WELSH MEMBERS OF UK PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZE ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE
Assyrian International News Agency, CA
June 7 2006
YEREVAN (YERKIR) — Following intensive lobbying from the above
organization, over half the eligible Welsh Representatives of the UK
Parliament have signed a motion recognizing the Armenian and Assyrian
Genocide of 1915.
“This is a historic day for Wales. “There can no longer be any doubt
that Wales has recognized the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides. We will
continue to expose this government denial of the genocide in order to
protect British investment in Turkey and to further Britain’s strategic
interests in the region. Our priority will be to put the issue of
restitution and reparations for the genocide on the political agenda.
The reunification of Armenia must no longer be a taboo subject during
Turkey’s accession talks. We in Wales can raise our voice to insist
that Turkey should yield back land to the Armenian nation if she is
to accede to the European Union,” said a spokesman for Wales-Armenia
Solidarity.

NEXT MEETING OF COUNCIL OF CHAIRMEN OF POLITICAL COORDINATION CENTER OF OPPOSITION WAS HELD
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006
The next meeting of the Council of Chairmen of Political Coordinating
Centre of Opposition (CCPCCO) discussed three issues on June 7,
Ayaz Rustamov, the executor of the authorities of the chairman of
Azerbaijan National Independence Party (ANIP), informed Trend.
Two issues covered the continuing repressions against our compatriots
in South Azerbaijan. “We made a statement on a protest against arrest
of our compatriots and decided to combine our forces to take such
steps,’ told Rustamov.
Besides, the meeting discussed the social-political aituation
in Azerbaijan. “In particular, we discussed the final meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in Bucharest on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,” stated Rustamov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH TO HOLD CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN DECEMBER
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 7 2006
The leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh will hold a referendum next December
on its draft constitution that declares the Armenian-controlled
territory an “independent and sovereign state,” a senior official in
Stepanakert said on Wednesday.
Rudik Hyusnunts, deputy speaker of the Karabakh parliament, told RFE/RL
that the decision was made on Monday at a meeting of a government
commission that has for years been working on the text of a first-ever
Karabakh constitution. The commission is headed by Arkady Ghukasian,
president of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
“The NKR president will sign a decree to hold a referendum on the
constitutional draft on December 10,” said Hyusnunts.
The decree can be signed only after the NKR National Assembly debates
and endorses the commission’s constitutional draft. According to
Hyusnunts, the assembly will receive the draft on June 15 and open
debates on it in September. The Karabakh parliament is dominated
by members of Ghukasian’s Democratic Artsakh Party and its junior
coalition partner, the Azat Hayrenik Party.
Stepanakert’s decision to effectively set a date for the referendum
came on the same day as the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
again failed to reach a framework peace agreement, all but dashing
hopes for a settlement of the Karabakh conflict in the near future.
Meeting in Bucharest on Sunday and Monday, Robert Kocharian and Ilham
Aliev apparently discussed a peace deal that would enable Karabakh’s
predominantly Armenian population to determine the disputed region’s
status in a future referendum.
Ghukasian and other Karabakh leaders have been less than enthusiastic
about this formula proposed by international mediators, saying that
the Karabakh Armenians had already voted to secede from Azerbaijan in
December 1991. The legitimacy of that referendum was never recognized
by Azerbaijan and the international community, however.
“On December 10 we will try to reaffirm the results of our independence
referendum,” said Hyusnunts.

ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR ‘ALARMED’ BY HUMAN TRAFFICKING
By Karine Kalantarian and Anna Saghabalian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 7 2006
A senior prosecutor dealing with human trafficking admitted on
Wednesday that transport of Armenian women for sexual exploitation
abroad has reached “alarming” proportions but denied that Armenian
law-enforcement authorities are too lenient towards traffickers.
Armen Boshnaghian, a member of an anti-trafficking task force at
the Armenian Prosecutor-General’s Office, said prostitution rings
operating in the country are making “large-scale criminal revenues.”
“I would say that the phenomenon is an alarming reality in Armenia,”
he told RFE/RL. “Some steps have been taken to counter it. They are
only the first steps. They are just the beginning of a very long and
difficult road.”
In an annual global report on the problem released on Monday, the
U.S. State Department said Armenia remains a “major source and, to a
lesser extent, a transit and destination country for women and girls
trafficked for sexual exploitation.” The department placed Armenia
on its human trafficking “watch list” for a second consecutive year,
saying that Yerevan’s stated crackdown on the practice has made
little progress.
The U.S. report also said that despite a reported increase in the
number of trafficking-related criminal cases opened by Armenian
prosecutors only a handful of individuals were imprisoned on relevant
charges last year. “While the government increased implementation of
its anti-trafficking law, it failed to impose significant penalties
for convicted traffickers,” it said.
Boshnaghian disagreed, insisting that in fact 15 persons convicted of
involvement in trafficking were handed jail sentences in 2005. He did
acknowledge that Armenian courts are not tough enough on traffickers,
but said Armenia’s “lenient” Criminal Code is primarily to blame
for that.
The prosecutor also dismissed U.S. claims that the Armenian authorities
are reluctant to punish law-enforcement officials allegedly cooperating
with prostitution networks that recruit and send young women abroad,
mainly to the United Arab Emirates. He argued that an Armenian police
officer was fired and prosecuted on related charges last year.
The State Department report noted that another member of the Armenian
anti-trafficking unit, Aristakes Yeremian, was implicated by an
investigative journalist in extorting bribes from Armenian pimps and
prostitutes in Dubai. The Prosecutor-General’s Office said earlier this
year that it has investigated the allegations and found them baseless.
John Miller, a senior State Department official in charge of tracking
the problem around the world, insisted on Wednesday that there is a
public perception in Armenia that corruption among law-enforcement
officials seriously hampers the fight against human trafficking. “The
lack of public trust [in law-enforcement bodies] is a serious obstacle
to progress in this area,” Miller told Armenian journalists in a
video conference from Washington.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AUTHOR ELIF SAFAK ACCUSED OF ‘INSULTING TURKISHNESS’ IN LATEST NOVEL
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman Online, Turkey
June 7 2006
Ultra-rightwing Turkish Lawyers Association Chairman Kemal Kerincsiz,
who is infamous for filing complaints against journalists and authors
in the country, has filed a complaint against author Elif Safak for
her book “Baba and Pic” (Father and Offspring).
Kemal Kerincsiz, who has sued famous Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk and
ethnic-Armenian writer Hrant Dink, has now also accused Elif Safak of
‘insulting Turkishness’ – over remarks made by Armenian characters
in her latest book.
“Baba and Pic” is the story of relations between an Armenian and two
Turkish families.
Elif Safak, who also writes for Zaman daily, has been summoned by the
Beyoglu Prosecutions Office to make a statement following Kerincsiz’s
complaint. Safak said that the remarks of the Diaspora Armenians in
her book had been wrongly attributed to her.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAMMADOV: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS’ AS WELL AS CO-CHAIRS’ FORECASTS ON NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT DID NOT COME TRUE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006
“The negotiating process between Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents
is very slow and tough.
However, the process is promising to reach the goal by solving small
issues through stages. Though tough, this step should be taken and
the talks should be continued,” President’s Office international
relations department head Novruz Mammadov said to APA.
Stating that the forecasts on the solution of the Nagorno Garabagh
conflict made by several international organizations as well as OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs did not come true, Mr.Mammadov recalled Steven
Mann’s forecast “2006 will be promising year in the settlement of
the Nagorno Garabagh conflict.”
“The conflict has a strategic content. The interests of several sates
and regions collide here,” he said.
Responding to the question “Then there will be no turning point
in the solution of the conflict this year too,” Mammadov said,
“Decisive steps can be taken to solve the conflict this year.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARYAN, BSEC SECRETARY GENERAL DISCUSS PROSPECTS OF BLACK SEA REGION DEVELOPMENT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 6 2006
Yerevan, June 6. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan and Secretary
General of the BSEC Permanent International Secretariat Leonidas
Chrisanthopoulos discussed prospects of development of the Black
Sea region.
The sides exchanged views on the developments in the Black Sea region,
addressed issues of stability, security and economy. The sides
also pointed out the importance of encouraging the establishment
of partnership.
Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos has come to Yerevan to take part in the
plenary session of the BSEC Parliamentary Assembly, which is to last
until June 8, 2006.

HEALTH CARE TARGET PROGRAMS BEING REALIZED IN NKR
>From an interview with Azat Artsakh newspaper
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 7 2006
NKR Health Minister Zoya Lazaryan’s interview
In 2006 the Nagorno Karabakh Republic /NKR/ state budget has allocated
1 milliard 560 million drams for health care system, which is 350
million drams more as compared with last year.
According to the NKR Health Minister Zoya Lazaryan, 11 491
dram has been provided for an inhabitant versus 9 894 drams in
2005. The Minister remarked increasing financing was mainly aimed
at the ambulatory services. “The health care system’s strategy is
determined by the fact that most people employ ambulatory services”,
Zoya Lazaryan said. She informed in 2005 324 thousand patients had
employed ambulatory services, which surpassed the level of 2004 by
40 %, while only 13 thousand people had employed stationary services.
In the Minister’s words, since January 1, 2006 the system employees’
wages have been raised, making 51 thousand drams for doctors, 32
thousand and nearly 24 thousand for medium and junior medical staff
correspondingly.
The goals of 2006 are determined by the implementation of the target
programs. Five aim programs have been elaborated: first ambulatory
aid to population; ensuring hygienic epidemic security; protection
of mother and child health; struggle against illnesses of social
dependence. State order includes all the five target programs.
Medical aid provided to socially hard -up groups, as well as first
medical aid is rendered free of charge.
In line with the NKR government decision, the separate groups of
population may employ medical aid free of charge. Besides, both in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh ambulatory treatment is free of charge.
Any consultation held by a doctor is free of charge, if the district
doctor’s permit is available. In case a citizen applies to a doctor of
narrow specialization without a permit, he must pay according to rate.
In the ambulatory treatment system separate groups of population
are furnished with drugs free of charge. In 2006 the list has been
enlarged. If in 2005 free drugs for 300 drams were calculated for an
inhabitant, current year the amount has been increased to 400 drams.
Some modifications have been made in the issue as well – if only
children up to three years old could use free drugs, current year
drugs are available for the children up to seven years old free
of charge. Solitary unemployed retirees can also use fifty-percent
discount. Besides, the state purchases drugs and provides it to the
polyclinics for ambulatory patients. They are mainly delivered to those
suffering from sugar diabetes, epilepsy, bronchial asthma and cancer.
There is one more innovation. Children’s hospitals and polyclinics have
always served children up to 15, however, according to the new rules
they will serve children up to 18 years old. At children’s hospitals
special attention should be paid to medical service of boys under
the age of conscription.
The weakest link of the health care system is rural medial points.
First medical aid is not always available for a villager, as a result
of which he has to get to the capital city – Stepanakert. Doctors
are available at a few villages only, where ambulatory service is
properly implemented.
It is the first time the Republic state budget has allocated funds to
improve rural population’s medical service. Twice a year a group of
doctors will necessarily leave for regions to examine the population.
Schedules will be made for each populated locality, so the inhabitants
will be informed of the doctors’ visit beforehand.

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: ARMENIA LARGE SOURCE OF TRAFFICKING
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 6 2006
Yerevan, June 6. /ARKA/. Armenia is a large source of trafficking aimed
at sexual exploitation of women, says a report of the US Department
of State.
According to the document, Armenia women are mostly taken to United
Arab Emirates and Turkey.
Armenia is in part both a transit country and a final destination,
the report says.
The persons involved in human trafficking in Armenia, mostly women,
transport the victims to Dubai either directly or through Moscow.
Women are transported to Turkey by buses via Georgia. According to
the report, profit from trafficking of Armenian women has recently
considerably increased.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALIYEV IS SURE THAT AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN CONFLICT WILL BE RESOLVED ON BASE OF NORMS AND PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
June 7 2006
“I am sure that Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict will be resolved on base
of norms and principles of international law,” told the Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev in his interview to a American television NBC,
Trend reports.
Touching up on the period of the solution of the conflict, the
president noted that it was difficult to speak about a fast solution
of the problem because it doesn’t depend on
Azerbaijan only. “The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is
recognized by all countries around the world and interbnational
organizations. The United Nations Security Council has adopted four
resolutions on unconditional release of Azerbaijani territories
occupied by Armenian troops. The Council of Europe, the Organization
of Islamic Conference, GUAM and other international organizations have
accepted the resolutions requiring the restoration of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and withdrawal of Armenian troops. All these
are base for the solution of the conflict,” told president.
“We will never agreed with the separation of Nagorno-Karabakh from
Azerbaijan or its independence,” added Aliyev. “We can provide
Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh with the autonomy status,
including security and certain elements of self-government. However,
this can happen only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,”
told Aliyev.