ARMENIAN BODY CLAIMS 130 POWS IN AZERI PRISONS
Regnum, Moscow
11 Apr 06
As of today there are 130 Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan,
deputy chairman of the Community and Law public organization, Suren
Ovannesyan, has said.
He said that the Armenian Defence Ministry had elaborated a list of
missing people and their whereabouts. However, the process of their
return is practically impossible. Azerbaijan had also published
information about the Armenian prisoners of war. But information
about the prisoners of war has not been made public since [Azerbaijani
President] Ilham Aliyev came into power.
“Access to prisons in Azerbaijan is even barred for international
organizations,” Suren Ovannesyan said and added that Armenian prisoners
of war are exploited as free labour force in Azerbaijan.
Suren Ovannesyan noted that there are no Azerbaijani prisoners of war
in Armenian prisons as they were returned to Azerbaijan unilaterally.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATED BY THOSE WHO ARE TO PROTECT
Lragir.am
14 April 06
On April 13 the National Assembly heard the report on the activity of
the ombudsman of Armenia in 2005. The report was presented by Armen
Harutiunyan, who became ombudsman in March 2006. According to the
members of parliament, Armen Harutiunyan observed all the rules of
decency and deserves praise. In his report he had included mostly
statistical facts, without dwelling on assessments, and noticed in
the beginning that “the first ombudsman could have been given the
opportunity to present the report on the activity in 2005.” The picture
of 2005 is the following: the ombudsman received 1551 complaints from
1824 citizens, some are signed by groups of people, 533 complaints ,
i.e. 34 per cent were discussed.
In European countries they attend to 20-25 per cent of complaints. The
majority of complaints are about strange methods of investigation
used by the police, the social security agencies for problems with
benefits, courts, the Ministry of Justice, the Office of Public
Prosecutor, the City Hall of Yerevan, regional administrations,
other agencies. The police is in the first place – 191 complaints,
social security agencies are the second – 179, then come courts –
166. The lowest number of complaints are about the Ministry of Finance
and Economy and the Ministry of Energy – three complaints each. This
statistics allowed MP Victor Dallakyan to conclude that human rights
are often violated by those who are called to protect them, i.e. the
police, courts of law, the Office of Public Prosecutor.

EASTER CELEBRATION AND OTHER SPRING TIME EVENTS
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 10:30
Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian,
Prelate, a reception will be held at the Armenian Prelacy of Canada
for all fellow worshippers who wish to be blessed on the Feast of
the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ after Divine Easter services
on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006.
During the Lent period, the Prelacy also hosted weekday lectures on
women Saints and the notion of sacredness at all Armenian Apostolic
Churches across Canada.
Under the Auspices of His Eminence, a drawing contest is being held
on Sunday, April 30, 2006, after Divine Liturgy services in Ontario
and Quebec.
Organized by the Christian Education Council of the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada, in collaboration with Christian Education Committee of local
churches, the exhibit will take place in Toronto’s Hovnanian Hall,
Cambridge’s Armenian community centre, and in the Aharonian Hall for
the Montreal and Laval communities.
The contest, which is open to all students, has two age categories:
the elementary level and the intermediary/high school level. The
deadline for submission is April 21, 2006 and drawings should be
given to the respected church secretarial office of each locale.
The award ceremony will be held at the St. Catharines Armenian
community centre on May 13, 2006, during the Canadian Armenian
National Assembly Representatives (CANAR) banquet, where the best
drawings will be displayed.

CHAMBER OF ADVOCATES RELEASES RULES AND APPLICATION FORM FOR THE QUALIFICATION EXAMINATION FOR ADVOCATES
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 11:00
On April 15, 2006, the RA Chamber of Advocates and its Qualification
Commission will hold a press conference to release the Rules and
application form for the upcoming qualification examination for
licensing advocates, which will be held in August-September 2006. The
purpose of the press conference is to present to applicants, the press
and other attendees the Rules of the Qualification Examination and the
application package. A power point presentation will highlight some
of the important features of the Qualification Examination, including
the deadlines for application and examination processes. Among the
speakers will be President of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia
Ruben Sahakyan, USAID Deputy Mission Director Karl Fickenscher,
Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan,
Chair of the Court of Cassation of Armenia Hovhaness Manukyan,
Deputy Prosecutor General of Armenia Gevorg Danielyan, Chair of the
Qualification Commission Yenok Azaryan, a representative from the
Ministry of Justice and ABA/CEELI Liaison Erica Simpson. Ms Simpson
will briefly speak about the cooperation of ABA/CEELI with the Chamber
of Advocates and specifically on the Qualification Examination.

PACE ADOPTS A RESOLUTION ON REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 11:16
Yesterday the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe discussed
the report on “Refugees and displaced persons in Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan” and adopted a resolution. Head of the Armenian delegation
to PACE Tigran Torosyan said that the resolution correctly pictures
the current situation.
The report does not indicate the number of the refugees and displaced
persons. However, the report has a memorandum of the reporter, which
includes interesting figures taken from the report of the UN Supreme
Commissioner on Issues of Refugees.
“It is mentioned, for instance, that the number of refugees
in Azerbaijan is a little more than 83 thousand. At the end of
2004 there were only 8 606 refugees and 500 displaced persons
in Azerbaijan. However, these numbers make it apparent that the
Azerbaijanis’ reports on having 1 million refugees are an absolute
lie,” Head of the Armenian delegation underlined.

ARMENIAN TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 12:32
Table tennis team of Armenia will participate in the World Table Tennis
Championship to be held April 23 in Bremen, Germany. The chief trainer
of the team is Felix Sargsyan. The team comprises three players –
David Sargsyan, Murad Asatryan and Mesrop Ghukasyan. All thre sportsmen
are included in the top 1 000 of the best tennis player og the world.
Armenia currently ranks 71st in the international table tennis
rating list.

BERNARD FASSIER: WAR CANNOT BE A SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 13:05
“The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs are deeply confident that there is
no alternative to peace in the Karabakh issue,” French Co-Chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier declared yesterday at a news
conference in Yerevan.
He expressed concern over the fact that following the Ramboulliet
meeting of Armenian and Azeri Presidents there have been clashes and
even victims at the contact line.
“We should remind the parties that war can in no way be a solution
to the problem. War is the worst way for both countries, since it
will not resolve anything: despite the outcome of the war, the two
countries will find themselves at the former initial position,”
Bernard Fassier declared.
The mediator called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to build a joint future
without returning to what has been in the past and without centering
attention on who has been guilty in the past. He urged to follow the
example of France and Germany, which found the formula of peaceful
and mutually beneficial coexistence after long wars and confrontations.
Bernard Fassier refuted all the talks about changing the format of
the negotiations process on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.
According to him, the OSCE Minsk Group format is a constant one.
“We are decisive to use every chance for the settlement of the
conflict. It is a new approach in the activity of the Co-Chairs,”
Ambassador Fassier declared.
According to him, the Co-Chairs tried to work out some agreement
based on fundamental principles in Ramboilliet. He considers
that consent on basic principles will simplify the adoption of an
inclusive agreement. Fassier noted that the Co-Chairs aim at finding
the suggestions, which will be directed at the improvement of the
future agreement.

OFFICIAL STEPANAKERT SUGGESTS SENDING A GROUP OF EXPERTS TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 14:25
NKR Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosyan and Head of Police Armen
Isagulov sent a letter to US Assistant Secretary of State, Head of
the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of
the US Department of State Anne Patterson, in which they stated that
” Nagorno-Karabakh is not a transit country for drug trafficking.”
The letter particularly says, “Appreciating and welcoming the
contribution of the United Stated in establishment of genuine
democratic principles in the international relations, as well as
consistent efforts of US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, aimed at
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we want to call your
attention to an issue of high importance to the NKR authorities.
Different from previous years, in 2006 the State Department’s
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report mentions
Nagorno-Karabakh as a transit territory for drugs. We do not have
doubts that the information is provided by Azerbaijan, which has
made the adulteration and discredit of the Armenian party its state
policy. We express categorical disagreement over such a respected
Report utilizing unconfirmed data.
Thereupon we assure you with all responsibility that Nagorno Karabakh
is not a transit way for drugs not only due to absence of a developed
transport and communication system owing to continued blockade by
Azerbaijan, but also as a result of efficient preventive work of NKR
law-enforcement bodies.”
The letter further cites facts, evidencing the aforementioned
arguments. Specifically, the authors of the letter write, “The Office
of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, which
regularly monitors the cease-fire regime, can confirm absence of any
criminal facts and actions here.” They also draw attention that the
OSCE fact-finding mission, composed of over 30 diplomats and experts,
accompanied by the OSCE MG co-chairs, visited Nagorno-Karabakh in
January-February 2005. “The detailed monitoring contains no mentioning
of such negative facts.
On behalf of NKR authorities again expressing readiness to receive
a special monitoring group, composed of experts, who can provide
an independent conclusion, the letter authors frankly believe that
“the US State Department will have an opportunity to make sure at
the scene that the above-stated is true and stop alarm over issues
that can more complicate the peace process and postpone prospects of
peace and stability.”
Copies of the letter are sent to US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice,
US co-chair of the OSCE MG Steven Mann, National Drug Control Policy
Director John Walters.

BERNARD FASSIER: WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KOCHARYAN-ALIEV MEETING
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 14:50
During the coming weeks active discussions are expected around
Nagorno-Karabakh. The regional tour of the OSCE Minsk Group French
Co-Chair Bernard Fassier came to an end yesterday. Today he will have
consultation meetings with the Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov and
Deputy Foreign Minister Gennadi Karaskin in Moscow. The coming days
the visit of the US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann to
Yerevan and Baku is expected, on April 21 Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan will meet Yuri Merzlyakov in Moscow.
As it is known, on April 28 Ilham Aliev is leaving for Washington,
where he will be received by US president George Bush. Naturally,
one of the central topics of the meeting will be the Karabakh issue.
Late April or early May Bernard Fassier is expected to visit the
region. Early may the Co-Chars will hold a consultation meeting in
Moscow. However, the active discussions on the settlement issue and
the visits of the mediators to the region in no way speak about a
break in the negotiations process. Moreover, at this moment it is not
clear whether a new meeting between Kocharyan and Aliev will be held.
“We want to create opportunities for the meeting of the Presidents of
the two countries. Today I cannot indicate the date and place of the
meeting, since nothing has been set so far. It will be good if there
is an opportunity to have the meeting be held in June. If not, let’s
hope that such meeting will be held in July,” Bernard Fassier declared.

VARDAN OSKANYAN: ARMENIA IS NOT READY TO JOIN NATO
ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 15:22
“Armenia is not yet ready to join the NATO, and the alliance is
not yet ready to accept us,” RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
declared today.
The Foreign Minister noted that the security system of Armenia includes
several components – membership to the Collective Security Treaty
Organization, development of relations with NATO and participation
in EU programs.