LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT: ANY NATION HAS RIGHT TO LIVE FREELY AND INDEPENDENTLY
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Any person, any nation and state has the
right to live freely and independently and to preserve its territorial
identity – this is the basis of the international law, Lithuanian
President Valdas Adamkus said during his meeting with Yerevan State
University professors and students today.
What is yours is yours, he said when asked to give a legal assessment
of the Karabakh conflict. At the same time, Adamkus said that no
solution can be imposed in the matter and the problem must be solved
through a dialogue. He urged the sides to start a dialogue and to
find right solution on the basis of mutual understanding.

TWENTY YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE CHERNOBYL NPP ACCIDENT, THE BIGGEST MAN-CAUSED RADIATION CATASTROPHE IN MANKIND HISTORY
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Twenty years have passed since the
Chernobyl NPP accident, the biggest man-caused radiation catastrophe
in the mankind history.
As ArmInfo was informed in the Embassy of Ukraine in Armenia,
more than 145,000 sq.km of the Ukraine territory, Byelorussia
and Russia underwent radioactive contamination as a result of the
accident, more than 5 mln people suffered, about 5,000 settlements
of these countries underwent contamination by radioactive nuclides,
from which 2218 villages and towns with population of about 2,4 mln
people – in the Ukraine. Twenty years later after the catastrophe,
there are many problems still to be solved. It is, first of all,
social, medical protection of all citizens, subjected to radiation
exposure, employment assistance to many thousand employees, economic
rehabilitation of the contaminated territories, the problem of
compensation of energy-producing capacities, turning of the “Shelter”
object into an ecologically safe one.
The Ukraine keeps on carrying out a complex of measures for the
population protection, suffered from the Chernobyl catastrophe. There
are 17 448 families in the Ukraine today, which receive benefits
as a result of the bread-winner’s loss during the catastrophe. Such
families exist in all regions of the country. In 1987-2004, 504117
people from among the suffered ones, who were under medical control
in patient care institutions, died, 497348 of them are grown-ups and
teenagers and 6769 are children. This statistics concerns only the
Ukraine’s citizens. If remember that thousands of specialists from
the whole former Soviet Union took part in the accident consequences
elimination, these digits will be more impressive.
The Ukrainian people will always remember the courage of more than
3,000 Armenians, who did their best to mitigate the Chernobyl accident
consequences. Four hundred people of them died afterwards from
the radiation dose. Unfortunately, today the Chernobyl catastrophe
remains only a Ukrainian trouble. As the President of Ukraine Viktor
Yuschenko noted in hid speech during the international conference,
being held in Kiev April 24-26, the Chernobyl catastrophe concerns
not only the Ukraine but many nations as well.

LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT ADVISES ARMENIAN PEOPLE NOT TO BE SILENT IN CAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus advises
the Armenian people not to be silent in the cause of international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
During his meeting with Yerevan State University professors and
students today, Adamkus said that the Armenian people must do its
best to prove to the world that the Genocide actually happened. Still
it is a hard job to give advice in such a delicate issue. Do as you
think right. I believe you are right, Adamkus said.
Asked if the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Lithuanian
parliament may aggravate Lithuania’s relations with Turkey, Adamkus
said that the key principle of Lithuania’s foreign policy is mutual
respect. And if Turkey has any problems, Lithuania will remind it of
this principle.
The same principle is applied in Lithuania’s relations with
Russia. Countries may have differences over certain issue but they
should try to solve them, including by involving their youths. This
is the only way of civilized policy, Adamkus said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CEREMONY TO MARK 91st ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN MINSK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
MINSK, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A mourning ceremony
to mark the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took place
at the Khachkar outside St Alexnader Nevsky Church in Minsk on
April 24. According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department,
the Armenian Ambassador to Belarus Suren Harutyunian, members of the
Armenian community and youth organizations, as well as representatives
of other ethnic communities and the public of Belarus attended the
ceremony. A mouring church service was held with the participation of
Mitropolit of Minsk and Sluts, Patriarch of All Belarus Filaret. Those
present observed one-minute silence in respect of memory of the
Armenian Genocide victims, then there were speeches on the Armenian
Genocide and its recognition by the international community.

STABBING INCIDENT IN BERDAVAN
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
NOYEMBERIAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. At about 11 am on April 21, Susanna
Mkrtchian, 45, of the Berdavan village, was admitted to Noyemberian
hospital. NT correspondent was informed from the hospital personnel
that Lida Harutyunian, 54, of the same village, stabbed S. Mkrtchian
with a knife during a qaurrel, which broke out because the victim had
picked a lily from the land plot of L. Harutyunian. L. Harutyunian was
ordered not to leave the village. Police is conducting an investigation
into the case.

YOUNG ARMENIAN FOOTBALL-PLAYERS TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN MAY IN TEHRAN
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 2-10, an international friendly
tournament of football-players under 17 years will be held in the
capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran Tehran. Two national teams of
Iran, those of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Japan, Iraq and China will take
part in the tournament. The Armenian national team has also received
an invitation to take part in the tournament. The Armenian national
team headed by trainer Arsen Chilingarian will leave for Tehran
on May 1. The delegation of the Armenian Football Federation will
be led by Ruben Sinoyan, member of the Executive Committee of the
Federation. The participants of the tournament are divided into two
groups. Iranian A national team, the national teams of Saudi Arabia,
Syria and Japan are included in group A, and Iranian B national team,
the national teams of Armenia, Iraq and China are included in group B.

WHAT ARE SERVICEMEN GOING TO THINK ABOUT FUTURE?
Lragir.am
26 April 06
The disabled people of the Karabakh war and the relatives of killed
azatamartiks (participants of the war in Karabakh) in the system
of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are
dissatisfied with the government action. On the legislative undertaking
of the government the National Assembly introduced changes in the
law on veterans in 2003, eliminating the allowances for gas, water,
telephone and transport for the abovementioned category. Instead of
privileges the law established a benefit which formerly was 3 thousand
drams monthly and now is 6 thousand drams.
“The allowances were replaced by benefits in the law. A benefit is
paid out to the weak and the sick,” said a veteran Albert Manukyan. He
says the disabled former servicemen count 1060, and the members of
the families of killed soldiers 2700 people. Albert Manukyan says
the government cannot keep the privileges for only 3700 people,
while officials and oligarchs enjoy nonofficial privileges.
The complainers applied to the president, the president directed their
application to the government, the government to the Ministry of Social
Affairs, and the Ministry of Social Affairs told the veterans it is
not entitled to grant or restore privileges. “A disabled veteran has
to take transport every day and see the doctor.
How is he supposed to use transport twice a day and see the doctor,
pay for gas, water, electricity, telephone on 6 thousand drams. When a
public official drives in an expensive car and sees a disabled veteran
at the bus stop, who can hardly get on a trolleybus, how can this
official be so indifferent? If I bring together all these disabled
people and the families of killed soldiers, how are the members
of government going to look these people in the eye?” says Albert
Manukyan.
He believes that if today their rights are violated, the present-day
servicemen might think that they will be treated similarly tomorrow.
And it is already a question of national security, says Albert
Manukyan.

ARMENIANS of COLORADO
PRESS RELEASE
April 25, 2006
Press contact: Kim Christianian
P.O. Box 13854
Denver, Colorado 80201
Tel: (303) 588-5524
[email protected]
Armenians of Colorado Inc., is pleased to announce the passage of the 5th
annual Colorado Armenian Genocide Commemorative Resolution. The resolution
passed in both chambers unanimously and the roll calls were added as
co-sponsors. State Senator Lois Tochtrop, co-sponsor of all five
resolutions, was very pleased with the outcome and said, “I hope that the
actions at the state level will encourage or even push the legislators at
the Federal level to finally pass the Congressional resolution”.
Armenians of Colorado held its annual Commemorative ceremony at the Armenian
Genocide Memorial plaque at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Co-sponsors Senator Lois Tochtrop and Representative Michael Garcia
addressed the crowd as did representatives from Senator Allard and
Congressmen Udall’s offices.
Armenians of Colorado Inc is proud to also announce a new partnership with
the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness & Action. The organization
will hold its first conference on May 8, 2006 at the Adams Mark Hotel in
Denver Colorado. The conference will consist of renowned genocide scholars
and speakers with the focus of organizing efforts leading to the cessation
and prevention of genocide. The day will culminate with an “awareness” walk
from the hotel to the Colorado State Capitol where a rally and press
conference will take place. Many of the partners of the coalition are
organizations that Armenians of Colorado Inc has collaborated with in the
past to bring events of genocide awareness. “This event will take the level
of awareness out of the college setting and bring it to the general public”,
says Kim Christianian, Chairperson of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration
Committee for Armenians of Colorado. Christianian, who has written
Colorado’s resolutions and proclamations for the last 5 years hopes that
through this alliance, the Armenian Genocide curriculum can be introduced
into the Social Studies curriculum at the middle and high school level.
The Colorado Armenian community through its coordinated efforts with the
Armenian Assembly, ANCA, and Armenians of Colorado Inc., has made great
progress in gaining support for Armenian issues at the Federal level.
Colorado Congressmen Udall and Beauprez have joined the Congressional Caucus
On Armenian Issues as well as signed the House Letter to President Bush and
co-sponsored H. Res. 316. Congresswomen Musgrave and Degette have also
co-sponsored H. Res. 316. Congressman Salazar has signed the letter to
President Bush. Senators Allard and Salazar have both signed the letter and
co-sponsored S. Res. 320.
2006 Colorado Armenian Genocide Commemorative Resolution
CONCERNING REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE FROM 1915 TO 1923 ON APRIL
24, 2006, and every year hereafter, AS
“COLORADO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”
WHEREAS, This year marks the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide when
1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian descent were victims of the
brutal genocide perpetrated by the Turkish Ottoman Empire from 1915-1923;
500,000 more were exiled, and 500,000 were able to escape the regime of
terror and establish themselves in new foreign lands, and, as a result,
today there are only 100,000 people of Armenian heritage left residing
within the borders of modern Turkey; and
WHEREAS, The United States’ Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry
Morgenthau, Sr., stated, “Whatever crimes the most perverted instincts of
the human mind can devise, and whatever refinements of persecutions and
injustice the most debased imagination can conceive, became the daily
misfortunes of this devoted people. I am confident that the whole history of
the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great
massacres and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when
compared to the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915″. The killing of the
Armenian people was followed by the systematic destruction of churches,
schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural monuments that continues
to this day in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble civilization
with a history of more than 3,000 years.”; and
WHEREAS, Contemporary newspapers, such as the New York Times, carried
headlines including “Tales of Armenian Horrors Confirmed”, “Million
Armenians Killed or in Exile”, and “Wholesale Massacre of Armenians by
Turks”; and
WHEREAS, The Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by countries and
international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of
Europe, Cyprus, the European parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece,
Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations, and Uruguay; and
WHEREAS, Modern Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the
genocide and to honor the perpetrators of that crime against humanity as
national heroes; and
WHEREAS, The Armenian people have been denied the right to
self-determination on their ancestral lands and have received no form of
reparations for their tragic loss; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Armenians throughout the world honor those who perished
from 1915 to 1923, and all the world’s people should commemorate the
Armenian Genocide and condemn any attempt to deny its historical truth or
mischaracterize the episode as anything less than genocide the term coined
by Raphael Lemkin in 1944 who referenced the Armenian massacres as a seminal
example of such an atrocity; a crime against humanity; and
WHEREAS, We must all do our best to raise awareness about the Armenian
Genocide not only because it is an undeniable chapter of world history, but
also because learning more about this unconscionable tragedy will help
people better understand the necessity of eliminating hatred in our own
communities; to that end, we support the efforts of Armenians of Colorado
Inc. to encourage the educators in Colorado to include the Armenian Genocide
in the school curriculum. We also commend our local PBS stations KRMA, and
KBDI for airing the documentary The Armenian Genocide by filmmaker Andrew
Goldberg scheduled for April 17th and April 26th respectively and encourage
our Legislative colleagues to watch the program.
WHEREAS, For four consecutive years this legislative body has passed a
similar joint resolution in which the roll calls were added as co-sponsors
designating April 24 as “Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide”; and
WHEREAS, Armenian-Americans living in Colorado have greatly enriched our
state through their leadership in business, agriculture, academia,
government, and the arts; now, therefore,
1. That this legislative body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the
91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide to be recognized at a memorial
service on Sunday, April 23, 2006, at the Armenian Genocide memorial plaque
located in the northeast quadrant on the State Capitol grounds;
2. That we, the members of the General Assembly, hereby acknowledge April
24, 2006, and every year hereafter, as “Colorado Day of Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide”;
3. That the State of Colorado respectfully urges the United States Congress
to likewise commemorate the Armenian Genocide.
Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the
Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States; the members of the
Colorado Congressional Delegation; the members of the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues of which Colorado Congressmen Udall and Beauprez have
joined; the Honorable Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado; the Armenian
Assembly of America in Washington, D.C.; and the Armenian National Committee
in Washington, D.C.

Eurasia Daily Monitor — The Jamestown Foundation
Tuesday, April 25, 2006 — Volume 3, Issue 80
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Belarus prepares for grim Chernobyl anniversary
*Ukraine’s MFA steps into regional leadership’s role at CIS conference
*Bakiyev seeks Russian advice on foreign policy
POLITICAL CONFRONTATION DETRACTS FROM ACUTE CHERNOBYL PROBLEMS IN
BELARUS
As the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl approaches in Belarus, and the
opposition forces plan a final protest march on April 26 in the
aftermath of the presidential elections, there is no sign that the
country has come close to overcoming the profound health, social, and
environmental problems caused by the 1986 nuclear accident.
The issue has been clouded by two factors. First, there is the
politicization of the Chernobyl event as a symbol of the confrontation
between the president and the opposition, particularly the united
democratic forces behind candidate Alexander Milinkevich. Second, there
has been a rather unseemly international dispute as to the health
effects of Chernobyl, and particularly the long-term mortality rates
from radiation-induced cancers.
President Alexander Lukashenka marked the last two anniversaries with
visits to the Chernobyl zone, which were marked with intensive TV
publicity and the overall message that if the area was dangerous, then
the president of the country would not be visiting there. Though parts
of the zone — especially Homel region — have been depopulated,
students and migrants are being used to cultivate land that remains
contaminated with radio-nuclides, particularly Cesium-137 and
Strontium-90. Lukashenka has detained several scientists whose findings
contradict the official position that the accident in Belarus has been
largely overcome, and using the forces of the government without outside
assistance.
The government of Belarus did not agree with some of the findings of the
Chernobyl Forum Report, issued in September 2005. That report, the most
comprehensive to date, demonstrated the enormous health and
psychological impact of the accident in Belarus. About 90% of the
republic was irradiated with short-lived radio-nuclides, deposited by
the “radiation cloud” that was formed after the two steam explosions at
the fourth reactor unit of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the early
morning of April 26, 1986. The reaction of the republican authorities
was delayed by the lack of information about what had happened from both
the Soviet authorities in Moscow and the Ukrainian party leadership in
Kyiv.
The radioactive iodine (Iodine-131 with a half-life of eight days) was
to take a serious toll and has resulted in some 4,000 cases of thyroid
cancer to date, almost a quarter of them in young children, and in most
instances contracted after 1989. Long-term effects are equally serious.
Over the 17-year period 1986-2003, surgery had been carried out on
almost 2,000 young adults and children, and 19 have died as a result of
the progression of the tumors. About 23% of Belarus was contaminated
with Cesium and Strontium, and about 2% of the territory affected with
Plutonium radio-nuclides (half-life 24,000 years). Many of the affected
regions did not take any preventive action until 1989, when it was
revealed officially that they formed part of the contaminated zone.
Belarus lost a quarter of its valuable forests.
Today about 1.5 million residents of Belarus are provided with medical
assistance as a result of the 1986 disaster. Among those Belarusians who
took part in the cleanup operations — they are referred to today as
“liquidators,” a term reminiscent of the Stalin era — there were
registered more than 2,800 first-time cases of cancer, and in 73% of
these incidences it occurred among those working in the zone in 1986-88.
Over 300,000 children continue to reside in the most affected regions of
Homel and Mahileu. They suffer from a rise in frequency of sicknesses of
all types, but particularly respiratory diseases, digestive problems,
and childhood diabetes. Among the age group 10-14, for example, newly
formed cancers in the Chernobyl zones exceed those in the “clean” region
of Vitsebsk by 1.5 times, and the incidence of endocrinal pathology is
double the average in clean areas.
This disturbing picture has been partly concealed by an international
dispute over the “true” health effects of Chernobyl, and the number of
long-term mortalities. Two reports are now extant: the Chernobyl Forum
Report (CFR) and the Greenpeace Report. The latter raises the number of
long-term victims to over 90,000, and reports some 34,000 deaths to date
among liquidators. However, the dispute is largely contrived. It derives
from the unfortunate and misleading press releases issued by
representatives of the Chernobyl Forum, which do not reflect accurately
the contents of the CFR. The issue of 4,000 long-term deaths is even
belied by the CFR itself, which includes a table indicating some 9,000
long-term deaths.
Even that figure pertains only to a small fraction of the lands
contaminated by Chernobyl, namely the republics of Russia, Ukraine, and
Belarus. Neither report really disputes that the Chernobyl-linked cancer
deaths will be in the tens of thousands. The Belarusian government,
which is listed as one of the authors of the CFR, would have been
content with the misleading press release (less than 60 current
casualties and under 4,000 long-term), but not with the figures within
or in the heated Greenpeace Report, comprised mainly from the research
of Ukrainian scientists.
For the 1.5 million individuals still requiring medical attention from
the disaster, such arguments are largely irrelevant. Most of then have
lived off contaminated land for the past 20 years, their benefits now
reduced, and their concerns dismissed as “psychological stress” and
“dependency.” The impact of Chernobyl has not dissipated after two
decades.
–David Marples
CIS SPLIT AT MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
The meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the Commonwealth of
Independent States member countries, held on April 21 in Moscow, exposed
a profound split in the organization. Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and
Azerbaijan formed a common front on issues of shared concern, opposing
Russian policies directed against their interests. The four countries
are members of the GUAM group, though they did not act in that capacity
at the conference.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Borys
Tarasyuk, led this group of independent-minded countries in the debate
on most economic and political issues of concern to them. Russia, with
the support of loyalist or neutralist countries whose interests are not
involved in those issues, rejected the four countries’ initiatives with
a high-handedness that can only exacerbate the differences at upcoming
high-level CIS meetings.
Georgia and Moldova submitted separately prepared statements about
Russia’s ban on imports of their wines and other agricultural products
on the Russian market. Describing the ban as politically motivated,
abusive, and unwarranted, the statements underscored the “massive
economic damage” inflicted on the two countries. Georgia and Moldova
regard the ban as an “unfriendly action” by the Russian government, are
asking the Russian government for explanations, and are challenging the
Russian agencies involved — mainly the Consumer Protection Inspectorate
— to show cause for this action. The Ukrainian delegation lodged its
own complaint about recent Russian restrictions on the import of a wide
range of Ukrainian agricultural products on the Russian market.
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov handled those
grievances at the concluding press briefing with a dismissive reference
to “some kind of declarations” made during the conference. He warned by
Georgia and Moldova against “politicizing” the issue, as this “will not
facilitate a solution.” Russia takes the position that the issue should
be discussed at the level of technical agencies. Thus, Moscow seeks to
evade political responsibility for a measure undoubtedly ordered by high
political authorities. Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine intend to raise the
issue again at the upcoming CIS meetings of prime ministers (May 25) and
of the heads of state shortly thereafter.
The Russian side also blocked Ukraine’s proposal to discuss the creation
of a CIS Free Trade Zone at the conference. The proposal, nominally
endorsed by Russia as well, is almost a decade old and no member country
seriously expects Russia to actually implement it. In Ukraine, however,
the proposal has become topical again in connection with the
Russia-planned Single Economic Space (Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan, with
Ukraine invited to become a member). Some groups in Ukraine (not only
within the Party of Regions) want the country to join the Single
Economic Space in one form or another — a move that would compromise
Ukraine’s European aspirations. On the other hand, Ukrainian proponents
of integration with the European Union cite the proposal for a CIS Free
Trade Zone as potentially advantageous to Ukraine as well as compatible
with the country’s progress toward the EU. However, Ukrainian
attempts to discuss the free-trade proposal with Moscow shatter against
the resistance of Russian protectionist interests. Thus, the Moscow
conference strengthened the view that the CIS is, at best, useless to
member countries generally and, at worst, actually detrimental to their
interests.
A proposal to discuss the “frozen conflicts” at the conference was also
blocked by the Russian side. Ukraine took the lead in submitting this
proposal with the support of Moldova, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. The
obstruction by Moscow and its allies will strengthen the case for
internationalization of the existing “peacekeeping” and negotiating
frameworks on Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, as well as
underscoring the value of American efforts to settle the Karabakh
conflict.
Ukraine asked the conference to prepare a proposal for the upcoming CIS
summit to express its attitude to the 1930-33 famine and genocide in
Ukraine (the Holodomor). However, the Russian side orchestrated a
procedural move that eliminated the proposal from the agenda. Belarus,
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan voted with Russia against the
proposal. Armenia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan abstained. Moldova,
Georgia, and Azerbaijan voted with Ukraine.
According to Lavrov at the concluding briefing, discussion of the
Holodomor would have “politicized” a historical issue. Lavrov argued —
as Russian Ambassador Viktor Chernomyrdin also did in Kyiv — that
Russians and other Soviet citizens suffered equally in Soviet times and
it would therefore be inappropriate to single out any people in this
regard.
This argument is heard regularly from Moscow about the Baltic states as
well: “It was a common pain in the Soviet Union.” Such an argument
constitutes the ultimate expression of a social culture of collectivism.
It also overlooks, first, the fact that Moscow organized the famine and
deportations in Ukraine, the Baltic states and elsewhere; and, second,
that the Kremlin today is actively discouraging the attempts to come to
terms with Soviet Russia’s own totalitarian recent history. While
refusing to assess the actions of the Soviet regime, Russia at the same
time claims prerogatives as the legal successor of the USSR.
The Moscow conference was to have discussed a CIS Executive Committee
report on implementing decisions on CIS reform, adopted by the heads of
state at the August 2005 summit in Astana. A corresponding Russian
proposal envisaged setting up a high-level group on “measures to enhance
the effectiveness of the CIS.” Neither initiative was mentioned after
the conference. In his conclusions, Tarasyuk was scathing about the CIS:
“not a normal international organization,” “unresponsive to situations
that are most sensitive to member states,” “useless,” and “has no
future.”
(Interfax, Itar-Tass, Moldpres, Imedi TV, April 21, 22)
–Vladimir Socor
BISHKEK WELCOMES EXPANDED RUSSIAN MILITARY PRESENCE IN KYRGYZSTAN
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev met with Russian President Vladimir
Putin during his first state visit to Moscow on April 24-25. The meeting
began with Bakiyev stating that Kyrgyzstan today needs economic
assistance, which Russia is able to provide. Putin welcomed the idea of
intensifying bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and food
industry with special attention to the development of small and medium
businesses. However, Putin’s announcement that Russia will increase its
military contingent at the Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan with the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) became the focus of the
discussion.
Bakiyev approved Putin’s plans, acknowledging, “The Russian base in Kant
contributes to the provision of stability and security not only in
Kyrgyzstan, but in the entire Central Asian region” (Itar-Tass, April
24). Bakiyev’s support for intensifying security ties with Russia
followed his abrupt request to the U.S. Embassy to increase the rent
paid for the U.S. “Gansi” military base at Bishkek’s Manas airport (see
EDM, April 20). This is the second time since the March 24, 2005, Tulip
Revolution that Bakiyev has publicly pressured Washington over the
status of the U.S. military presence. In July 2005, U.S. Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited Bishkek to discuss issues of bilateral
security cooperation following Bakiyev’s demand to establish deadlines
for the duration of the U.S. military presence. However, ten months
after Rumsfeld’s visit, the agreement on the status of the
military base remains without any significant changes.
Putin announced that Russia and Kyrgyzstan will conduct joint
anti-terrorist training in 2006, focusing on efforts to eradicate
transnational crime and the illegal drug trade. Previously Russia
initiated several regional large-scale military training exercises
within the CSTO, which scored high approval ratings among local security
experts. However, these drills were also often criticized for carrying
strong political symbolism, yet few practical applications (see EDM, May
24, 2005).
In summer 2005 Bakiyev proposed placing the Kyrgyz hydro-energy sector
under the management of the Russian government-controlled Unified Energy
Systems enterprise. The president’s proposal was regarded as highly
corrupt, according to representatives of the Kyrgyz energy sector,
because the government sidestepped an open auction to consider other
options for the sector’s development.
Before visiting Moscow, Bakiyev was careful about making any definite
statements about the possibility of Kyrgyzstan’s joining the World
Bank’s Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Although there
is a certain pressure from the international community on the Kyrgyz
government to join the HIPC, many Kyrgyz experts believe this move would
make the country dependent upon Western funds (Gazeta.kg, April 24). In
particular, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Paris Club
creditors would be able to increase their influence regarding the
country’s economic and financial regulations. Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan
would be unable to advance issues concerning its foreign policy, such as
the U.S. military base.
The possibility of Kyrgyzstan joining the HIPC program has prompted wide
discussion in the local media. Some claim that it is an issue of
national dignity, as enrolling in the debt-relief program would mean
joining the ranks of the poorest states in Africa and Latin America.
Kyrgyzstan’s external debt is currently about billion.
Days before Bakiyev’s visit to Moscow, the president’s former political
allies again criticized his government for corrupt politics. Minister of
Industry, Trade, and Tourism Almazbek Atambayev resigned to express his
fundamental disagreement with the actions resulting from the president’s
political alliance with Prime Minister Felix Kulov. He accused the
president of engaging in clan politics and failing to curb criminal
figures’ infiltration of state institutions. Atambayev had been
considered to be one of Kulov’s few supporters, but he has now moved
into the opposition. Former prosecutor-general Azimbek Beknazarov told
Azattyk radio that the Bakiyev-Kulov partnership should be destroyed due
to its dysfunctional nature (Akipress, April 22). Beknazarov commented
that Bakiyev and Kulov are pursuing personal goals in politics and,
“They both are very similar in their strive for power.”
Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz public, as well as the government, are preparing
for the peace demonstrations in Bishkek on April 29 (see EDM, April 11).
The Ministry of the Interior will deploy special security forces to
prevent any acts of civil disobedience. The Kyrgyz Coalition for
Democracy and Civil Society is the lead organizer of the demonstration,
but several parliamentarians and numerous other civic organizations have
expressed an interest in participating. Melis Eshimkanov, Beknazarov,
and a number of other parliamentarians will mobilize their own
constituents at the demonstration.
Bakiyev’s recent visit to Russia is his fourth since the Tulip
Revolution in Kyrgyzstan last year. The president’s visit to Moscow
confirmed the Kyrgyz government’s pro-Russian views. However, the
president’s pro-Moscow tilt creates problems for Bishkek. The
international community has condemned his attitude toward the status of
the U.S. military base. The president also delayed stating his opinion
regarding Kyrgyzstan’s joining the HIPC until after his consultations in
Moscow.
–Erica Marat
The Eurasia Daily Monitor, a publication of the Jamestown Foundation, is
edited by Ann E. Robertson. The opinions expressed in it are those of
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PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2006
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 375019 ARMENIA
Telephone: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: [email protected]
AUA and Nork Marash Medical Center Author a Study on Quality of Intensive
Care
The April 2006 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Asian Cardiovascular &
Thoracic Annals presented findings from a study by lead author Lusine
Abrahamyan, MD, MPH, which demonstrated that quality of care at Nork Marash
Medical Center (NMMC) following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
surgery, measured in terms of post operative complications and ICU stays,
are comparable to those reported by major international cardiac surgery
centers. According to co-author and Surgical Consultant at NMMC Dr. Hrair
Hovaguimian, “This article is an important step toward establishing systems
for outcomes reporting in parallel with international standards.”
AUA/CHSR faculty Anahit Demirchyan, MD, MPH, and Michael Thompson, MS, DrPH,
also co-authors noted, “The study reported here was a small part of a
five-year privately funded collaborative project between the Center for
Health Services Research and Development of the American University of
Armenia (AUA/CHSR) and the Nork Marash Medical Center focused on assessing
and improving the quality of care at NMMC.” Lead author Lusine Abrahamyan,
now a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, noted that “These results
not only attest to the quality of care at NMMC, but also provide important
insights for individual patient counseling.”
“AUA students, graduates and faculty working together with the Medical Staff
of the Hospital undertook a thorough study and evaluation of all functions
and procedures in the hospital with the express purpose of raising its
standards to accepted international norms. To say that the Hospital and AUA
achieved its goals is both an understatement and a tribute to all those who
worked on the project. Their professional expertise and personal commitment
has manifested itself in a higher standard of care, the direct beneficiary
of which is each and every patient that enters the Hospital. My
congratulations to them all,” added Mr. Edward Avedisian, who generously
funded this project.
For further information about this or other AUA/CHSR projects, visit
————————– ————–
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit