OSCE HOLDS TRAINING ON MONITORING PLACES OF DETENTION IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 10:53
A four-day training course to increase the professional capacity of
public monitoring groups to monitor places of detention started in
Tsakhkadzor, Armenia.
The course, organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan together with
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR),
is for members of the two Public Monitoring Groups established under
the Armenian Ministry of Justice and the Armenian police. It will
focus on reporting on conditions in penitentiary institutions and
the rights of detainees.
“Improving conditions in the places of detention and protection
of detainees’ rights is a priority area for the OSCE,” said
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office. “I commend
the establishment of the Public Monitoring Groups, initiated by the
Armenian authorities and supported by civil society. They create an
effective mechanism for identifying the existing problems which in
turn helps improve the situation.”
During the training course, the 24 participants will get acquainted
with national legislation and international standards for the treatment
of prisoners.
They will also acquire practical knowledge on how to organize a visit
to a place of detention and report on it.
A number of local experts and the Chairperson of the Bulgarian
Helsinki Committee will present the specifics of monitoring pre-trial
detention places and police custody besides discussing key areas of
concern. The training session includes extensive group exercises,
mock investigations and actual visits to a detention cell, as well
as the preparation of a report.

BUSH-ALIEV NEGOTIATIONS WILL FOCUS ON THE KARABAKH ISSUE
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 11:19
“If the US aspires to defend its interests in the sphere of energy and
security, then the major topic in the agenda of April 28th negotiations
between George Bush and Ilham Aliev should become the unresolved
Karabakh conflict,” International Crisis Group Representative for
South Caucasus Sabina Fraizer told APA Agency.
“For Washington Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil pipeline, as well as
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline, the construction of which will start
soon, are important project of energy security of the West, and they
pass only 30 miles away from the contact line,” she noted. Fraizer
added that during the recent months Aliev strengthened the military
rhetoric, threatening to leave the peaceful negotiations process
and to return the territories under Armenian control in the military
way. President Aliev promised also to equal the military budget of
Azerbaijan to the whole budget of Armenia at the expense of revenues
from sale of oil. Fraizer noted also that Ilham Aliev must be properly
explained in Washington that the military settlement of eth Karabakh
conflict is unacceptable. Us authorities should force Azerbaijan
accept the principles of multilateral peace. These will secure the
safe and voluntary return of displaced persons, will lift the blockade
of all transport and trade ways and will guarantee the execution of
the right of self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh people.”

JUSTICE MINISTERS OF COE MEMBER STATES TO MEET IN YEREVAN IN OCTOBER
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 12:11
October 12-13 the recurrent meeting of Ministers of Justice of Council
of Europe member states will be held in Yerevan.
Several Justice Ministers have already confirmed their participation
in the meeting.
Last year the topic of the meeting held April 7-8 in Helsinki was
“The social aspects of justice.”

ARMENIAN-FRENCH YOUTH BICYCLE MARATHON TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 12:30
July 6-20 Armenian-French youth bicycle marathon, featuring 20 French
young sportsmen from Pa-de-Kale, will be held in a number of marzes
of Armenia.
This is already the 5th “Valotur de Armenie” tournament, the French
representatives Dominick de Mori and Didier Payen told “Armenpress.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STEVEN MANN: THE PARTIES SHOULD REFUSE FROM SIMULTANEOUS AND COMPLETE RESOLUTION OF ALL EXISTING PROBLEMS
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 14:27
The major principle of settlement of the Karabakh conflict is the
simultaneous and complete resolution of all existing problems.
Said US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann, who was present
at Azeri Presidnet Ilham Aliev’s speech at the International Relations
Council, ” Trend” Agency informs, referring to ITAR-TASS.
Mann informed that he intends to leave for Moscow to participate
in the recurrent consultations with colleagues. He is rather
optimistic and considers that “an effective ground for concessions
is perceptible.” He is confident that now it is necessary to advance
step by step, leaving some complex issues for the future.
According to the source, Ilham Aliev declared in his speech at the
International Relations Council that he considers the conflict with
Armenian over Nagorno-Karabakh the major problem of his country. He
expressed the hope that the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh “create
opportunities for fair and stable reconciliation, which will be based
on the principles of international law.”
“We expect that as a superpower and as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair
country, the US will support the settlement of the conflict,” Ilham
Aliev added.

POLITICAL PARTIES CONCERNED WITH ANTI-ARMENIAN NATIONALISTIC EXPRESSIONS IN RUSSIA
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 14:58
At the initiative of the Youth Party of Armenia, May 10-15 a delegation
of Armenian intellectuals will leave for Moscow. The aim of the
visit is to meet with Russian authorities to find out the reasons
of frequent nationalistic expressions against our compatriots and to
learn about the steps undertaken to prevent these.
“In addition to the cultural problems of the Diaspora, we should
defend the interests of our fellow citizens,” Head of the Youth Party
of Armenia Sargis Asatryan said.
Armenia and Russia signed and ratified several important international
conventions, which demand elimination of ethnic discrimination, fight
against persecution and offence of human dignity. Despite this, Russia
continues to remain a country where crimes on the national ground,
including those against our compatriots, occur at every step.
According to Sargis Asatryan, such movements in Russia are organized
and receive special financing. Fans of “Dinamo” and “CSKA” football
teams stand behind this. It deserves attention that members of such
groupings are physically well prepared.
Although the issue is a very complex one, it cannot be transferred
to the ground of aggravation of Armenian-Russian relations.
Letters have been sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the
State Duma, urging to undertake measures “to stop the anti-Armenian
hysteria.”

JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH HELD IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 15:15
In Armenia food is tasty, people are good and man are attractive. These
are the first impressions of jazz musician Judy Bady. In the framework
of the Jazz Appreciation Month in Armenia, Judy Bady Quartet will
give a concert, featuring Armenian jazzmen.
By the way, Judy Bady worked with American-Armenian pianist Armen
Danielyan and considers him her teacher.
“I see no difference between American and Armenian jazz, although
America is the homeland of jazz. Any culture, presenting jazz
compositions, applies its own national components. In this concert
I want to feel the melodiousness of the Armenian music,” Judy said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER LEFT FOR NKR TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 15:22
April 27 RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan left for the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on a two-day visit to hold recurrent
consultations.
In Stepanakert the Minister’s meetings with NKR President, heads of
parliament and government and Foreign Minister are scheduled.
Vardan Oskanyan will deliver a report at Stepanakert University.

FRANK PALLONE: BUSH’S REMARKS FAILED TO PROPERLY CHARACTERIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 16:07
Representative Frank Pallone, Jr, co-chairman of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, made the following statement after
President Bush’s proclamation on the 91st anniversary of the start of
the Armenian Genocide: “The President should have used today’s 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to promote a United States foreign
policy that reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity to human
rights, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Instead, President Bush failed,
once again, to honor his pledge to properly characterize the Armenian
Genocide as “genocide” in his annual April 24th remarks. Despite a
plea by over 200 Members of Congress last week, he continues to avoid
any clear reference to the Armenian Genocide.”
“It’s time the U.S. government recognizes these actions as genocide
so that we can renew our commitment to prevent such atrocities from
occurring again.
By properly affirming the Armenian Genocide, we can also help to
ensure its legacy and rightfully honor its victims and survivors,”
Frank Pallone concluded.

LECTURE ON THE IMPACT OF MEDIA LEGISLATION ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN ARMENIA TO BE DELIVERED IN AUA
ArmRadio.am
27.04.2006 16:45
April 29 David Sandukhchyan, Head of the Legal Service of the Internews
Media Support NGO will deliver a lecture on the “Impact of current
media legislation on freedom of speech in Armenia” in the American
University of Armenia.
The lecture will focus on the level of legal protection of journalists
in Armenia, issues of proper regulation of Mass Media activities and
law enforcement, ensuring independence of TV and radio companies,
legislative guarantees of the Mass Media’s independence from state
authorities, imperfect legislation ensuring protection of media
professionals; inadequate application of current legislation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress