OSCE OFFICE IN YEREVAN ORGANIZES ROUNDTABLE ON FUTURE OF NATIONAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING PLAN
Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

June 8 2006
/noticias.info/ YEREVAN, 8 June 2006 – The development of a new
National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and the
implementation of the 2004-2006 National Action Plan are the focus of
a meeting that started today in Yerevan. The event is organized by
the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Armenian Inter-Agency Commission
with support from the U.S. State Department.
Members of the Armenian Inter-Agency Commission on Anti-Trafficking
Issues and representatives of key non-governmental organizations
working with trafficking victims will participate in the meeting.
The roundtable is part of the Office’s activities geared toward
assisting the Armenian authorities in addressing the problem of
human trafficking.
Hana Snajdrova from the Czech Interior Ministry and Liliana Sorrentino
from the OSCE Anti-Trafficking Assistance Unit will present national
strategies and plans of action of various OSCE participating States.
“A comprehensive national strategy is critical in achieving success
in combating trafficking in humans in Armenia and elsewhere,” said
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.
He emphasized the significance of the OSCE Action Plan, which
provides a comprehensive toolkit to combat trafficking through a
multidimensional approach, covering protection of victims, prevention
of trafficking and prosecution of those who facilitate or commit
the crime.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI MPS REJECT LEO PLATVOET’S PROPOSALS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 8 2006
The Council of Europe Parlaimentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for
missing persons Leo Platvoet and PACE member Mack Nevil had several
talks today in Baku. They first visited the International Committee
of the Red Cross office in Baku.
Then Mr. Platvoet met with families of prisoners of war and missing
persons at the State Committee for Prisoners of War, Hostages and
Missing Persons.
The European visitors also had talks with members of the Azerbaijani
parliamentary delegation to PACE-Gultakin Hajiyeva, Ali Husyenov
and Elmira Akhundova. Ms. Hajiyeva said to APA that Platvoet offered
some proposals at the meeting but Azerbaijani parliamentarians did
not accept them. The European rapporteur proposed the Azerbaijani
side to maintain contacts with institutions and NGOs functioning in
Nagorno Garabagh to make more specific investigations on the prisoners
of war and missing persons.
“We told them that Nagorno Garabagh is Azerbaijan’s territory,
and cooperation with any organizations acting there is contrary to
Azerbaijan’s state policy. On the other hand, we said the government
established in Nagorno Garabagh is not recognized by the world and
is not independent. Therefore, we said it would be more efficient to
cooperate with the Armenian government which is ruling the so-called
government in Nagorno Garabagh,” the parliamentarian said.
Platvoet’s proposal on sending families of the missing persons to
Nagorno Garabagh to search for their missing relatives was also
rejected by the Azerbaijani parliamentarians.
“It would not be right to charge the families with this issue. We also
said to Platvoet that one day Armenia will stand international court
for its aggression against Azerbaijan. Therefore, it is important
that the international organizations make unbiased assessment of the
issue,” she said.
Azerbaijani parliamentarians informed Platvoet about that fact that
there are nearly 5,000 prisoners of war and missing persons.
PACE rapporteur for missing persons in Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia Leo Platvoet and PACE member Mack Nevill has been visiting the
region since June 4. They were in Armenia and George before visiting
Azerbaijan. The European parliamentarians will have officials talks
tomorrow.
Platvoet will draw up a report on the visit and present to PACE.

LOCAL JOINS PEACE CORPS
By: Tony Regina, Managing Editor
Record Breeze, NJ
June 8 2006
Leigh Paynter always wanted to do this.
Last Friday, Paynter, a Laurel Springs resident, left for Armenia
to join the Peace Corps. She will be teaching English as a foreign
language to younger students.
“I really needed to do this because I wanted to help,” Paynter,
a Sterling High School graduate, said.
The Peace Corps decided what country Paynter would be stationed in,
she said. She found out she had been accepted into the program around
Christmas last year.
Since then, Paynter’s prepared for her experience by attempting
to familiarize herself with the Armenian culture “Since I found
out, I’ve bough three CD-roms on the country. I’ve done so much
Internet researching,” she said. “I’m trying to learn to speak the
language. It’s very overwhelming.”
Before leaving for the Peace Corps, Paynter spent a year in Sarasota,
Florida working as a photo-journalist for a local television station.
She graduated from Rowan University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree
in communication.
“I’ve always been interested in working with people. I like finding
out information,” Paynter said of her decision to enter such a career.
In many ways, her experience as a photo-journalist prepared her for
the journey ahead, Paynter said. Covering the murder of an infant
as well as Hurricane Wilma helped her build a sense of self-reliance
and independence.
“You do something different every day,” Paynter said. “I think going
to Florida was a really great move for me. I had to handle everything
on my own. I have a little more self-confidence now.”
Paynter went through a “vigorous” application process to become
a member of the Peace Corps, she said. She chose to gain a year’s
experience as a photo-journalist before applying for the organization.
“I picked up some more projects tutoring. I took some training courses
in Sarasota,” Paynter said.
Although she had intention of leaving her position with the television
station, Paynter couldn’t pass up an opportunity to join the Peace
Corps, she said.
“I couldn’t turn it down. I got my mind wrapped around it as something
I really wanted to do,” she said.
As a teacher in Armenia, Paynter hopes to implement new teaching
methods, she said. An avid reader, she hopes to relay that passion
to her students.
Paynter also intends to take a lot of lessons with her from the
experience.
“The number one thing for me would be appreciation for what I have
here in America. I also want to learn to appreciate the Armenian
culture and language,” Paynter said.
Since she’ll serve as a volunteer, Paynter can leave her position in
Armenia at any time, she said. She wants to stay over there for at
“least two years.”
“I really am optimistic that I will be able to make a difference. I’m
more excited than nervous,” Paynter said.
Although Paynter’s departure for Armenia was “hard on her parents,”
her family is “very supportive” of her decision to join the Peace
Corps, Paynter said.
“They’re very proud of me. It’s going to be hard, not being able to
talk to them when I want to,” she said.
Paynter joins more than 182,000 Americans who have served in the
Peace Corps since its inception in 1961. The organization currently
has 7,810 volunteers serving in 75 different countries.
For more information, visit the following Web site:

IMF, WB DUTCH GROUP TO MEET IN YEREVAN
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
Yerevan, June 8. /ARKA/. A representative meeting of the Dutch group
at the International monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)
is to be held in Yerevan on June 17-18, the RA Ministry of Finance
and Economy reports.
During the annual meeting, a number of high-ranking officials,
particularly Ministers of Finance and Presidents of Central Banks of
12 group members, are to arrive in Armenia.
Among the meeting participants will be IMF Managing Director Rodrigo
Rato, WB Vice-President Danny Leiptziger, and others.
The IMF and WB Dutch group includes Armenia, Holland,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Spain, Croatia, Moldoa, Georgia, Romania,
Ukraine, Cyprus and Macedonia.

COUNCIL OF IABP TO SUPPORT ARMENIAN OFFICE IN LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES IN BUSINESS SPHERE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
YEREVAN, June 8. /ARKA/. The IABP Secretary General Frederick
Hyde-Chambers told journalists in Yerevan that the Council of the
International Association of Business and Parliament (IABP) will
render assistance to the Armenian office in legislative activities
in the business sphere.
“A separate businessman can’t understand the whole economy. We are
going to use business-skills of separate businessmen, generalize them
providing information about the European economy”, Chambers said.
According to his estimates, not only the Armenian economy is in
transitional period but also it politics and society.
“I am sure that the great potential of the Armenian people will enable
to overcome this period successfully”, Chambers finds.
He emphasized that the Council of the association is very serious
towards foundation of an Armenian office and intends to render all
kind of assistance.
In his turn the Vice Speaker of the European Parliament Edward
Macmillan Scott welcomed foundation of IABP Armenian office.
“We will support the activity of the national office taking into
consideration the fact that Eurointegration process is attached great
importance in Armenia”, he said.
On June 7, IABP Armenian office was opened in Yerevan. The
IABP office has the guarantee and support of the organizations’
structure functioning in Great Britain that secures transparacny and
uncorruptedness of its activities, and may be possible resource for the
RA National Assembly from the viewpoint of exchange of international
experience.
The coordinative council of the office is already formed, and it
includes deputies of almost all factions and groups of the RA National
Assembly, as well as representatives of small, medium and large-scale
entrepreneurship and NGOs, which will act on the basis of principles
and standards worked out by the IABP.

RA FM ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO EP’S ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND EU
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
YEREVAN, June 8. /ARKA/. During his meeting with the Vice-Speaker of
the Euro Parliament Edward Mcmillan-Scott the RA Minister of Foreign
Affairs Vartan Oskanian said he attaches great importance to the role
of the Euro Parliament in the development of dialogue between Armenia
and EU, the Press and Information Department of the RA Ministry of
Foreign Affairs reports.
Interlocutors with satisfaction pointed out the fact of active
cooperation and development of relations between Armenian
parliamentarian and Euro Parliament, particularly touching upon
issues connected with work of the session of Armenia-EU Committee of
Parliamentary Cooperation held in 2006.
Upon Scotts’ request Oskanian presented in outline recent developments
in the process of peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and Armenian’s position regarding this problem.
The EP Vice-Speaker is in Yerevan in order to take part in the opening
ceremony of the national office of the International Association of
Business and Parliament.

EP VICE-SPEAKER WELCOMES ARMENIA’S JOINING NEW EURO NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
YEREVAN, June 8. /ARKA/. The Vice Speaker of the Euro Parliament
Edward Macmillan Scott welcomed Armenian’s joining the new European
neighborhood policy.
“We welcome Armenia’s joining the new European neighborhood policy,
as well as negotiations over individual plan for Armenia within the
framework of this policy”, Scott told journalists in Yerevan on June 7.
He believes this policy requests individual approach to each country
in the region taking into account cultural and historical features.
“This principle was used in Balkans as well, and I don’t see a reason
why it can’t be used in this region”, Scott finds.
The EP Vice-Speaker is in Yerevan in order to take part in the opening
ceremony of the national office of the International Association of
Business and Parliament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR SPEAKER CONGRATULATES TOROSYAN ON NEW APPOINTMENT AS ARMENIAN SPEAKER
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
STEPANAKERT, June 7. /ARKA/. NKR Speaker Ashot Gulyan sent Tigran
Torosyan a letter of congratulation on his new appointment as the
Armenian Speaker.
“We appreciate your contribution to the building and establishment of
the Armenian statehood at its true value, and, in this context, to the
introduction and strengthening of democratic values in the Armenian
socio-political life and the sphere of formation of parliamentary
traditions in Armenia,” the NKR Speaker’s letter says.
Gulyan emphasized the considerable role of Torosyan as the leader
of the Armenian delegation in the EU Parliamentary Assembly and in
the development of statehood building in Armenia. The NKR Speaker
also pointed out the comprehensive presentation of realistic ways
of a fair resolution to the Karabakh problem to the European and
international community, and also protection of the right and will of
Karabakh’s Armenians in the issue of self-determination and creation
of independent statehood.
In the end of the NKR Speaker’s letter, he expressed confidence that
Torosyan’s new appointment will doubtlessly serve as an additional
incentive for closer mutual contacts in future and the development
of the current achievements in this sphere to the benefit of the
Armenian people.

ARMENIA READY TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE ON ENHANCING BSEC’S EFFICIENCY
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
Yerevan, June 7. /ARKA/. Armenia is ready to actively participate
in enhancing the efficiency of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organizations (BSEC), RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated at a
meeting with Secretary General of the BSEC International Secretariat
Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos.
Minister Oskanyan pointed out that BSEC is a completely formed
organization, which has accumulated a great potential for multilateral
cooperation through applying the experience of regional cooperation.
In his turn, Leonidas Chrisanthopoulos presented the organization’s
further programs, including the reforms of the Istanbul-based BSEC
Secretariat.
The sides also discussed a number of issues on the agenda of the
forthcoming meeting of Foreign Ministers, as well as of the Summit
of the BSEC Presidents and Foreign Ministers on the occasion of the
15th anniversary of the organization next year.
Speaking of the BSEC’s programs, Minister Oskanyan pointed out
that the principal pledge of development of regional energy and
transport infrastructures is the development of BSEC. In this aspect,
the re-operation of the existing infrastructures is of paramount
importance.

ARMENIA-AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTIAL MEETING IN BUCHAREST POSITIVE FACT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006
STEPANAKERT, June 8. /ARKA/. The Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential
meeting in Bucharest is a positive fact, Chairman of the Standing
Commission for Foreign Relations, National Assembly of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Vahram Atanesyan told reporters.
“Natural, no here-and-now breakthrough is possible in this process.
On the other hand, time and a profound analysis will show to what
extent this process is in conformity with the NKR’s position,” he said.
Atanesyan stressed that a final and comprehensive settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is impossible without the NKR’s full-scale
involvement in this process.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents held a meeting in Bucharest
on June 4.
The previous meeting was held in Rambouillet, France, on February
10-11, 2006, with the participation of the OSCE MG Co-Chairs and
French President Jacque Chirac.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress