FIRST DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE RF STATE DUMA COMMITTEE ON CIS AFFAIRS: MIGRATION POLICY OF RUSSIA TO CHANGE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 21 2006
MOSCOW, March 21. /ARKA/. The migration policy of Russia will certainly
change, according to the “Novosti-Armenia” agency; this was stated by
the First Deputy Chairman of the RF State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs
Ahmed Bilalov during his meeting with journalists in Moscow. In his
words, directions and terms of changes will be defined gradually.
“Russia first of all is interested in labor resources – people, who
are going to leave for far North to open it up”, Bilalov emphasized,
while expressing an opinion that in this case preference will be shown
for “our countrymen, who speak Russian and have Russian education”.
Besides that, according to Bilalov, a group must be defined, for
which must be set an easy order of getting Russian citizenship.
“Certainly a differentiated approach must be shown here”, Bilalov
emphasized At the same time he stated that this issue is a subject
of special discussions and expressed belief that the basic document
defining migration principles will be approved in Russia in 2006-2007.
According to Bilalov, many sublegislative acts will be passed.
“We need appropriate legalization of migrants in order the law
machinery couldn’t fleece them. For example if Armenians and Tajiks
leave Russia our construction business will rise. I think that
migration issues must be considered on the level of Eurasian Economic
Community (EEC- “Novosti-Armenia”).

NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM OF ARMENIA LOST THE YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAM OF GERMANY
ArmRadio
22.03.2006 15:51
On March 21 the national football team of Armenia lost the youth
football team of Germany with the score of 1:3 in the friendly match
held in Alen city of Germany.
At the 7th minute of the match Armenians opened the score. In the
first half the Armenian team was leaving a good impression. However,
a turnover occurred in the second half, the German football players
celebrated an impressive victory.

NKR MINISTRIES OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH CARRY OUT EXPLANATORY WORK TO PREVENT BIRD FLUE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 21 2006
STEPANAKERT, March 21. /ARKA/. Specialists of the NKR Ministry of
Agriculture and Ministry of Health have carried out explanatory
work in a number of villages of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
to prevent bid flue.
The NKR Ministry of Agriculture reports that the specialists visited
the borderline villages of Nadagis and Talysh, Martakert region,
NKR, where they carried out explanatory work and gave professional
recommendations.
The reason for the visit is the information recently reported by
Azerbaijan mass media that bird flue cases were recorded in the
Mirbashir region of Azerbaijan. After talking to local residents,
specialists found it that no mass cases of death of wild birds or
poultry have lately been recorded.

TO ENSURE OWN SECURITY EU SHOULD BE ENGAGED DEEPER IN CONFLICTS RESOLUTION PROCESS IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 21 2006
YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. To ensure own security the EU should
be deeper engaged in the process of conflicts resolution in South
Caucasus in order for them not to develop into a large-scale war in the
region of the “European Neighborhood”, the International Crisis Group
refers to the new report of the ICG “EU Role In Conflict Resolution in
South Caucasus”. The report examines the EU’s efforts in settling the
problems of Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Osetia, and points
out possible additional actions of this organization.
“While the UN in Abkhazia, and the OSCE in the NKR and South Osetia
dealt with the settlement of regional conflicts, negotiations,
lasting more than decades were not successful. Having the authority
of a ‘an honest mediator’ and possibility of proposals for a deeper
European integration, the EU is going to play a big role in the
region and contribute to the UN and OSCE efforts in this direction,”
the report says.
According to the press-release, in this context the EU will hardly
propose the membership to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in future:
it should find new ways of rendering assistance and implementation
of its influence.
“The EU attempts to determine its role in the program of the New
European Neighborhood” in the region of South Caucasus, where there
is neither peace nor war,” Director of the European program of the
ICG Nicolas White.
According to him, if the EU will not be able to implement its strategic
project on the secure neighborhood in the region, then it will lose
its authority as compared to Russia and the USA. “Most problematic
thing is that if conflicts in South Caucasus keep aggravating, then
the EU may become unprepared to give an answer in case of military
actions between its neighbors,” White said.

RA NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY IS BEING DEVELOPED
ArmRadio
22.03.2006 12:53
The second sitting of the Interstructural Commission coordinating
the activities of development of the draft national security strategy
was held yesterday.
Press Secretary of the Defense Minister Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
MEDIAMAX Agency that the suggestions regarding the “RA national
security interest,” ” Armenia in the international society,” “Bases
of RA National Security” were discussed at the sitting.
The proposals were approved by the Commission. The President of
the Interstructural Commission is the Secretary of the Presidential
Council on National Security, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan.

NKR PRESIDENT SIGNS LAW ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OF UNEMPLOYED
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 21 2006
STEPANAKERT, March 21. /ARKA/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic (NKR) Arkady Ghukasyan has signed the Law “On employment and
social protection of unemployed.” The NKR presidential information
department reports that the Law was adopted by the NKR Parliament on
February 15, 2006.

DELEGATION OF RA POLICE TO TAKE PART IN III INTERNATIONAL COMPLEX SINGLE COMBAT TOURNAMENT AMONG THE STUFF OF SPECIAL FORCES OF CSTO MEMBER COUNTRIES ON MARCH 23-26
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 21 2006
YEREVAN, March 21. /ARKA/. The delegation of the RA Police will take
part in the III-rd International Complex Single Combat Tournament
among the stuff of Special Forces of the CSTO-member countries in
Anapa on March 23-26.
According to the “Novosti-Armenia” agency, during the press conference
in Moscow the President of the Federation of Complex Single Combat
of Russia Oleg Ufimtsev told journalists that the Armenian delegation
is formed of the acting collaborators of the Armenian police.
“It is very pleasant that Armenia take part almost in every event
organized by us. We hope that Armenian delegation will succeed, since
it always occupies prize places. Perhaps this is the only team, which
has taken part in all tournaments of the CSTO”, Ufimtsev emphasized.
The III-rd International Complex Single Combat Tournament among the
stuff of Special Forces of the member countries of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is organized by the RF Federation
of Complex Single Combat with the support of Russian Union of
Martial Art.
The tournament is conducted within the framework of “World’s Special
Forces against Terrorism” international program and 14 teams take
part in it.

CE EUROMAGES FUND TO ALLOCATE 600,000 EUROS FOR PRODUCING LA MASSERIA DELLE ALLODOLE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 20 2006
YEREVAN, March 20. /ARKA/. The CE Euromages Fund decided at its session
held March 9 to allocate 600 thousand euros to Italian movie directors
Paolo and Vittorio Taviani for producing La Masseria Delle Allodole,
a film focused on Armenian Genocide. All jurors but Turkey voted in
favor of the idea of financing the project.
Euromages Fund President Jacques Toubaun, supporting the decision,
condemned Turkey for Armenian Genocide. Despite all protests voiced
by Euromages Turkish member, jurors remained stack to their stance.
This is a screen version of La Masseria Delle Allodole bestseller
written by Anthony Arslan.
Euromages Fund was founded in 1988 for promoting European cinema
industry. Now it includes 32 states.
The 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire was the first
genocide of XX century. Over 1.5mln Armenians have been slain in
this genocide.
The fact of the genocide is recognized by many countries – Uruguay
(the first country that recognized the fact of the genocide),
Russia, France, Argentina, Greece, Italian Parliament’s Lower House,
many states of the U.S.A., parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina,
Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland and Communities House
of Canadian Parliament and Polish Seym.

EVANS: BORDER DEFENSE – PRIORITY ISSUE FOR SOVEREIGN STATE
Yerkir
22.03.2006 17:13
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Raising the efficiency of the Armenian border
defense proceeds from the interests of the entire international
community, U.S.
Ambassador John Evans stated during the opening ceremony of a new
training center of the Armenian frontier troops.
In his words, the U.S. has been for a long time assisting Armenia in
exercising control of the state borders. “The whole world should be
interested in non-proliferation. For a sovereign state like Armenia
the border defense becomes a priority issue and we are glad to
render assistance in such an important matter,” the U.S. Ambassador
to RA said.

KOBZON AND LUZHKOV ARE GREATER FACTORS THAN OUR POLITICAL FIGURES
Lragir/am
22 March 06
On March 22 the present and future of Russian-Armenian relations
were discussed at the National Press Club. Seven out of the eight
participants of the debate were representatives of the opposition:
Shavarsh Kocharyan, Aram Gaspari Sargsyan, Hrant Khachatryan, Hovanes
Hovanisyan, Aram Karapetyan, Manuk Gasparyan, Aram Manukyan. The only
representative of the government at the debate of Russia-Armenia
relations was Giro Manoyan, member of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, citizen of the United States.
The speeches of the speakers of the day had much in common. All of
them thought that the Russian-Armenian relations are far from being
normal or satisfactory; the present government of Armenia is to blame;
it is urgent to get rid of emotionality and build relations on a
pragmatic base.
SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN: “There is a lack of mutual understanding in the
relations of Armenia and Russia, because life in Armenia leads to
democracy, and Russia remains a defender of authoritarian regimes. The
Russian Federation is dissatisfied with the course of European
integration, pursued by Armenia, and would like to see Armenia as a
country like Belarus. But we need not fall into the other extreme,
Russia is still a factor. We must not give up our course towards
democracy.”
HOVANES HOVANISYAN: “It has been a long time that the Russian-Armenian
relations are not normal; these are relations of elder and little
brothers or a powerful state and its fort. Our strategic partnership
is a mere document, and the Russian Federation excellently carries
on with the domineering policy of the Soviet Union and backs
regimes. Putin supports the Uzbek regime that has killed several
thousands of people. The Russian Federation is far from democracy. To
set European integration against relations with the Russian Federation
is to destroy something that has not been born yet. And the Moldavian
model (the pro-Russian communist leadership became pro-West, faithful
to European values – ed.) will not repeat in Armenia.”
ARAM MANUKYAN: “Our partners at the Karabakh war now say, you are
aggressors, and it is the fault of the government. The Russian-Armenian
relations are in a crisis. Today’s government has lost not only
the present but also the morrow. The next government, no matter
how democratic it will be, will face serious problems in the sphere
of energy. The government will be at a loss. In Armenia Kobzon and
Luzhkov are greater factors than we gathered here. Their hands are
longer and they have influence in politics. The junk Russian weapons
were taken out of Armenia without taking into consideration the opinion
of Armenia. The government of Russia conducts a policy of enslaving the
country and people. We have become something attached to Russia in all
aspects. The Russian Federation is a factor. Even the wounded bear is
dangerous. However, the wounded bear is bleeding, becoming weaker day
by day due to its anti-democratic activity. It is necessary to have
relations with Russia. I endorse strategic relations; I am against
building them at the expense of our independence and decision making.”
ARAM G. SARGSYAN: “Russian-Armenian relations should be viewed in the
context of the geopolitical situation. Our relations would be better
if Armenia had a doctrine of these relations. We are treated as a slave
because we allow others to treat us as a slave. Russia controls 80 per
cent of our energy sector, which surprises even some political sets
of Russia. The Russian Federation possesses information to coerce our
government. Our course must be determined by the interests of national
security. Our orientation must not bring about dependence from another
country. The Russian Federation conducts an economic policy favorable
for its country and increases the price of gas supplied to Armenia.”
ARAM KARAPETYAN: “There is no slavery in Armenia yet. The slavery of
the government does not refer to people. The reality says one thing:
you will not achieve anything in Russian-Armenian relations by hitting
your forehead against the wall. Can Armenia guarantee its national
security without the Russian military bases? If it could, it would
not sign an agreement with the Russian Federation in 1993. If you do
not take into consideration these factors, you are either an utopist
or an adventurer. The present government have used every factor in
the world. The program of Property for Debt was a political trick.
The Diaspora and the Karabakh issue are enough for establishing
neighborly relations. The United States will not mind.”
GIRO MANOYAN: “Strategic partnership is not agreeing to everything. We
have signed an agreement of strategic cooperation for twenty-five years
and we will go all the way. The Russian Federation has to fulfill its
duties. We are not confined to this partnership; we are free to find
other possibilities. In strategic partnership the strong party always
tries to dominate, which is not acceptable. To change our direction
for the price of gas only is not serious.
It does not matter if you are pro-Russian, pro-American or
pro-European. You have to be strong not to become a toy. And democracy
is the way to be strong.”
MANUK GASPARYAN: “Our government is to blame for the Russian-Armenian
relations, which are becoming worse. Our government allowed
the government of Russia to become that brazen. We must organize
hearings with the interested forces of Armenia and Russia and make
our relations clear.”
HRANT KHACHATRYAN: “Russian-Armenian relations are going through
a new stage of trial. The world will have several poles, and there
will be new geopolitical borders. The problem of the Armenians is to
perceive the moment and orient correctly during the formation of the
geopolitical borders for Armenia and Karabakh to appear on the same
side of the border. Democratization in Russia and Armenia were not
simultaneous. The Russian Federation is a step ahead of Armenia.”