MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
INFORM ATION FOR PRESS
23-03-2006
Minister Oskanian’s Official Visits to the United States, Russia and Syria
Minister Oskanian will pay a working visit to the United States from
March 26-31,
On March 27, he will be in attendance at the official signing
ceremony for the Millennium Challenge Compact. US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice will also be present at the State Department ceremony
in Washington DC.
On the same day, he will meet with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Steven
Mann,
On March 28, a press conference is scheduled at the National Press
Club in Washington.
On March 27, the Minister will deliver a speech at the
American-Armenian Assembly Advocacy Conference jointly organized
with the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church. He will also meet representatives of
the Armenian community in the USA.
On March 29, Minister Oskanian will leave for New York.
The next day, he will meet with Kemal Dervish, UNDP Administrator,
as well as Jan Eliasson, President of the General Assembly.
A meeting with Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General is scheduled for
March 31.
Following his return to Yerevan, on April 6-7, Minister Oskanjan will
visit Moscow where he will meet with Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign
Minister, and Igor Ivanov, Secretary of the Security Council.
On April 7-9, the Minister will be in Syria to meet with Bashar
al-Assad, President of the Syrian Republic, and Walid Moallem,
Syria’s Foreign Minister.
On April 9, Minister Oskanian will be in attendance at the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the 75th
anniversary of the Armenian Youth Association, as well as the
ceremonial opening of Aleppo’s Giulbenkian Center.

TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
March 24, 2006
U.S. Department of State Donates Physical Techniques Equipment to Armenian Police
On March 24, 2006 the United States Department of State donated
approximately $40,000 of physical techniques equipment to the Police of
the Republic of Armenia for the training of Armenian Police officers
at the Police Academy and Police Training Center. U.S. Embassy Charge
d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey opened the donation ceremony, which took
place at the Police Academy.
The physical techniques equipment, which was funded by the Department
of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
(INL), includes gym mats, Redman instructor suits, body opponent bags,
rubber training knives, guns, handcuffs, and boxing bags. The First
Deputy Head of Police accepted the equipment for the Government
of Armenia and presented Ambassador Evans with a Certification of
Gratitude from the Police Academy of the Republic of Armenia.
During the event, Charge d’Affaires Anthony Godfrey stated, “The police
force is the one democratic institution with which the population has
the most contact. That is why it is most important for the police to
change how it is perceived by the population. A fit, well-trained,
professional force gives the people of Armenia — and visitors —
the impression that Armenia is a country which cares about citizens’
rights and about citizens’ safety.”
2406.html

10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
27 March 2006
ARCHBISHOP RETURNS FROM REGIONAL INTERFAITH CONFERENCE
Sydney, Australia – At the invitation of Australia’s Foreign Affairs
Minister, the Hon Alexander Downer MP, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia
and New Zealand was one of a ten person delegation to represent
Australia at the “Dialogue on Regional Interfaith, Cooperation for
Peace, Development and Human Dignity” in Cebu, Philippines from
14-16 March.
Other members of the Australian delegation included Rev John Baldock
(Anglican), Cardinal George Pell (Catholic), Rev John Henderson
(National Council of Churches of Australia), Ms Peta Jones Pellach
(Jewish), Most Venerable Van Canh Tran (Buddhist), Ms Wendie Wilkie
(Uniting Church), Sister Trish Madigan (Catholic), Dr Abdul Ameer Ali
(Muslim), Dr Appupillay Balasubramanian (Hindu).
On the evening of 13 March, the Australian delegation met with
the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Tony
Hely and Australian government representatives headed by Mr Andrew
Robb, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs.
The conference was officially opened on 14 March by President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines with her keynote address. New
Zealand Prime Minister, Mrs Helen Clark then addressed the participants
of the Conference which led the delegates into four working parties
each to consider one of four themes in the context of interfaith
cooperation that included regional peace and security, human dignity
and development, the role of education and promotion; and the role
of media in promoting interfaith cooperation. Australia led the
workshop on “Interfaith Co-operation for Regional Peace and Security”.
After a consultation process that lasted two days, the reports of
the four working groups were presented and the spirit of the reports
composed the “Cebu Declaration on Regional Interfaith Cooperation on
Peace, Development and Human Dignity” which was drawn on 16 March.
During the course of the three days, delegates had the opportunity
to explore parts of Cebu province and get acquainted with the local
culture and lifestyle of the Philippines. On Tuesday evening, the
Governor of Cebu, Gwendolyn Garcia hosted a dinner for the 150 plus
delegates who were later entertained with a cultural performance.
Delegates to the Dialogue came from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia,
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Malaysia and Fiji Islands.
On his return journey to Sydney via Hong Kong, Archbishop Baliozian
visited with the small Armenian communities in Hong Kong and
Guangzhou, China. He was met in Hong Kong by Mr and Mrs Jack Maxian who
accompanied the Primate to Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton to the
western world), the provincial capital city of Guangdong. Presently,
there are three Armenian residents in Guangzhou with business interests
finding them in this remote part of the world. Warm hospitality
and sincere camaraderie is ever-present when two or more Armenians
gather. This was indeed the case when the Archbishop was so warmly
welcomed by the Armenians of both Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
22-03-2006
Diplomatic Relations between Armenia and San Marino Established
On March 21, Rouben Shugarian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the Italian
Republic, and Barbara Para, San Marino’s Ambassador, signed the
Agreement on Establishing Diplomatic Relations between the Republic
of Armenia and the Most Serene Republic of San Marino. The official
ceremony was held at San Marino’s Embassy in Rome.
Specifically, the Agreement says that the two states share a desire
to strengthen political, cultural and trade ties, and intend to base
these relations on the United Nations Charter and international norms
and principles.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
23-03-2006
Rouben Shougarian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the Italian Republic,
Speaks on the South Caucasus European Integration Plans
On March 22, a round table was held at the initiative of Ambassador
Pietro Ago in the framework of the ‘European strategic scenario’
seminar (Scenario strategico europeo) at the 57th session of the
Defense Institute of Higher Education – Istituto Alti Studi per la
Difesa (IASD) – under the Defense Ministry of the Italian Republic. The
round table was dedicated to the South Caucasus phased integration
into the European architecture.
Over 50 experts and political scientists, including Zaal Gogsadze,
Georgia’s Ambassador to Italy, and Bayram Hasanov, Counsellor of the
Embassy of Azerbaijan, were in attendance at the meeting, and made
their presentations on the subject discussed.
In his presentation Ambassador Shougarian outlined the priorities of
Armenia’s foreign policy emphasizing the similarities and differences
of the Europeanization process in Armenia and the rest of the South
Caucasus.
He also spoke about the NATO-South Caucasus relations development,
frozen conflicts and the search for their resolution presenting
Armenia’s approach to them.
In conclusion, the Ambassador noted that even in with the political
conflicts unresolved it is possible to find common grounds for regional
cooperation among the three countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY TB FIGURES UP
Azg, Yerevan
25 Mar 06
Excerpt from report by Gohar Gevorkyan in Armenian newspaper Azg on 25
March headlined “Despite efforts, the TB situation remains worrying”.
The TB situation in the world remains worrying.
[Passage omitted: 9m new TB cases registered in the world].
Yesterday, on the occasion of world day for fighting tuberculosis,
leaders and representatives of the anti-TB national centre said that
the disease has increased noticeably over the past decade.
The head of the centre, Vaan Pogosyan, said that in 2005 there were
6,455 people with TB in Armenia, 2,006 of which were new cases. He
said that 167 patients died of TB.
He said that the early detection and proper treatment are the main
tasks for the state. By all means this does not mean that nothing is
being done by way of treatment. Several hospitals and clinics were
refurbished within the framework of the programme. Laboratory and
other equipment were bought, the centre was set up, and polyclinics
were tasked with treating the disease.
By the way, the diagnosis and treatment of TB is free of charge in
Armenia. Specialists believe that with early diagnosis and the right
treatment the disease can be treated.
Pogosyan said that the programme will continue till 2011 and that the
government is going to endorse a new strategy and allocate more than
1bn drams for this. Over the next five years the Global foundation
will allocate 7m dollars to support the programme.
The head of the World Health Organization office in Yerevan, Elizabeth
Hoff, talked about the work that has been done so far and said that
more needs to be done to prevent the disease from spreading and to
treat it.

AZERI PRESIDENTIAL AIDE SAYS EU ENVOY’S KARABAKH REMARKS “POLITICAL PRESSURE”
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
25 Mar 06
[Presenter] The fact that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has not
been resolved benefits neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia, the EU special
envoy for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, has told Radio Liberty.
He believes that Armenia will remain isolated if the conflict
continues, while Azerbaijan’s efforts to resolve the problem in
a military way may lead to serious consequences. The diplomat has
warned that these kinds of efforts could be abortive. He said that
a military solution to the conflict may undermine the investment
climate in Azerbaijan and discredit the country as a partner.
Baku views this kind of statement as a means of political and
psychological pressure only. The head of the foreign relations
department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Executive Staff, Novruz
Mammadov, has said that if the resumption of hostilities threatens
Azerbaijan’s image as a partner, then European entities must never
cooperate with Armenia, which has occupied the territories of its
neighbour.
[Correspondent, over video of Semneby speaking in Baku, Mammadov]
Peter Semneby’s remarks on the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict are designed to put psychological and political pressure on
Baku. Novruz Mammadov believes that any international organization
interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict should take a just
position instead of using methods of warning and pressure.
[Novruz Mammadov, captioned, shown speaking] They want to influence
Azerbaijan in a certain way by this message. I believe that there is
no need for it. If Azerbaijan can indeed discredit itself as a partner
if it starts war to liberate its own lands, how come that Armenia
occupied Azerbaijani territories in a war and has kept them under
occupation for 15 years, but this has not discredited Armenia anyhow?
[Correspondent] Mammadov said that the Azerbaijani government was not
interested in a military solution either. However, Baku will use all
the resources to secure its territorial integrity.
[Novruz Mammadov] The Armenian side wishes to legalize the occupation
of the territories and appropriate them. The involvement of the world
community and international organizations in the conflict resolution
has failed to produce positive results so far. War will bring no good
to Azerbaijan or the South Caucasus. You know, war never brings good
to anyone. On the other side, a lot of investments have been made in
Azerbaijan. Billions of investments have been made here and nobody
wishes that those investments be squandered. Neither do we.
[Correspondent] Mammadov commended the EU’s activity in the resolution
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, but stressed that Baku’s biggest
concession was its participation in the peace talks.
Therefore, international organizations should persuade Yerevan to
give up its non-constructive stand.

TURKISH ISLAMIST PARTY LEADER SAYS US “NOT SINCERE” ABOUT KURDISH REBEL GROUP
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
24 Mar 06
Malatya [eastern Turkey], 24 March: [Islamist] Felicity Party [SP]
Deputy Chairman Recai Kutan has said: “I consider that the United
States is not sincere with regard to the [Kurdish rebel group] PKK
[Kurdistan Workers’ Party].”
Coming to Malatya for his party’s provincial chairmanship congress,
which will be held on the weekend, Recai Kutan noted in a statement
to the AA [Anatolia Agency] correspondent the things said by US Joint
Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace about a joint project to be signed
with Turkey for the elimination of the PKK from northern Iraq, and
spoke as follows:
“I consider that the United States is not sincere with regard to the
PKK. The United States always uses the PKK as a means of blackmail.
As a nation, we generally have a weak memory. Not so long ago, General
Dogan Gures, when he was Chief of the General Staff, stood up to the
West and said openly that US helicopters had delivered material to PKK
members on so-and-so mountain, and given them logistical support. So
what is going on? Currently, Iraq is virtually entirely under their
control. Why do they not say anything to the PKK? Why do they not
get the forces of [Iraqi Kurdish leaders Mas’ud] Barzani and [Jalal]
Talabani to do something? Give these people what for, and prevent
them from infiltrating into Turkey. We are not saying that they all
have to be slaughtered. Just prevent them from sneaking into Turkey
and engaging in terrorist acts.”
“Is there nuclear energy only in Iran?”
Kutan, stating that one reason for General Pace’s visit was an appeal
for cooperation with Turkey against Iran, charged that, on this point,
the United States is being inconsistent.
Asserting that the United States wants at least to carry out an air
attack against Iran, Kutan related that it needs Turkey support in
this regard and said the following:
“The United States, saying that Iran is going to make an atomic bomb,
wants help from Turkey. What this means is this: It wants, by using
this trumped-up rationale, to destroy the nuclear facilities there,
with air strikes even if not a direct attack [i.e. invasion],
and wants to get Turkey on its side in this. But they should ask
themselves this question: Is there nuclear energy in the Middle East
only in Iran? Israel currently possesses both a nuclear reactor and a
substantial number of atomic bombs. There is also nuclear technology
in Pakistan. There is a nuclear power-plant in Armenia. So why is no
priority concern being shown for all of these, but it is being shown
for Iran?”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD MIGRATION BODY READY TO HELP AZERIS REGISTER IRANIAN MIGRANTS
ANS TV, Baku
25 Mar 06
[Presenter] Under the European Neighbourhood Policy, the EU and
the International Organization for Migration [IOM] are working
to reinforce the Azerbaijani-Iranian border. The goal here is to
prevent narcotics being smuggled from Iran to Azerbaijan, and there
are also political aspects because it has been admitted that there
is an influx of migrants from Iran to Azerbaijan. Both economic and
political interests are involved here.
[Correspondent] The next discussions on the implementation of the
project for reinforcing the Azerbaijani border within the framework
of the European Neighbourhood Policy will be held in Brussels in
a few days. The IOM’s representative in Azerbaijan, Sarat Dash,
has told ANS that EU and IOM representatives will participate in
the talks. Immediately afterwards, training courses for Azerbaijani
border guards will start. The border guards will be taught ways of
dealing with an influx of refugees. We should note that the project,
on which 2m euros will be spent initially, envisages fitting the
249-km-long border with Iran with special equipment and beefing up
the infrastructure.
The IOM representative believes that the reinforcement of Azerbaijan’s
southern border will be of major importance towards prevention of
transnational crime, including drugs smuggling from Iran to Azerbaijan.
Sarat Dash admitted that more people have been crossing from Iran to
Azerbaijan in the past few months. He said Iranian migrants are not
being registered currently but the IOM is ready to help the Azerbaijani
government in this respect.
[Dash] The visa regime has been changed in Naxcivan. People can
[easily] travel from Iran to Naxcivan and from Naxcivan to Iran. I
recently visited Naxcivan and talked to officials. They said that many
people were coming and going, but there was no precise information. If
the government wants we could help [a few words indistinct].
[Correspondent] Sarat Dash said that the number of migrants coming
from both Iran and other countries to Azerbaijan is increasing. He
explained this by our country’s economic development. Sarat Dash,
newly-appointed to the post of IOM’s representative in Azerbaijan,
is also thinking of inquiring about IDPs from Azerbaijani districts
occupied by Armenia. The Cabinet of Ministers has asked the IOM for
help in resolving the problem of drinking water in areas where IDPs
are living and for micro-credits to be allocated, he said.
[passage omitted: Sarat Dash to visit refugee camps in April]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘THERE IS NO ONE TO REPRESENT AZERBAIJAN’ AT EURO. SONG CONTEST
esctoday.com, Netherlands
Eurovision Song Contest
March 26 2006
Singer Yalchin Rzazade speaks out
Now neighbours Russia and Armenia take part in the Eurovision Song
Contest and neighbour Georgia is eager to do so as well, public
discussions about participation started in Azerbaijan. “There is
really no one worthy to represent Azerbaijani people in this song
contest. Azerbaijani singers claiming that they can participate in the
Eurovision Song Contest can only sing in restaurants and they become
popular by the help of money”, the popular singer Yalchin Rzazade said.
According to Rzazade, a singer to participate in this song contest
should be a professional first of all. “Secondly, he or she
should have a beautiful appearance. There are beautiful singers in
Azerbaijan. However, not all of them are talented”, Rzazade said.
Rzazade indirectly says that his country should not take part at all,
as no one meets the standards that are neccesary to take part. “Our
pop stars do not meet the standards of this contest. What I want
to say is that some of our pop stars claming to participate in the
contest cannot represent Azerbaijan. It would be shameful for us. In
Azerbaijan, if you have money, you can write songs, make disks or
clips. Most of our young singers pay some money to televisions to
display their clips, as a result the new generation is obliged to
listen to these songs. It is not a real art”, the popular singer said.
For the moment, a discussion about Azerbaijan’s participation might
be a little too early, as the country’s public broadcaster AZTV is
not even a member of the European Broadcasting Union…