PACE CALLED UPON YEREVAN, TBILISI AND BAKU TO GRANT LEGAL STATUS TO REFUGEES

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 21:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
called upon Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to find a legal status
for the refugees on the basis of international humanitarian law. “The
situation of refugees and displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia continues to be an obstacle for the development of these
countries in economic, socio-political and health terms. Efforts
to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have not as yet
produced results. Border incidents still occur, the fate of missing
persons has yet to be solved and landmines continue to cause injury and
death. There remain urgent humanitarian needs which are becoming ever
more difficult to satisfy as donor fatigue sets in. Urgent humanitarian
needs, however, must be increasingly supplemented by international
development aid to provide a future for the refugees and internally
displaced persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. There are,
however, some positive signs that the three countries are moving
forward with the local integration of their refugees and displaced
persons, thus allowing these people to regain their dignity and
prepare for the future,” says the Report of Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Population Rapporteur Mr. Boriss Cilevics, Latvia.

The document also maintains the UN data on the number of refugees
and displaced persons in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Thus, up to
1999/2000, the number of refugees opting for Armenian citizenship was
relatively small. This changed with the enactment in 2000 of a law
on persons forcibly displaced from Azerbaijan between 1988 and 1992
who have been naturalised; the legislation grants these persons the
right to protection and assistance. As a result, over 15,000 refugees
in 2000 and over 16,000 in 2001 acquired citizenship; since 2002,
this wave of naturalisation has decreased in intensity. In Georgia,
the figures are also vague and legislation has been slow to adapt. The
number of displaced persons is put at 237,069 a figure, which shows
little variation.

According to statistics gathered during the visit to Georgia, this
figure includes 224,938 persons from Abkhazia alone, who are unevenly
distributed between the regions of Georgia, with a very strong presence
in the Tbilisi and Samegrelo (Mingrelia) areas. The number of persons
displaced from the former autonomous oblast of South Ossetia is
put at 12,131; the same remark may be made about their distribution
between the regions of Georgia, with very high densities in Tbilisi
and Kartli. In Azerbaijan the statistics provided by UNHCR (for the
end of 2004) indicate a figure of 578,545 internally displaced persons
and 8,606 refugees.

PRE-ELECTION CHALLENGES CORPORATION
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
13 april 06

When politics is mixed with economy, the outcome is neither economy
nor politics. This magnificently simple formula was given by the
minister of defense on April 11, commenting on the Russian-Armenian
agreement on gas and thereof the sale of the fifth generating unit of
the Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan to Gasprom. They say other things
were sold as well, but first let us try to find out if the outcome
of the sale of the fifth generating unit was economics or politics.

A recent news release of the news agency Regnum on the decision
of the Armenian government informed that before the sale the fifth
generating unit was transferred from the balance of the Ministry of
Energy to the Ministry of Defense which was going to sign a contract
of sale with either Gasprom or the legal entity founded by Gasprom
in Armenia. And the proceeds from the sale of the fifth generating
unit, 248 million dollars, would embark the balance of the Ministry
of Defense. Of course, under the decision of the same government, 188
million dollars out of this money will be paid to Armrusgasard within
three years to subsidize gas consumed by the population and industry.

The other 60 million will be transferred to the state budget, again
within three years.

If the money is to go to the state budget finally, why did the Ministry
of Defense sell the fifth generating unit and not the Ministry of
Energy? And why is the money first transferred to the ministry and
only then to the necessary targets. This money “voyage” seems not
to obey any economic rule. It does not mean, however, that it has
a political logic. If apparently it is not economy, and we will say
it is not politics not to politicize, what is it then? Does it mean
that what was mixed with economy in the deal was not politics, or
what was mixed with politics was not economy, or something else was
mixed with economy and politics, or yet this something was covered
with economy or politics?

Since the deal and its details are kept in an atmosphere of secrecy,
and the defense minister promises to explain the charm of the sale
of the fifth generating unit later, we have to look for answers to
these questions all by ourselves, tracking facts and statements.

Under these circumstances the fact of selling the energy plant via
the Ministry of Defense causes surprise. It is surprising, for the
Ministry of Defense had not interfered with the sale of any of the
objects of the energy sector of Armenia that were also sold or given
to Russia. It is true, of course, that the defense minister is also
the co-chair of the Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission,
but he was the co-chair of this commission when the distribution
networks were given to Russia to repay the debt of Armenia, and the
Ministry of Defense did not interfere.

It is also rather interesting that till the agreement on gas the
co-chair of the intergovernmental commission and the minister of
defense displayed no public activity with regard to gas. Certainly,
instead of words and forecasts he preferred to tackle the danger
threatening the people of Armenia, in other words, he was busy with
real work while the other government officials were making indefinite
allegations. We were rather late to learn, however, that the defense
minister was working. He announced March 22 that he had extended
proposals to Gasprom which were accepted and the population was
saved from a social aftershock. In early April it became known what
proposals had been mentioned and what the price of salvation of people
had been. The joy for salvation was so great that people forgot to
ask if the defense minister alone had realized that selling the fifth
generating unit would relieve people’s state for three years, if the
Russians agreed to buy the generating unit from the defense minister
only or if only the generating unit. For Gasprom officially published
that it would buy other objects of the energy sector of Armenia,
and the minister of defense announced there would be interesting
developments with regard to the Iran-Armenia pipeline.

So there is no need to cause problems with anti-Russian moods now and
have to overcome them later, announced Serge Sargsyan. He announced
that the anti-Russian groups did not have any influence, all they could
do was to make a noise. If they do not have influence, how are they
supposed to cause problems. It means they have influence, nevertheless.

Besides, there is a noteworthy nuance, which had a rather typical and
revealing role in the entire odyssey about gas, however. The defense
minister voiced the criticism against anti-Russian groups when John
Danilovich, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, was visiting Armenia. Through the latter the U.S.

government is going to allocate 235 million dollars to Armenia, which
is characterized as a carte blanche to President Robert Kocharyan
on some conditions, of course. But one man’s meat is another man’s
poison. This is life.

Another nuance is interesting, which is also important. Earlier when
the president of Armenia visited Russia to settle the question of gas
with Putin, it was announced that the problem of gas would be settled
in mid-February. Surprisingly, however, the problem was solved much
later. The deal of 248 million dollars was signed in early April, a
week after the agreement on 235 million dollars signed in Washington,
which means that within only three years more money will be transferred
to the balance of the defense ministry (outside its budget) than the
money that will come from America within 5 years.

PACE FACT-FINDING MISSION TO DEPART FOR NAKHICHEVAN TO INVESTIGATE KHACHKAR DEMOLITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 21:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The PACE Committee on Culture, Science and Education
has confirmed the decision to send a fact-finding mission led by
rapporteur on cultural heritage Edward O’Hara to Nakhichevan late May
to investigate the site where Armenian khachkars were destructed. The
PACE Committee requested the leadership of Armenia and Azerbaijan
for full support to the mission activities, reported Mediamax.

1ST INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL DEMOCRACIES TO BE HELD 3-7 JULY IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
13.04.2006 16:15

YERITAC Armenian Youth NGO is organizing a scientific youth conference
entitled “National Democracies or Nations against Democracies?” which
will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, on July 3-7, 2006.

The purpose of the 1st International Youth Conference on National
Democracies is to bring together young scholars, students, activists,
etc. both from advanced democracies and transitional countries, who
are enrolled in democracy studies and national studies to provide an
opportunity to discuss the possible issues of transitional democracies
as well as to argue on the sharper aspects and find possible solutions.

AZERI LAWMAKER SUGGESTS JOINT SEARCH FOR WAYS TO SETTLE KARABAKH ISSUE

Armenpress
Apr 13 2006

BAKU, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: An Azerbaijani parliament member said
lawmakers from Armenia and his country could meet to discuss the best
ways to resolve their dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Sabir Hajiev, who is also chairman of a small party called Civic Unity,
was quoted by Trend news agency as saying that the accord of Armenian
and Azeri presidents was needed to convene the first such meeting. “If
they (the presidents) believe a joint search for ways to settle the
conflict by lawmakers could help they should endorse this proposal,”
he was quoted as saying.

This idea was supported also by another Azeri lawmaker, Fazan
Gazanfarogly, who however, argued that this problem could not be
solved by the efforts of deputies, because it was not solved so far
either by presidents or their foreign ministers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FINAL STAGE OF POLICE TRAINING CENTER RENOVATION STARTED

Armenpress
Apr 13 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Police Training Centre
has launched today the third and final stage of its renovation,
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan,
Major-General Ararat Mahtesyan, First Deputy Head of the Armenian
Police, Mr. Anthony Godfrey, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy
in Armenia toured around the Centre, which was followed by a short
presentation of the accomplished and anticipated activities.

Renovation of the centre is part of a large-scale Police Assistance
Program launched by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in 2004. The program
envisages three key components: refurbishment of the Police Training
Centre, development of the curriculum in line with international
standards and introduction of a community-policing model in one of
Yerevan districts.

Refurbishment of the Training Centre has been made possible with
financial contributions from the Governments of the USA, Belgium
and Sweden.

MISSION OF NKR OFFICE TO US TO LOBBY INTERESTS OF ITS COUNTRY

Washington, April 12. ArmInfo. Like the other diplomatic offices in
Washington, the office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic represents
and lobbies the interests of its country, says the NKR permanent
representative to the US Vardan Barseghian.

He says that the NKR diplomatic representation to the US was
registered by the US Justice Department in 1999 as the Office of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic to the United States and has a legal
status. All foreign representations to the US are registered by that
department. But because the NKR is not officially recognized the NKR
office to the US has a bit different status. The NKR representative
to the US like other NKR representatives are appointed by the NKR
president.

To note, a few days ago the US Justice Department published a report
on the activities of lobby companies representing the interests of
foreign states, organizations and individuals in the US. 135 states
and territories like Tibet and Hong Kong, officially considered as
part of China, and Nagorny Karabakh, de jure part of Azerbaijan,
have their lobbyists in Washington. Registration of the lobbyist of
an unrecognized state does not mean its official recognition by the US.

The report says that Azerbaijan uses the service of three firms: JWI
(public relations), Linvingston Group (political advising) and White &
Case (lobbying).

WITHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 3 MAJOR ASPECTS THERE CAN BE NO DEVELOPMENT IN THE TURKISH – ARMENIAN RELATIONS: TURKISH MP

Yerevan, April 12. ArmInfo. Without the implementation of the 3
major aspects there can be no development in the Turkish – Armenian
relations, the head of Turkish parliamentary delegation to PACE,
Murat Merjan says in an interview to Trend.

These 3 major aspects are: resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
on acceptable for both sides’ conditions, resolution of so-called
Armenian genocide issue in the Ottoman times, and acceptation by
Armenia of existing borders according to the Kars Treaty.

“Without implementation of the given conditions, we can not speak
about the normalization of Turkish – Armenian relations,” he said,
adding opening of the Turkish – Armenian border also depends on these
3 aspects.

ARMENIA’S MFA EXAMINES QUESTION OF 19-YEARS-OLD ARMENIAN TO BE DEPORTED TO BAKU BY AUTHORITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN

Yerevan, April 12. ArmInfo. The Armenia’s MFA examines the question
of a 19-years-old Armenian Karen Avanessyan , whom the authorities
of Great Britain intend to deport to Baku.

As the press-secretary of Armenia’s MFA Hamlet Gasparyan told to
ArmInfo, the Armenian party worries that Karen Avanessyan can be
conveyed to Baku as his fate there is In view of this, Armenia’s
MFA and the Embassy of Armenia to London undertook steps to bring
Avanessyan to Armenia. The situation will clear up today in the second
half of the day, taking into account time difference between Yerevan
and London.

Karen Avanessyan had arrived in Great Britain three years ago as an
illegal emigrant. He was studying in school and living within the
state-paid allowances since he had no right to work. Avanessyan’s
father was Azerbaijanian. He leaved the family when his son was still
a child. The young man could not get the right for sanctuary in Great
Britain. As Avanessyan was born in Nagorno Karabakh, the Englishmen
decided that his motherland was Azerbaijan and decreed to send him
to Baku. According to the previously made decision, Avanessyan has
to be deported today by the London-Moscow route and then to Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TERRY DAVIS TAKES LIKING TO AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2006 20:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azerbaijan and Armenia have undertaken the
same obligations for the settlement of the conflict. As concerns
for Council of Europe’s work to solve the problem, to accept the
membership the both states to the organization is priority,” Council
of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis stated. Mr.

Davis said that if Azerbaijan chooses military way for settling the
conflict, it will be a violation of the commitments undertaken by the
republic to the Council of Europe: “I am sure that Azerbaijan will
fulfill the obligations otherwise it will face hardships,” he remarked.

Touching on the issue of secret jails Terry Davis voiced assurance
there is no problem of the kind in Azerbaijan. “I do not have any
information about that.

I can tell you that like other countries I have asked Azerbaijan
government to reply to the questionnaire of Council of Europe related
to this matter. The Azerbaijani part is obliged to reply it, since
it is within the obligations. I do not believe President Ilham Aliyev
lets violation of these obligations.”

Terry Davis said that the absence of the CoE office in Azerbaijan is
conditioned by the reorganization of the institute. “This will give a
chance to effective work of our bureau in Baku. The decision has been
made. I will appoint my representative in a short period of time. I
will focus attention on two issues during the appointment. First of
all, our representative office in Azerbaijan should be a model for
our offices in other countries for its effectiveness. Secondly, as I
take a liking to Azerbaijan, our office in the country should function
efficiently. I attach much more attention to this country as the CoE
office in Azerbaijan is vacant,” he said, reported APA news agency.