand what it after all wants,
denying concurrently a possible clash between the authorities and the
opposition.
Hrayr Karapetian from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation said
his party is concerned with belligerent calls of the opposition,
which are distinctly in violation of the Constitution. ‘The ARF was
one time in opposition too, but it never let the developments slip
out of its hands, which is fraught with a civil war and as a
coalition member ARF will not allow it, as far as its capacities
allow,” he said.
Mher Shahgeldian from Orinats Yerkir said his party is for
democracy and that “revolutions would not yield anything good.”

ArmenPress
March 18 2004
NAZELI VARDANIAN TO DEFEND GURGEN MARGARIAN’S RELATIVES’ INTERESTS IN
BUDAPEST
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian lawyer, Ms. Nazeli
Vardanian, will be dispatched by the Yerevan-based International
Union of Armenian Lawyers, to Budapest, Hungary, to defend the rights
of Gurgen Margarian’s relatives during the investigation of the case
and the trial.
Gurgen Margarian was brutally killed by an Azeri classmate in
Budapest on February 19. The Union said a five-member team of
prominent Armenian lawyers is set up to give methodological support
to Nazeli Vardanian.

ArmenPress
March 18 2004
NUMBER OF TB PATIENTS DOUBLES IN TEN YEARS
YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: According to the official figures
of the health ministry, the number of Armenians suffering from TB
have doubled in the last ten years and the mortality rate among them
has went up by 40 percent. More people of able age are getting
infected with TB, while the ratio of TB patients among 15-24 years
old is 30 percent.
Speaking on Wednesday at a meeting of an inter-body commission set
up to handle the problem, health minister Norayr Davidian expressed
hope that the commission will contribute heavily to struggle against
TB spread. The national program for fighting TB envisages a range of
preventive measures until 2006. According to experts, the main cause
of TB spread are heavy social-economic conditions and migration
processes.

Polish, Armenian Speakers discuss relations
PAP news agency, Warsaw,
16 Mar 04
WARSAW
Sejm [lower house of parliament] Speaker Marek Borowski and the head
of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, met [on] Tuesday
[16 March] to discuss bilateral relations, international affairs and
Armenia’s policy towards the Polish minority.
Borowski said after the meeting that Bagdasaryan was interested in
European legislature, Poland’s political system and the functioning
and powers of the Sejm. The Armenian side expressed readiness to
develop closer interparliamentary contacts between the two countries
and interest in Polish experience in European integration.
On Wednesday the guest will be received by President Aleksander
Kwasniewski, Prime Minister Leszek Miller, Foreign Minister Wlodzmierz
Cimoszewicz and presidia of the Sejm’s foreign affairs and European
commissions.

Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers to meet in Prague on 26 March
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
16 Mar 04
The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers will meet in Prague on
26 March. The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will also attend the
meeting.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev said that the mediators
will put up for debate certain proposals on the settlement. He added
that the proposals will be summarized according to the sides’ views
and then a date for their visit to the region will be named.

A1 Plus | 16:25:27 | 17-03-2004 | Official |
LABORATORY TO THE MINISTRY
At the first meeting of the Armenian National Intersectorial Coordinating
Board of National Health Programs, Mr. Peter Krakolinig, Head of the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Armenia, announced that
the National TB Reference Laboratory (NRL) had been handed over from the
ICRC to the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Under the terms of the agreement – which came into force on March 4, 2004 –
the building, equipment and all consumable materials that had been supplied
by the ICRC during the previous 2-year period, were donated to the MoH.
The NRL, located within the premises of the Abovyan State Anti-Tuberculosis
Dispensary of the Ministry of Health, was built in 2001 with the funding and
technical assistance provided by the ICRC. It has been fully operational
since March 2002 and serves both civilian and detained TB patients.
The ICRC will continue to support the activities of the NRL by organizing
extensive training programs for staff members with the aim of strengthening
the laboratory’s capacity for all diagnostic procedures related to
tuberculosis.
—

Azeri leader, OSCE chairman discuss Karabakh conflict
Azerbaijani TV Channel One, Baku
16 Mar 04

[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev today received the visiting OSCE
chairman-in-office and Bulgaria’s foreign minister, Solomon
Passi. They exchanged views on Azerbaijan’s closer integration into
European organizations. Aliyev regretted that there was still no
progress in the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group which is tasked with
resolving the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagornyy
Karabakh.
[Correspondent over video of the meeting] Aliyev and Passi met in
private first. They discussed Azerbaijan’s relations with the OSCE and
closer integration into other European organizations. Aliyev talked
about the political and economic reforms that are under way in
Azerbaijan. The social policy will continue, he said.
Aliyev told Passi that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan remained unresolved. It is essential that the
international community should take more effective steps to resolve
the conflict, Aliyev said. It is possible to resolve the conflict
within international legal norms, Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
and the return of Azerbaijani refugees to their native lands, he said.
Passi said that he highly rates Azerbaijan’s commitment to European
values. The world welcomes Azerbaijan’s course of integration and
democratic reforms. The European organizations understand the
importance of solving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan for a lasting peace in the region. He said that he will
discuss ways to resolve the conflict during his upcoming visit to
Armenia.
The meeting between Aliyev and Passi continued in a broader
format. During the conversation, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan will
continue its policy of integration into international bodies. He
especially noted all the achievements Azerbaijan has made in every
sphere of life. Building a democratic society is Azerbaijan’s
strategic line, he said.
Aliyev once again drew Passi’s attention to the fact that the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict still remained unresolved. Armenia’s nonconstructive
position is a threat to regional stability and stable development,
Aliyev said.
[Aliyev in Azeri] Unfortunately, due to Armenia’s nonconstructive
stance, the Armenian armed forces are unwilling to withdraw from the
occupied territories. Thus, this creates a big threat to the region as
a whole. In order to resolve the conflict, the principles of
international law have to be observed first of all. Only on the basis
of those principles, can the conflict be resolved, and the essence of
that is in ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, in
withdrawing the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories
and returning refugees and internally displaced people to their native
lands.
We hope that the OSCE and its Minsk Group will continue their efforts,
and that the conflict will be soon resolved in a fair way and in
accordance with the principles of international law.
[Correspondent] Passi congratulated Aliyev on his election as
Azerbaijan’s president and on success in his work. I am visiting Baku
with pleasure, he said, respectfully noting that Azerbaijan has rich
history and cultural heritage.
Speaking about integration into Europe, Passi said that Azerbaijan’s
achievements in this regard are visible. The integration of Azerbaijan
and Bulgaria into the Euro-Atlantic community is becoming a reality,
he said. He is certain that closer integration will intensify in the
Black Sea basin and in the Caucasus. All possible assistance will be
rendered to Azerbaijan in every area, Passi said.
The Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a
truly serious problem. All we can do to resolve the conflict is to
speed up the talks, he said. Passi thanked Aliyev for his constructive
position and said that he will talk about his impressions in Yerevan.

OSCE chief meets Azeri opposition leaders
Turan news agency, Baku
17 Mar 04
BAKU
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Solomon Passi, who is currently visiting Baku,
met leaders of the leading opposition parties today.
Musavat leader Isa Qambar told Turan news agency that they mainly
discussed the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, human rights and
democracy in Azerbaijan, the situation after the presidential
elections which had been held last year.
Isa Qambar said that apart from Musavat, representatives of the
Democratic Party, the AMIP Azarbaycan Milli Istiqlal Party , the PFAP
People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party (reformers) and the Social
Democratic Party had attended the meeting.