SERGE SARGSIAN CONFIDES IN HUNGARIAN JUSTICE AND SURE THAT AZERI
CRIMINAL TO TAKE HIS DESERVING PUNISHMENT
YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “I confide in the
Hungarian justice and am sure that the criminal will take its
deserving punishment,” Serge Sargsian, the Secretary of the RA
National Security Council attached to President, the Defence Minister
stated. As Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian, the RA Defence Minister’s
Press Secretary informed Noyan Tapan, the Minister made the statement
in response to a question of a number of media representatives how he
estimates the measure of punishment proposed towards murderer Ramil
Safarov by the prosecutor’s charge at the last sitting of the court
procedure going on Budapest on the case of Armenian officer Gurgen
Margarian’s murder (the measure of punishment is life imprisonment,
within the right of presenting a claim for amnesty during the first 30
years), and what he expects of the final verdict of the court.

KAREKIN II CATHOLICOS PRESENTS PITER SEMNEBY MISSION OF CHURCH IN
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
ETCHMIADZIN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians received in the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on April 6, Piter Semneby, the EU Special Representative
to South Caucasus, accopanied by Heike Renate Peitsch, the Ambassador
of the Federal Republic of Germany to the RA. Welcoming at the Mother
See the EU Special Representative to South Caucasus, His Holiness
congratulated and blessed him on the occasion of the new mission,
wishing him, that his mission is crowned with complete successes. “We
are full of hope that owing to Your work we’ll be able to make peace
stable in this region and to develop and deepen cooperation in this
region and among peoples of this region,” the Armenian Patriarch
said. His Holiness also touched upon the mission of the church in the
affair of the peaceful settlement of the Artsakh conflict, mentioning
that the Church attepmts to do its best, to support those mutual
relations of peace and cooperation with the help of religious and
spiritual leaders. Piter Semneby remembered his first visit to Armenia
in 1987, and then during the days of the awful earthquake. In his
speech he also touched upon the obligations he has undertaken,
mentioning that he is called to support peaceful settlement of the
conflict. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services of
the Mother See, other problems of the region were spoken about at the
meeting, mutual relations existing between the Armenian Apostolic and
Georgian Orthodox Churches, problems of the Virahayots diocese were
touched upon. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, the primate of the Armenian
Diocese of Georgia was present at the meeting.

PITER SEMNEBY: EUROPEAN UNION IS INTERESTED IN QUICK SETTLEMENT OF ALL
CONFLICS OF SOUTH CAUCASUS
YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The European Union’s
intentions and initiatives connected with the South Caucasus are
valuable. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated about this at
the Aptil 6 meeting with Piter Semneby, the newly appointed Special
Representative of the European Union to South Caucasus. He mentioned
that though the EU representatives and the OSCE Minsk Group present
themselves in the affair of settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict in different formats, but, finally, all the efforts are
directed to the same goal, a peaceful and quick settlement of the
conflict. Andranik Margarian said that Armenia is anxious by martial
statements of Azerbaijan, cases of breaking the cease-fire became
friquent at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The head of the RA
Government also mentioned that the Armenian side would like to see an
EU delegation acting by itself in Yerevan. Expressing satisfaction on
the occasion of the sucessful and productive process of working out
the Actions Plan of Armenia within the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy, the head of the Armenian Government expressed
hope that adoption of the Actions Plan will not be very late after the
successful final of the third stage of the negotiations scheduled for
May. Piter Semneby mentioned that though this is his first visit to
Armenia in the status of the EU Special Representative, he intends to
visit the RA more friquently from now on, and it’s too pleasant for
him that he is appointed on this post within such a period of time
when the relations of the South Caucasus and the EU have got a new
qualitative character. He emphasized that the EU is interested in
quick settlement of all the conflicts of South Caucasus, and his
mandate’s change is provided just by it. Piter Semneby informed that
he’ll visit Armenia in the nearest future as well, within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen’s visit. Emphasizing
that he’ll be actively involved both in process of the Karabakh
conflict settlement and ! in the process of strengthening the
supremacy of law, implementation of reforms of the judicial system,
the EU Special Representative asked the RA Prime Minister to present
his estimation concerning works being done in these directions.
Andranik Margarian mentioned that after the referendum of the RA
Constitutional amendments, work of implementation of the steps arising
of the Constitution in the above-mentioned directions is undertaken in
the country. Within the framework of the work, the RA Government has
already affirmed in the program of events of the current year the
instructions given to ministries, departments in those directions,
with correct fixing of terms. Mentioning that Armenia has fostered the
way of Eurointegration since declaring its independence, Andranik
Margarian said that active works are done in the direction of making
the legislation of the country corresponding to the legislation of the
European Union. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s
Information and Public Relations Department, the interlocuters touched
upon issues of holding future elections in the RA corresponding to
international standards, the RA-RF relations and cooperation, the
policy implemented by the RA in the sphere of energy and a number of
other issues.

From: [email protected]
Subject: British Columbia Legislative Assembly Recognizes Armenian Genocide
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
OTTAWA, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Legislative
Assembly of British Columbia unanimously adopted a Private Member’s
Motion 59, recognizing the Armenian Genocide and to designate April
24th of every year as a remembrance day for the 1.5 million Armenians
who fell victim to the first genocide of the 20th Century. The debate
on the Motion, which was sponsored by Member of the Legislative
Assembly (MLA) Adrian Dix (Vancouver-Kingsway), commenced at 11:00
a.m. on April 3 and was voted upon at the end of the allotted one hour
according to Private Member’s Motion rules. MLAs Adrian Dix
(Vancouver-Kingsway), Rob Fleming (Victoria-Hillside), Randy Hawes
(Maple Ridge-Mission), Dave S. Hayer (Surrey-Tynehead), John Horgan
(Malahat-Juan de Fuca), Maurine Karagianis (Esquimalt-Metchosin),
Leonard Krog (Nanaimo), Kevin Krueger (Kamloops-North Thompson), John
Nuraney (Burnaby-Willingdon), Michael Sather (Maple Ridge – Pitt
Meadows), and John Yap (Richmond-Steveston) spoke in support of the
Motion. Since last August The Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), The Armenian National Committee of Canada – West (ANCCW), and
The Armenian National Committee of Vancouver (ANCV), have worked
closely with the MLAs Dix, Hawes, Sather, and Hayer to build
non-partisan support for Motion 59. The ANCC, ANCCW and ANCV delegates
had numerous meetings with various MLAs to brief them on the Motion’s
importance as a universal human rights issue. In addition, the
delegates presented historical overview of the Genocide and supporting
documents. The executive director of The Armenian National Committee
of Canada Aris Babkian, on behalf of the Canadian-Armenian community,
thanked MLAs Adrian Dix (NDP) and Randy Hawes (Liberal) for their
leadership role in the successful adoption of the Motion. Furthermore,
Mr. Babikian thanked members who spoke in favour of the Motion and the
members who voted to adopt it. Mr. Babikian said: “This is a historic
day for our community in Canada and in British Columbia. The steadfast
suppor! t and the unanimous vote of the MLAs demonstrates once again
that the Turkish Government’s denial policy and rewriting of history
will not succeed. We call upon the Turkish Government to be
constructive, to come to terms with its dark history and to
acknowledge its predecessors’ guilt and extend a hand of atonement and
reconciliation to the Armenian People.”

PREMIERRE OF GOLDBERG’S “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” FILM TAKES PLACE AY
U.S. CONGRESS LIBRARY
WASHINGTON, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first public
watching of Andrew Goldberg’s “Armenian Genocide” documentary film
took place on April 4 at the U.S. Congress library. It was organized
on the initiative of Congressman Adam Schiff. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, a reception took place before the first show during what
Congressmen Adam Schiff, Frank Pallone and Rush Holt made
speeches. Then Tatul Margarian, the Ambassador of Armenia to
U.S. thanked Adam Schiff for the initiative as well as mentioned
specially the work done by Andrew Goldberg, the author of the
documentary film. Show of the “Armenian Genocide” one-hour documentary
film is scheduled for April 17 in the whole territory of the U.S. by
the Public Broadcasting Service.

RA EMBASSY TO EGYPT PUBLISHES “ARMENIANS NEWS” OFFICIAL REFERENCE BOOK
IN ARABIC
CAIRO, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA Embassy to Egypt
published on April 6 the first issue of the “Armenian News” quarterly
official reference book in the Arabic language. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, it’s the first time that a reference book with similar
contents is published in the Arabic language. Numerous materials both
about official-political life of Armenia and Armenian-Egyptian
relations are included in the reference book. The reference book has a
goal of wide propaganda: to inform the political and public circles of
Egypt about the Armenian-Egyptian ties and Armenia- Arabic world
relations. The reference book is published with coloured photos and
with 1000 copies print run.

THEY READY IN JAVAKHK TO WITHSTAND AVIAN INFLUENZA
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. As soon as the
spring starts, means of struggle against avian influenza have been
strengthened in the regions of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda. The case of
the country’s being full of lakes arises particular danger.
Corresponding courses are held in all schools of the region to
withstand the possible danger. Corresponding instruments of
disinfection and overalls were brought from the Georgian capital,
Tbilisi. Groups of volunteers controlling the lakes are also created,
the most part of participants of which are veterinary surgeons.
According to the “A-Info” agency, the created operative offices which
are headed by heads of the regions, work with regime of 24 hours
shift. According to Boris Balasanian and Sos Amirkhanian, the chief
veterinary surgeons of the regions of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda, the
regions are completely ready to withstand the avian influenza.

PROBABLY PRIMARY MEDICAL AID TO BE FREE IN JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Georgian
Ministry of Health has planned to make primary medical aid
free. According to the A-Info agency, it will be first applied in the
mountainous regions. The Samtskhe-Javakhk health regional department
already plans the technology of free primary medical aid. Not only the
first medical aid, medical examination, but also the respective
preventive measures: notification of the population, sanitary control,
etc. will be free of charge. The first-aid posts and out-patient’s
clinics will be reequipped for this purpose. It is also envisaged to
reorganize the Akhalkalak Polyclinic, the Abastuman Tuberculosis
Hospital and the Borzhom Children’s Polyclinic from considerations of
rendering free service, with the funds of the World Bank.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT SENDS MISSION TO OLD JUGHA
STRASBOURG, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. At the April 6
conference the Chairman of the European Parliament and Chairmen of the
paliament’s political groups officially approved the decision to send
a mission to Old Jugha (Nakhichevan) for the purpose of examining the
destructions committed by Azeris on the Old Jugha Armenian cemetery.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from the ARF Dashnaktsutiun European
Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, by the decision adopted
unanimously the European Parliament’s and its groups’ Chairmen
preferred to entrust this mission to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary
Cooperation Commission though they had planned in advance to form a
delegation specially for this purpose. In all probability, the
delegation that will include 10 parliamentarians – members of the
EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission, will be in Armenia on
April 17-21, before leaving for Jugha. Nevertheless, for entering
Azerbaijan the mission should in advance get Baku’s permission, which
however, as the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy
emphasizes, is responsible for the very barbarities. To recap, on
February 16, the European Parliament with a prevailing majority of
votes adoted a resolution which condemns the Azeris’ vandalism on the
Old Jugha Armenian cemetery. In the resolution the European Parliament
strictly condemned the destruction of the Jugha cemetery and demanded
that “Azerbaijan permit to carry out missions aimed at study and
preservation of the historic and especially Armenian heritage in this
territory”. The resolution also demands from Azerbaijan to allow the
European Parliament’s delegation to visit the historical locality of
Jugha. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan continues its barbarity on the
medieval Armenian cemetery, the evidence of which is the fact that
after destroying the cross-stones and grave-stones the Azerbaijani
Armed Forces turned the Old Jugha cemetery into a range.

ZOHRAB MNATSAKANIAN ELECTED VICE CHAIRMAN OF UN ECONOMIC COMMISSION
FOR EUROPE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GENEVA, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanian,
Armenia’s Resident Representative to the UN Geneva Office and other
international organizations, was elected Vice Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) at
the first sitting of the executive committee. NT was informed about it
from the RA MFA Press and Information Department. The UN Economic
Commission for Europe is chaired by Resident Representative of
Belgium, Ambassador Francois Roux. Representative of Switzerland was
also elected a vice chairman. At the 61st session of the UN Economic
Commission for Europe this year, the commission set up a new
governance system, with the Executive Committee becoming its major
body. One of the peculiarities of the UN ECE reforms is the creation
of a committee on new branch economic cooperation and integration
issues, which aims to assist countries with a transition economy. The
UN Economic Commission for Europe was created in 1947 by the UN
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The ECE is one of the 5 UN
regional commissions, whose main purpose is to develop and deepen
All-European economic integration. It has 55 member states which
conduct a dialog on economic and branch issues, develop various
conventions and standards aimed at prmoting cooperation in and outside
the region. About 70 international expert organizations and NGOs
participate in UN ECE activities.