Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 11, 2005, Monday

Greek court rules against association describing itself as “Turkish”

Greece’s Supreme Court has ruled against the right of an association
located in the north-eastern region of Thrace to describe itself as
“Turkish”, newspaper reports said Monday.

According to reports, the country’s Supreme Court rejected a bid by
the “Cultural Association of Turkish Women in the Rhodope Prefecture”
against a ruling by a Thrace appeals court that had ordered the
group’s dissolution.

It was the second ruling of its kind by the Supreme Court this year,
after a decision in January banning a 78-year-old Moslem minority
association named the “Turkish Union of Xanthi”, a Thracian town with
a strong Moslem community.

The court said the cultural association “served the interest of a
foreign country in the attempt to present a Turkish minority as
living in Greece.”

The ruling, which was reported in the Athens daily “Kathimerini”
newspaper, said the association’s aims were illegal and went against
the Treaty of Lausanne.

The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which provided for an exchange of
populations between Greece and Turkey following the 1919-22 war,
holds that the 100,000-strong Moslem minority in Thrace is not
ethnically Turkish.

Supreme Court judges found the association “is implicitly seeking to
forward Turkish ideals, in contrast to other lawful associations in
Greece, such as Armenian or Israeli, which legitimately aim to
preserve their national customs and language.”

Traditional rivals Greece and Turkey have nearly gone to war three
times in the past 30 years, most recently over a rocky islet in the
Aegean in 1996.

While the 1974 war over Cyprus remains a serious diplomatic dispute
between the two nations, both have managed to thaw tensions in recent
years after twin earthquakes struck both capitals in 1999, resulting
in a mutual outpouring of grief and support. dpa cp pmc

The Gazette (Montreal)
April 10, 2005 Sunday
Final Edition

‘Beyond human redress’: This month marks the 90th anniversary of the
slaughter and exile of Turkey’s Armenian population, a human tragedy
that still haunts both the persecuted and the persecutors

by TARO ALEPIAN, Freelance

The year 2005 marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. It
will be commemorated by the 60,000 Canadians of Armenian descent,
sons and daughters of the 1.5 million Armenians who were tortured and
massacred in this crime against humanity. Millions of Armenians
around the world will do the same.

On the evening of April 23, a multi-denominational ecumenical service
will be held in St. Joseph Oratory to mark the occasion. Cardinal
Jean-Claude Turcotte will lead the prayers.

The events that took place 90 years ago in Turkey are considered the
first ethnically motivated genocide in a century filled with
holocaust, genocide and ethnic cleansing. They were not random
events, but a government-sponsored and led program of ethnic
annihilation including torture, rape, starvation and the killing of
innocent men, women and children.

Many governments and parliaments around the world, including
Canada’s, now recognize the genocide. Although it was a catastrophe
of epic proportions, its denial by Turkey and the apathy of the
civilized world in the decades that followed set the tone for what is
arguably the most murderous century in history.

Adolf Hitler, in persuading his army commanders on the eve of the
Second World War that the merciless persecution and killing of Jews
would bring no retribution, declared: “Who, after all, speaks today
of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

These infamous words speak volumes. They clearly demonstrate that
denial was not just a betrayal of the Armenian people, but of
humanity, and that the apathy of the West was not only unfair, but
precedent setting.

With the eyes of the world on Turkey as it campaigns to join the
European Union, human-rights issues and the Armenian genocide are now
being discussed worldwide and, perhaps more importantly, are being
put on the negotiating table by the leaders of the European Union.

Canada, as a world leader and a respected voice of reason, must join
the nations of Europe in calling on Turkey to recognize this genocide
and to grow into the respectable and honourable member of the
community of nations that it strives to become. After all, Canada is
the nation that taught the world to use military force as a
peacekeeping tool and that set the benchmark for a just society based
on human rights, individual freedoms and democratic principles. That
is why we, as Canadians, expect more than a House of Commons
resolution. We expect action.

That genocide took place is no longer a debate. It is an accepted
fact, based on a mountain of factual evidence.

The United States ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time, Henry
Morgenthau, Sr., wrote: “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 accompanied by the systematic destruction
of churches, schools, libraries, treasures of art, and cultural
monuments in an attempt to eliminate all traces of a noble
civilization with a history of more than 3,000 years.”

Winston Churchill wrote: “As for Turkish atrocities – massacring
uncounted thousands of helpless Armenians, men, women, and children
together, whole districts blotted out in one administrative holocaust
– these were beyond human redress.”

There are numerous writings by American, German, Swiss and Italian
missionaries, diplomats and newspaper reporters who witnessed the
genocide, documenting the facts. The volume of evidence speaks
clearly for itself.

What remains, however, is to transform this fact, this genocide, from
calamity to lesson – from grievance to a collective “turning of the
page.”

Turkey today is a country trying hard to modernize itself. It is
addressing its human-rights issues, working to improve its financial
situation and campaigning to join the European Union. It has a rich
history and its people are justly proud of their recent achievements
as they look forward to a brighter future.

It takes leadership and courage to right past wrongs. The time is
right for the Turkish government to recognize that genocide was
perpetrated by a predecessor regime in a past generation.

Modern Turks can then disassociate themselves from the sins of their
ancestors, and finally bury this unfortunate event in the pages of
history where it rightly belongs. The world will respect them for
doing so, and it will remove one of the thorny issues hindering their
acceptance into the family of European nations.

Turkey can certainly benefit from some courageous leadership right
now. Perhaps Canada can help those courageous leaders who surely
exist in Turkey to stand up and take action.

Taro Alepian is president of the Congress of Canadian Armenians.

Azad-Hye, Dubai
April 8 2005

Syrian Armenians: Sheikhs of Syrian Arab tribes visit Armenia

AZAD-HYE (Dubai, 8 April 2005): Three years ago in 24/4/2002, the
Armenians of Aleppo and Northern Syria publicly honoured the heads of
Arab tribes of the Syrian Al Jazeera Region (located between the
Euphrates river and the Syrian-Iraqi border, in North-Eastern Syria),
whose forefathers have rescued many Armenians during the Genocide of
1915.

The celebration took place in the cultural center of the city of Deir
Ez-Zor, known to the Armenians as the final post (a sort of Armenian
Auschwitz) in the annihilation campaign orchestrated by the Ottoman
Turks.

The descendants of the Arab tribes were bestowed with letters of
gratitude and symbolic gifts commemorating their heroic efforts
during the WWI difficult times, when they defied government orders
and sheltered the surviving Armenians.

The Mufti of Der Ezzor expressed his sorrow on the events of 1915
that plagued the city and the surroundings. Some places in the Syrian
Al Jazeera Region carry names stemmed from the atrocities that the
Armenians faced (see below).

See text about this ceremony in Arabic language.

On 29th March 2005, almost three years after the honorary ceremony in
Syria, the same heads of the Syrian Arab tribes were visiting
Armenia, to take part in the official ceremonies dedicated to the
Genocide anniversary.

Qatari English daily “The Peninsula” reported in its 3rd April 2005
issue that Mohammad Al Razzaka (61), one of the tribal leaders said
in an interview: “Armenians who grew up with us under our roof told
us about the genocide. We came to Armenia in order to honor the
memory of thousands of innocent people”. [Click Read More]

Al Razzaka laid flowers at the Genocide memorial in Yerevan. “Our
fathers and grandfathers not only helped the Armenians survive but
also taught them to farm since most of the refugees were craftsmen.
We are proud that we helped thousands of innocent people survive and
live through this tragedy”, he added.

Nawaf Ragheb Al Bashir, from the Al Bagara tribe, said: `My
grandfather used to tell me how in those far away years, thousands of
Armenians crossed the desert without food and water. There were so
many killed and injured that one village was called Margateh, which
means a collection of corpses, and another was called Shatateh which
means genocide’ he added, expressing hope that the Armenian people
who has a long history and is gifted with creative abilities will
reconstruct his homeland in a short period of time and achieve
well-being and prosperity.

The visit of the Syrian Arab tribesmen was one of a series of
seminars, visits and ceremonies that authorities in Armenia planned
to mark the 90th anniversary of the start of the killings, leading up
to the official genocide remembrance day on April 24.

The tribe leaders met with the Prime Minister, the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs, Defence, Agriculture, Health, Labor and Social
Security, with representatives of the National Assembly factions, as
well as with students of the Oriental Science Department of Yerevan
State University.

Before their return to Syria on 3rd April 2005 they met also with the
Syrian students currently studying in Yerevan, visited the town of
Abovian, where a large number of Armenian repatriates from Syria
live. They also visited the Matenadaran (the library of manuscripts
and ancient books) and Holy Echmiadzin where they were received by
the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Jirair Reisian, head of the delegation of the Armenian Church of
Aleppo and environs said to Noyan Tapan News Agency that the purpose
of this visit organized at the initiative of the Armenian community
of Aleppo is to pay homage once again to the leaders of the tribes
that provided shelter to the Armenians who had survived the genocide
and reached the Syrian land, and to give them an opportunity to
become acquainted with Armenia and the Armenian people.

Head of the “Bagara Al Jabal” tribe Sheikh Abdul Suahab Isa Suleiman
noted that the Armenian community of Syria plays a prominent role in
the country’s social, economic and political life, with the Armenian
deputies always being included in the Syrian parliament.

Head of Al Harb tribe Sheikh Hasan Oubeid Al Khalil called on all the
states and international organizations to reconsider their approach
to the Armenian genocide and to meet the just demands of the Armenian
people.

In their 1st April 2005 press conference, the leaders of the Syrian
tribes said that “All the Arabs know about the Genocide and they have
done many services to the Armenian nation”. Asked why Syria has not
yet officially recognized the Genocide, they said that in that issue
Syria is like Armenia: “There has been no need to recognize an issue
which is testified to by every stone of the country”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azad-Hye, Dubai
April 8 2005

UAE Armenians: Abu Dhabi Armenians plan to jointly commemorate the
Genocide

For the first time in many years the Armenians of Abu Dhabi have
agreed on a united program for Genocide commemoration, involving the
Embassy, the Council of Armenian Community and the Armenian Cultural
Association. This year coincides with the 90th Anniversary of the
Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks.

Thus on Sunday, 24th April 2005, at 8:00 pm, Armenian Genocide
Commemoration will take place in St. Andrew’s Church Hall, in Abu
Dhabi Church Area.

Mr. Aghvan Vartanian (specially invited from Armenia) will deliver a
lecture, analyzing the event that led to the planning of the first
genocide of the 20th century, which is still waiting for formal
recognition from the perpetuating Turkish authorities and their
modern-day heirs.

The National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, under the baton of Maestro
Aram Gharabekian, as well as the students of the Armenian Community
Weekly School will present a cultural program.

On the Same day (from 11:00 am until 17:30 pm), the Embassy of
Armenia in Abu Dhabi would be opening a condolences book for the
memory of the one million and half victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Armenians and foreigners are invited to record their thoughts on this
significant event in the modern Armenian history.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azad-Hye, Dubai
April 8 2005

Jack Persekian: Head curator of the Sharjah Biennial 7

“One of my main concerns in life has been the issue of identity, of
the notion of who I am, where I belong and where I want to be”.

Sharjah Biennial 7 is the only international contemporary art event
of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Entry is free, and the
event has been designed to involve students as well as the rest of
the community. In 1993, Sharjah (the third Emirate in economic
significance in the UAE) hosted the first Biennial and since then has
hosted 6 sessions over 12 years.

Jyoti Kalsi has contributed the following article to the “Gulf News”
Dubai daily (“Surrounded by Art”, 6th April 2005, tabloid
supplementary cover story), including an interview with Jack
Persekian:

The Sharjah Biennial 7 will showcase paintings, videos and art
installations from the region and the world More than 70 artists from
36 countries will take part in the Sharjah Biennial 7 which opens
today.

They will present their interpretation of the event’s theme of
Belonging through paintings, sculptures, videos, photographs and
installations, many of which have been commissioned for the event
which continues until June 6.

For the first time since its inception in 1993 – the event is being
hosted at two venues, the Sharjah Art Museum and the Sharjah Expo
Centre.

Also for the first time, a contemporary art education programme has
been designed to actively involve students and the local community in
the event.

This includes an international symposium on biennials, discussions on
the theme of belonging and a variety of student workshops. Entry is
free and trained guides are available at the venue for free guided
tours.

Sharjah Biennial 7 – the only international contemporary art event of
its kind in the GCC – was conceptualised and organised by head
curator Jack Persekian.

Born and brought up in Jerusalem, Persekian is the founder and
director of Anadiel Gallery and the Al Ma’mal Foundation of
Contemporary Art in Jerusalem. He played a key role in establishing
and developing the contemporary art movement in Palestine and in
putting Palestinian and contemporary Arab art in the international
limelight.

He is an adviser to the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and has been
a curator for several prestigious exhibitions around the world.

A week ago, I met him in his office at the Sharjah Art Museum. The
place was bustling with activity as artists and artworks began
arriving from various parts of the world. In between supervising the
special construction work being done at the Sharjah Expo for certain
installations and ensuring that the artworks were displayed just as
the artists wanted them, Persekian took some time off to talk to
Tabloid about the significance of the theme and what the event hopes
to achieve:

Excerpts:

Tabloid: What was your vision of the theme?
Jack Persekian: I was honoured when HH Hoor Al Qasimi, director of
the Sharjah Biennial 7, appointed me the head curator for this event.
We discussed many ideas before settling on the theme of belonging.

I am of Armenian origin, born in Palestine and an American citizen
living in Jerusalem. One of my main concerns in life has been the
issue of identity, of the notion of who I am, where I belong and
where I want to be. When I came to Sharjah I realised that this theme
is quite relevant to this environment. There are more expatriates
than UAE nationals in this country and there is a great mixture of
different people passing through this country who make it their
temporary home.

To some extent this reflects the state of the whole world today. We
are living more and more in transient places. We travel more and
spend more and more time at airports and between spaces and places.

Yet on the other hand, there is so much conflict connected to
identity, territory and occupation.

So at one extreme you have a struggle over belonging and identity and
on the other you have the possibility that anyone can buy a home on
the Palm Island [a huge real estate project off shore Dubai in the
shape of a palm tree, which has become the symbol of recent
construction development in Dubai – Azad-hye]

Hence the word belonging is loaded with meaning. I thought I would
like to see how artists react to it – be it in a banal sense, as a
complex challenging notion or just with cynicism.

Tabloid: What do you hope to achieve through this event?
Jack Persekian: Biennials are an important platform to hear what
contemporary artists have to say. For artists it is a place where
they can interact with each other, exchange ideas and crystallise
their dreams and thoughts.

For us the event works on many levels. It opens doors to the outside
world, putting Sharjah and the UAE on the international art scene.

It provides a platform for artists from around the globe to come and
work here, be inspired by the region, relate to it and then become
ambassadors of this place. It is also a great opportunity for local
artists and art students to interact with and learn from some of the
most talented and experienced contemporary artists. One of our chief
goals is to engage the local community with this event.

Tabloid: How do you plan to do that?
Jack Persekian: With the support of the Ministry of Education, we
will have students from UAE schools coming here every day for guided
tours followed by discussions and painting sessions in the creativity
room.

The Sharjah University College of Fine Arts has taken a week off so
that the students can work with the visiting artists, helping them
with the installation of their works and in the process gaining
invaluable insights into art. We will also hold workshops by various
artists at the College of Fine Arts and American University of
Sharjah.

We have also planned interesting talks and seminars and an
artists-in-residence programme, where two artists will live and work
here for the duration of the Biennial and all art lovers are invited
to join them in creating interesting artworks.

We also have a reading room, where visitors can find a wonderful
selection of books on art and philosophy. The books and the seminars
will be in English and Arabic.

Tabloid: How did you select the artists?
Jack Persekian: My two associate curators and I looked for artists
who in the past have explored notions of identity, homeland, mobility
and displacement. Biennials are about contemporary works, so all the
exhibits are recent works by the artists. We also commissioned some
site-specific works for the event.

My expertise is in artists from this region, so Arab artists and UAE
artists are well represented.

Tabloid: What were the most difficult and the best part of putting
together this event?
Jack Persekian: It was a great challenge to have an overall vision
and to communicate it so that everyone on the project felt a part of
it.

The most difficult part was to convince myself that I can live up to
the challenge and deliver. The best part is to see my concept
materialise and to know that people from all over the world feel it
is worthwhile being involved in it.

Tabloid: Could you mention some of the highlights among the exhibits?

Jack Persekian: Every artist has something to say and every exhibit
we have is interesting.

But I cherish the projects by artists who came down early to think
through their ideas with us and tried to understand the place, the
venue, the region and culture and created specific artworks for this
theme and venue.

Tabloid: What has been the role of artists during the Palestinian
conflict? What kind of response do they get during exhibitions
abroad?
Jack Persekian: In general, the role of art and artists, like that of
all intellectuals, is to challenge dogmas and notions of stagnation,
provoke thought on issues pertinent to society, elaborate on the
aspirations of people and articulate what the future could be.

In Palestine, artists have always been in the forefront of the
liberation movement. They started by creating a consciousness of
identity among people and their role has evolved with time.

Through their depiction of issues that affect Palestinians they have
played an active role in having the voice of Palestine heard
worldwide.

The response to Palestinian artists abroad is overwhelming. People
see news about the region all the time and are curious to meet the
people living through it.

Tabloid: Where does Arab art stand in relation to the international
art scene?
Jack Persekian: Today there is intense focus on this region, either
because of wars and conflict or because of thriving economies like
that of the UAE.

Arab artists, especially the younger generation, have addressed these
issues quite articulately through their work.

Arab art is in tune with international art and many artists from this
region are making an impact on the international scene.

Araz Azimov: “Armenia tries to gain extra time by creating tension in
borderline”

08 April 2005 [16:33] – Today.Az

“I am sure that the meeting between the leaders of foreign policy
offices of Armenia and Azerbaijan planned to be held on April 14-15
will be realized”.

This was stated to APA by vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Araz
Azimov.

He stated that both meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
the presidents are of great importance.

“In Prague discussions that began in 2004 the maters of eliminating
the results of the conflict, liberation of the territories from armed
forces, restoring the infrastructure, sending the population back to
their homes, establishing normal relations and forming cooperation are
being discussed. Armenia must obey the ceasefire. Regular violation of
ceasefire regime has the purpose of straining the situation. Armenia
wants to use the strained situation as a pretext and get some
time. But losing time is not for the benefit of any side”.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 11 2005

`Armenia ready to match Azerbaijan’s military spending in 2005′ –
Armenian defense minister

Armenia is ready to spend no less on armament than Azerbaijan in
2005, says Armenian defense minister Serzh Sarkisian.
`We have heard for 10 years about Azerbaijan’s hopes to solve its
problems through considerable military budget and will hear this for
another decade.’
Sarkisian said that armament and army capabilities are inseparable
and require major financial investments. He said that upgrade of the
existing arms is under way, as this requires less spending than
acquiring new weapons.
Commenting on the possibility of compromises between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Sarkisian said: `Some say that compromises are unacceptable,
but we must decide where we want to take our people, and whether we
want a new or everlasting war’.
The Armenian minister said that eternal war is an alternative and if
the entire Armenian people make such a decision, he would support it.
`I am not required to listen to just one or two people that are
authorized to speak but do not see far ahead. They should realize
that bragging does not mean expressing views.’
Sarkisian added that he does not believe that considering compromises
represents a defeatist approach.
Pundits say that Armenia, whose military budget is three times less
than that of Azerbaijan, again relies on Russia as a source of
funding for its armament.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE
April 8 2005

OSCE Office helps organize student essay contest on role of women in
Armenia

YEREVAN, 8 April 2005 – The winners of an essay contest on the role
of women in Armenia were announced today at an award ceremony in
Yerevan. They were chosen from more than 500 students who took part
in a nationwide competition.

The contest was organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the U.S.
Peace Corps in Armenia and the Center for the Development of Civil
Society.

The event marked the end of a gender activities month, which started
on 8 March, International Women’s Day, and ended on 7 April,
celebrated in Armenia as the Beauty and Motherhood Day.

“The essay contest inspired hundreds of students to focus on women’s
rights and the role of women in Armenia’s public and civic life,”
says Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office. “This is
only one of several projects, developed by the OSCE, which aim to
enhance the role of women in Armenia’s public life.”

The contest was administered by Peace Corps volunteers in nine
regions of Armenia. Twenty seven regional as well as three national
winners were chosen.

“This project is one of the few country-wide initiatives that aims to
promote gender education and awareness through outreach to young
Armenians, especially in the regions of the country,” said Blanka
Hancilova, Democratization Officer with the OSCE Office in Yerevan.
“In order to raise gender awareness and gender mainstreaming, our
Office works with both men and women in the secondary and higher
educational institutions, as well as in the governmental structures.”

For further information, please contact:

Gohar Avagyan
OSCE Office in Yerevan

89 Teryan St.
375009, Yerevan
Armenia
Tel.: +374 1 54 10 62
+374 1 54 58 45
Fax: +374 1 54 10 61

OSCE
April 2 2005

OSCE Chairman calls on all sides to focus on ways to resolve
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

BAKU, 2 April 2005 – In talks today with Azerbaijani officials, the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel,
continued to pursue ways of reaching a lasting solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, following similar meetings in Armenia on
Wednesday.

Minister Rupel reaffirmed his conviction that every existing avenue
to accelerate this peace process should be explored to the full: “I
encourage all parties to seek the resolution of this issue through
political dialogue. Any means other than those of a peaceful nature
are not part of the OSCE’s vocabulary”, he said.

He called for the stabilization of the situation along the
frontlines. “To defuse the present tension and start developing
confidence between the sides, ceasefire violations must stop.”

After meeting President Ilham Aliyev, the Chairman-in-Office added:
“I would like to see the year 2005 as a turning-point in the process
of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The personal engagement
of the two Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia is an important
milestone on the path to this objective.

“We hope that the peaceful resolution of the conflict will have the
full support of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh”, he
stressed.

The Minister also said the OSCE welcomed the President’s recent
decree pardoning 115 persons, including the majority of those
imprisoned in the aftermath of the 2003 Presidential Election: “We
hope that this step, and the establishment of the Expert Group to
look at ways of implementing the trial monitoring report, will
promote civil reconciliation.”

Minister Rupel drew attention to the Post-Election Report by the OSCE
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights: “I hope its
recommendations will be implemented prior to the parliamentary
elections due later this year.”

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office also met the Prime Minister of
Azerbaijan, Arthur Rasizade, Parliamentary Chairman Murtuz Alaskarov,
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and the Representative of the
Azerbaijani Population of Nagorno-Karabakh, Nizami Bahmanov, as well
as representatives of political parties and local non-governmental
organizations.

He emphasized the readiness of the OSCE to continue assisting
Azerbaijan in implementing various reforms, particularly in the
fields of anti-corruption and money-laundering, diversification of
the economy, human rights promotion and protection programmes.

“We hope that the reform process will get a new impetus. Together
with increased efforts to promote freedom of assembly and freedom of
the media, political pluralism in the country can be further
strengthened.”

Minister Rupel added that the OSCE would continue to offer its
assistance in the area of judicial reform and underlined the
significance of the principle of a fair trial: “Adoption of the
relevant legislative framework should be followed up by its
implementation”, he said.

For further information, please contact:

Keith Jinks
Deputy Head
Press and Public Information Section
OSCE Secretariat
Kaerntner Ring 5-7
1010, Vienna
Austria

Tel.: +43 664 544 62 07 (mobile)
+43 1 514 36 180
+43 676 939 62 22 (mobile)

Fax: +43 1 514 36 105

E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]

OSCE
April 1 2005

OSCE Office organizes discussions on labour migration in Armenia

YEREVAN, 1 April 2005 – The current situation of labour migration in
Armenia was the focus of two meetings that took place this week in
Yerevan. They brought together international experts and
representatives of various Armenian governmental bodies dealing with
international labor migration.

The events were organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the
Armenian Ministry of Labour and Social Issues and financially
supported by the United Kingdom.

During the events, the OSCE Office presented the results of its
review of Armenian legislation and administrative framework related
to international migration and examples of best practices from other
countries, as well as preliminary results of a nation-wide
sociological survey of households on labour migration. The Ministry
of Labour and Social Issues presented its labour migration strategy.

“Labour migration in Armenia is an important and challenging issue,”
said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan. “During the 1990s, hundreds of thousands of Armenians left
the country in search of work. At the same time, this migration has
helped to bridge Armenia’s worst economic downturn.”

“The issue of labour migration remains one of the biggest concerns of
the Armenian Government,” said Ashot Yesayan, First Deputy Minister
of Labour and Social Issues. “We welcome the expertise of the OSCE
Office in this area.”

According to the findings of a recent survey, 14 % of households in
Armenia have been involved in labour migration in the past three
years and in more than half of the cases, the length of stay abroad
varied between 5 and 9 months.

“In recent years, Armenia’s economic growth has been robust and there
is a need to develop sound policies that will enable labour mobility
and also ensure conditions in which jobs are created at home,” said
Blanka Hancilova, Democratization Officer at the OSCE Office.

International migration is one of the OSCE priorities this year and
the main theme of the Thirteenth Economic Forum to be held in Prague
in May.

Key links and documents:
ARMENIAN VERSION

For further information, please contact:

Gohar Avagyan
OSCE Office in Yerevan

89 Teryan St.
375009, Yerevan
Armenia
Tel.: +374 1 54 10 62
+374 1 54 58 45

Fax: +374 1 54 10 61