Igitian: European Neighborhood Unacceptable For Current Authorities

ACCORDING TO HOVHANNES IGITIAN, EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD INACCEPTABLE FOR
CURRENT RA AUTHORITIES

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The reports on South Caucasian
countries made by the European Commission open wide opportunities for
these countries and it’s important not to miss them. Hovhannes
Igitian, Chairman of the EU Chamber of Commerce and Industry in
Armenia, declared. “If by now, for EU, we have been only a country
receiving aid joining the “European Neighborhood Policy” (ENP) we
become EU policy partners,” Igitian said. According to him, it’s very
important that EU puts forward pre-conditions for the ENP participants
and the countries not meeting these pre-conditions will be left out of
the ENP. Hovhannes Igitian is sure that though the EU is first of all
an economic union the ENP is a political program. The program’s goal
is to make the EU neighbor countries at most similar to the EU
countries, which will provide security in the EU border zone. He
expressed an opinion that such problems as Karabakh conflict may be
solved if the ENP proceeds successfully. “If we manage to pass the way
the EU countries have passed during the last 20 years the conflicts of
this kind will lose their sense. The governments of EU countries have
only obligations towards their peoples – to ensure the safety of their
lives, and almost have no rights. And the relations between the
government and people are in most cases defined not at the national
but at the EU level. Therefore, the belonging of a territory becomes
unimportant,” Igitian emphasized. Meanwhile, he was pessimistic saying
that Armenia will be hardly able to quickly meet the ENP
pre-conditions including democracy and provision of human rights. “I
don’t believe the sincerity of today’s authorities when they declare
about their devotion to the European principles. The point is that
each step to Europe reduces their power. If the ENP principles are
consistently fulfilled these authorities have no chance for
reproduction,” he declared.

Lawn-Signs On Armenian Genocide’s 90th Anniversary Set Up

LAWN-SIGNS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY SET UP

Azg/arm
19 March 05

The Armenian Mirror Spectator weekly informed in its March 12 issue
that the lawn-signs on the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
have already been set up in the Mount Auburn and Arsenal Streets of
Watertown. The lawn-signs feature the ever-burning fire in the
Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, calling for commemorating the victims of the
Armenian Genocide.

It’s high time for the international community to recognize the
genocide committed 90 years ago. Anticipating that, pretending unaware
of that or denying, the humanity lets such tragedies repeat.

Daniel Varouzhan-Hachinian, son of genocide survivors, support the
idea of setting lawn-signs. He is the establisher of Peace Through Art
incorporation that is a non-profit organization. They try to show the
people the truth about the situation that exists in the world and
tries to find peaceful solutionsto them.

By Hakob Tsulikian

Nagorno Karabakh Set Aloof From Other 3 CIS Conflicts

NAGORNO KARABAKH SET ALOOF FROM OTHER 3 CIS CONFLICTS

Azg/arm
19 March 05

The issue of participating in the Sukhumi meeting of leaders of
Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh and Transdniestria in April
“is not included in the agenda of NKR Foreign Ministry”, Arman
Melikian, foreign minister of NKR, informed on March 16 commenting on
the Russian mass media information aboutthe meeting.

“Nagorno Karabakh has necessary technical means to inform the public
about its plans”, Melikian said. Interfax agency informed citing a
“reliable source” that the leaders of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
Nagorno Karabakh met in Moscow on March 16. According to the source,
presidents Sergey Baghapsh, Eduard Kokoyti and Arkady Ghukasian agreed
on holding a meeting of the leaders of 4 unrecognized republics in
Sukhumi in April.

The authorities in Stepanakert have been keeping aloof from
cooperation with the other 3 unrecognized republics of CIS. They well
understand that the Karabakh issue clearly differs from the other 3
issues with its historic, legal and political aspects. The world
community concurs with Stepanakert in this respect.

The OSCE Minsk group chairman, Dimitri Rupel, in his speech at the UN
Security Council called Nagorno Karabakh an arguable territory thus
pickingit out from among Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria.

The statement of John Evans, US ambassador to Armenia, at Berkley
University on February 19 that “Nagorno Karabakh cannot be given back
to Azerbaijan asit will be disastrous” is hardly accidental. Rudolph
Perina, former US co-chair to Minsk group, said in Moscow in 2002 that
Transdniestria has to be returned to Moldova, Abkhazia and South
Ossetia to Georgia whereas “the issue of Nagorno Karabakh is
different”.

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan continuously repeats that the
world community has to display unanimous approach to the secessionist
regimes of Karabakh, Abkhazia, Transdniestria and South Ossetia and
should not give way to the influential Armenian lobby in the US and
Russia.

Foreign ministers of the 4 unrecognized states met in Stepanakert in
2001 and agreed on holding meetings once in 6 weeks. Nagorno Karabakh
opted out of suchlike meetings after the Stepanakert get-together. The
character of Nagorno Karabakh’s cooperation with the other 3 republics
has been that of procedural, i.e. Stepanakert would send its
representative to take part in a presidential inauguration.

The Karabakh authorities noted many times that they are in no military
cooperation with the “peers” and will not participate in joint
military exercises. Stepanakert point it out that the defense army of
Nagorno Karabakh has no goal out of its borders.

Nagorno Karabakh did not take part at the Sukhumi meeting of
unrecognized states’ foreign ministers in October of 2004. A famous
Azerbaijani political scientist, Zardusht Alizade, said: “Nagorno
Karabakh sees itself a member of CIS, UN and OSCE that’s why it
prefers staying aside from representatives of unrecognized
structures”.

By the way, Tbilisi evaluates it positively that Nagorno Karabakh
limits its contacts with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. But Georgia,
certainly, does not speak out about this. Tbilisi did not vote for
Azerbaijan when the latter pushed the issue of “Situation in the
Azerbaijani occupied territories” into the UN agenda. It’s surprising
in view of Tbilisi’s constant support to Baku in international bodies.

Besides, Tbilisi did not condemn the elections of institutions of
local governing in Karabakh in 2004, which came as something new as
Georgia condemned all previous elections in Nagorno Karabakh.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Azerbaijanis Think Turkey Helps Them The Most in Karabakh Issue

AZERBAIJANIS THINK TURKEY HELPS THEM THE MOST IN KARABAKH ISSUE

Azg/arm
19 March 05

Public Polls of Region Center In Armenia and Azerbaijan

They think in Azerbaijan (1000 people) that Turkey helps them more
than other states in Karabakh issue (78%), then comes Georgia and
CE. Here, in Armenia, they think that fist of all Russia (33,8%), then
France and the OSCE Minsk group help them in Nagorno Karabakh issue.

These data are accumulated according to the public polls held in
Armenia and Azerbaijan in November and December of 2004. The poll was
carried out by Region Research Center of Investigating Journalists
with the assistance of European Committee’s offices in Armenia. And
Georgia. The Peace and Democracy Institute assisted to carry out the
poll in Azerbaijan.

Laura Baghdasarian, head of Region center represented other
interesting details of the poll to the journalists. In response to the
question what hinders the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue, they
said in Azerbaijan that the main reason is the behavior of the
Armenians, the fact of historical enmity, the strictness of the
Armenians’ positions, the unwillingness to make concessions. The
Armenian people also think that the main obstacle is the historical
hostility, as well as the regional contradictions that are indirectly
connected with the Azeris.

The Azeris think that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict can threat their
country most of all (76,1%). They also pointed out the corruption and
some economic issues. In Armenia the Nagorno Karabakh issue is on the
fourth place, according to the scale of the danger it bears. The
Armenian first of all pointed out corruption (75,9%), the home
political instability and economic issues.

The poll found out that both the Armenians and the Azeris think that
their countries have definitely higher chances to win the war if the
military actions in Karabakh are resumed.

The Azeris said that their first friend is Turkey and then Georgia,
Russia, Germany and the US. Armenia occupied the first place in the
list of Azerbaijan’ s enemy countries. Then come Iran, Russia and
France. In fact, the Azeris display double standards to Russia.

The Armenians think that their friends are Russia, France, Iran, the
CIS countries and the US. According to the poll, the enemies of our
state are Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, the US and the Great Britain.

The Azeris treat the Armenians with scorn, anger and hatred. They
called the Armenians guileful, nationalists and aggressive.

The Armenians also feel hatred, anger and scorn towards the
Azeris. They called the Azeris guileful, malicious, insincere and
aggressive.

The news about Nagorno Karabakh settlement and Armenia cause the
indignation of the Azeris, then concern and interest. While the
Armenians treat the information on NKR settlement and Azerbaijan with
interest, first of all, then with anger and concern.

When speaking of themselves the Azeris say that they are hospitable,
kind and patient. While, the Armenians think that they are hard
working, hospitable, talented and patriotic.

By Tatoul Hakobian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE Report States: There Is No Clear Organized Resettlement

OSCE REPORT STATES: THERE IS NO CLEAR ORGANIZED RESETTLEMENT, NO
NON-VOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT, NO RECRUITMENT

Azg/arm
19 March 05

`The Overwhelming Majority of Settlers Are displaced Persons from
Various Parts of Azerbaijan’

The OSCE Fact-Finding Mission that visited the seven regions
surrounding Nagorno Karabakh on January 30-February 4, has officially
presented its report to the OSCE Permanent Council. In particular, it
is said in the report that “Overall settlement is quite limited,”
“there is no clear organized resettlement, no non-voluntary
resettlement, no recruitment.”

The Fact-Finding Mission affirms the following number of the
population: “In Kelbajar District approximately 1,500; in Aghdam
District from 800 to 1000,in Fizuli District under 10, in Jebrail
District under 100, in Zangelan District from 7000 to 1000; and in
Kubatlu District from 1000 to 1500. In Lachin, the Fact Finding
Mission estimates that there are fewer than 8000 people livingin the
district overall.”

The mission did not determine that such settlement has resulted from a
deliberate policy by the government of Armenia.” The report says: “The
Fact-Finding Mission has seen no evidence of direct involvement by the
authorities of Armenian in the territories,” “the overwhelming
majority of the settlers are displaced persons from various parts of
Azerbaijan, notably from Shahumian (Goranboy) Getashen (Chaikent) –
now under Azerbaijani control – and Sumgait and Baku.”

Masis Mailian, NKR deputy foreign minister, accompanied the
fact-finding mission during their visit. In the interview to Azg,
Masis Mailian said that official Stepanakert will give its evaluation
of the report when that will be represented to the Karabakh
side. Mr. Mailian reminded that NKR authoritiesdid everything to
secure all the conditions for the activities of the fact-finding
mission.

David Babayan, political expert from Stepanakert, also accompanied the
fact-finding mission. He said in that the report is an objective one
and reflects the reality. “But it doesn’t mean that Azerbaijan will
give up manipulating with the issue of resettling these
territories. Most likely, Baku will try to make the international
community to force the settlers move to the territory of the former
NKAR or Armenia, explaining this by the fact there are few people
living in these territories,” Babayan said.

Araz Azimov, Azeri deputy foreign minister, said in an interview to
the Baku Ekho that “We already know that the OSCE Fact-Finding Mission
has confirmed the facts of settlement. The report of the mission is
very close to the data Azerbaijan managed to accumulate.”

A press release by RA Foreign Ministry on March 17, says that the OSCE
Fact-Finding Mission denies the claims of Azerbaijan, according to
which “There are exclusively large numbers of settlers in the
territories surrounding Nagorno Karabakh. At various times, their
number ranged from 30000 to 300000 even.” “The Republic of Armenia is
directly intentionally engaged in the so-called settlement process,
and even has a state policy of settlement, with budgetary
allocations,” and “the overwhelming majority of the settlers are
citizens of Armenia, or from the Diaspora.”

RA Foreign Ministry stated that the total number of these settlers is
insignificant given that there are over 400.000 Armenian refugees as a
result of the conflict. Without those living in Lachin, then the total
number of settlersis indeed negligible. The co-chairs have noted that
“Lachin has been treated as a separate case in previous negotiations.”
This is because Lachin is Nagorno Karabakh’s humanitarian and security
corridor. Without it, Nagorno Karabakh would remain an isolated
enclave. It is because of Lachin’s political and geographical reality
and security dimension that it is viewed differently in the
negotiation process,” the statement says.

“Armenia, at the request of Nagorno Karabakh authorities, has
requested that the OSCE Permanent Council mandate a fact-finding
mission for a similarly transparent assessment of those regions which
were formerly largely-Armenian populated, and are today under
Azerbaijan’s control: The Northern Martakert and eastern Martuni
regions of Nagorno Karabakh, and Shahumian,” the statement says.

It’s worth reminding that according to the United Nations Economic and
Social Council Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ” The
Committee is concerned about the illegal occupation by refugees and
internally displaced persons of properties belonging to Armenians and
other ethnic minorities.”

In particular, the UN Committee pointed out Shahumian and Getashen
region that were formerly Armenian-populated.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Glenn Close new sheriff in town on FX’s ‘The Shield’

South Bend Tribune, IN
March 18 2005

Glenn Close new sheriff in town on FX’s ‘The Shield’
TELEVISION

By MAUREEN RYAN
Chicago Tribune

On FX’s breakout police drama “The Shield,” which premiered its
fourth season at 10 p.m. Tuesday, there’s a new sheriff in town.

Glenn Close has joined the series as Capt. Monica Rawling, a veteran
cop who’s charged with cleaning up “The Barn,” the police
headquarters in the fictional, gang-riddled Los Angeles district of
Farmington.

For the first three seasons of the show, Farmington was rogue cop Vic
Mackey’s turf, ruled by him and his take-no-prisoners “strike team.”
The role of Mackey, a cop who dispenses street justice according to
his own twisted sense of morality, won Michael Chiklis Emmy and
Golden Globe awards early in “The Shield’s” run, which isn’t
surprising; even when he’s seated behind a desk, Mackey exudes a
riveting fierceness.

And behind a desk is where Mackey can be found as the season opens.
The strike team broke up at the end of the previous season, after
Mackey and his three partners had serious disagreements over a
multimillion-dollar haul they’d stolen from a gang of Armenian bad
guys.

As Rawling arrives, outgoing Barn boss David Aceveda has Mackey, the
former king of Farmington’s mean streets, logging videotapes from a
boring sting operation. Needless to say, Mackey is not happy.

Rawling, played with increasing ease by Close over the first three
episodes of the season, doesn’t have to wait long to see a
demonstration of the in-house power struggles that beset The Barn.

In view of Rawling and the entire staff, Aceveda (Benito Martinez)
and Mackey lunge at each other as their ongoing disputes over tactics
and ethics finally boil over into a barely averted brawl.

“One happy family, huh?” Rawling mutters.

“Oh yeah, you hit the jackpot,” says Detective Claudette Wyms (CCH
Pounder).

But all those strained relationships make juicy viewing for fans of
the rough-and-tumble police drama (and be forewarned: The show can be
graphic and violent at times). Though “The Shield” always has been
watchable, the Armenian heist plot chewed up far too much of last
season. And Aceveda, as played by the excellent Martinez, has always
been a worthy adversary for Mackey, but it’s intriguing to see The
Barn’s charismatic bad boy face up to a brand-new boss.

Rawling is far too subtle to read Mackey the riot act over his past
bad behavior. Instead, she entices him to go by the book by holding
out the possibility that if he does, he can lead her new anti-gang
initiative, one that will use the proceeds from property seizures to
bring new funds to the beleaguered Barn. Is Rawling setting Mackey up
to fail, so she can get rid of him? Or is she cleverly using his
street-smart skills to her advantage? It’s tough to say, and it’ll be
interesting to see how their relationship plays out.

‘The Shield’
When: 10 p.m. Tuesdays
Network: F/X

Rawling isn’t Mackey’s only problem, however. He’s also contending
with a savvy new street leader, Antwon Mitchell (Anthony Anderson),
who’s got far more influence over the hearts and minds of the local
gangs and residents than Mackey does. And bad blood still lingers
between Mackey and former strike team cops Curtis “Lem” Lemansky
(Kenneth Johnson) and Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins), who still
interact with Mackey but have new assignments with other units.

One of the strengths of “The Shield” is the fine work that comes from
the entire cast: Pounder and Jay Karnes, who plays Holland “Dutch”
Wagenbach, are particularly appealing as an effective, dedicated
detective team. As the new season begins, Wagenbach and Wyms are
paying for Wyms’ exposure of corruption that led to improper
convictions. Now many of those convictions have been overturned,
which puts both detectives in the doghouse with their colleagues and
the district attorney’s office.

Though he and Wyms have often been the moral center of the show,
Wagenbach is increasingly irritated that standing by his partner may
cost him his career. On the other hand, the future of patrol officer
Danielle “Danny” Sofer (Catherine Dent) is looking up, now that
Rawling’s ambitious plans are giving her a chance to shine.

One hopes the shake-up at The Barn will afford all these worthy
supporting characters some meaty story lines; though Mackey’s
travails have been intriguing enough, it would be good to see more
about Wagenbach, Wyms and Sofer. When it comes to Mackey’s former
strike-team buddies, we’ve probably seen as much as we need to of
Vendrell and his needy new wife. It’d be good to see more stories
centered on the appealing Lemansky, and possibly on the fourth
strike-team detective, Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell), who’s had
so few lines over the course of the entire series that I never could
remember his name and took to calling him the Fourth Guy.

There’s only one serious wrong turn in the first three episodes of
Season 4. In a plot that feels recycled from any number of medical
dramas, Mackey and his wife contemplate suing a vaccine maker over
the autism that’s been diagnosed in two of their three children. It’s
a strange misfire in the otherwise bracing opening of a new regime at
The Barn.

Australasia ; Australian charged over bomb threat on Russian plane

Keralanext, India
March 19 2005

Australasia ; Australian charged over bomb threat on Russian plane:

[Australasia News] Russian police have charged an Australian with
making a hoax bomb threat, after he threatened to blow up a flight
from Tokyo to Moscow.

The man was charged with knowingly making false claims about a
terrorist act.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail.

The 29-year-old man, who police sources say is of Armenian
extraction, had told crew on board the Aeroflot flight he would carry
out his threat unless he was flown to the breakaway Russian region of
Chechnya.

He tried to break into the cockpit of the Boeing 777 as it approached
Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport but was stopped.

The plane landed safely.

News agencies reported that the unidentified man was drunk at the
time of the incident.

He was on a flight from Sydney to the Armenian capital of Yerevan via
Tokyo and Moscow.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR: Roadworks On `North-South’ Go On

ROADWORKS ON `NORTH-SOUTH’ GO ON

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
18 March 05

During the telethon held by the all-Armenian fund `Hayastan’ in Los
Angeles and phonothon in a number of European countries last November
more than 11 million dollars was raised for the construction of the
highway `North – South’ in NKR. The construction of the backbone of
Artsakh was resumed at the beginning of this year, at several parts
simultaneously: Tsakuri – Hadrut 11.2 km, Kichan – Chldran 10.3 km and
Stepanakert (crossroad of Shushi) – Avetaranots – crossroad of
Sarushen 8.7 km. The construction of the mountainous parts of the road
brings about many problems. In this reference the road Stepanakert –
Sarushen is especially difficult. Road works are done by `Karavan’
Ltd. which also built the 14 km section of the road connecting
Sarushen and Karmir Shuka. Especially the mountainous road
Stepanakert – Avetaranots requires much effort. The huge rocks near
Zarun Bagh can be removed only through explosions. Moreover, during
the roadworks on the rocky edge of the gorge the traffic between
Stepanakert and the southern and southwestern areas of the republic
will be blocked. We had a talk with the president of `Karavan’
Ltd.Hakob Hakobian on the problems occurring during the construction
of the highway. `There are all the necessary conditions for finishing
work in time and even ahead of schedule. Another favourable condition
is that our builders gained very good experience working in the
mountain pass of Selim.’ He added that the company is equipped with
powerful machines which will enable working efficiently. The company
also owns two tarmac factories. Hakob Hakobian said there will be need
to involve in the roadworks several other companies specialized in
overcoming landslides, rocks. Arrangements were made with the company
`Bekor’ fromYerevan which will deal with explosions. The volume of
explosions will total 180 thousand cubic meters. The total sum of
money provided for the construction of this part of the road is 2
million 418 thousand drams, that is to say, there will be no financial
problems. Roadworks started a month and a half ago.

NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN.
18-03-2005

Press freedom threatened by new criminal law as journalists mired

Reporters without borders, France
March 18 2005

Press freedom threatened by new criminal law as journalists are mired
in legal cases

Reporters Without Borders expressed its backing for Turkish
journalists as some 250 of them demonstrated in the streets of
Istanbul on 17 March calling for the shelving of a new criminal law
threatening press freedom.

Turkish media have condemned restrictive measures in the new law that
is due to come into force on 1st April 2005, at a time when the
government appeared to have shaken off its former reflex of cracking
down on journalists, the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

“Far from bringing Turkish law into line with European law over free
expression, some articles look like making it easier to bring legal
action against journalists, it said, adding, “We call for the law to
be amended to abolish prison terms for press offences.”

Elsewhere, the prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has brought
defamation cases and is seeking heavy damages from two cartoonists.
Musa Kart, working for the leftist daily Cumhuriyet (40,000
circulation) was on 21 December 2004, fined 3,000 euros by an Ankara
court for drawing the president with a cat’s head.

Judges ruled that the cartoon published on 9 May 2004 was “liable to
humiliate the prime minister”. Kart’s lawyer lodged an appeal on 22
February.

The prime minister also laid a defamation complaint against Sefer
Selvi who drew his adviser Cüneyt Zapsu perched on his back, in the
left wing paper Günlük Evrensel. The trial is still going on.

Journalists take to the streets

Some 250 journalists demonstrated in the streets of Istanbul on 17
March to try to persuade the government to delay the new law due to
come into force on 1st April. The press wants it to be shelved for at
least six months, on the grounds that it contains many restrictions
on press freedom and that some of the articles, drawn up in terms
that are too vague, could mean an increase in legal action against
journalists.

“Insulting a person, in a way liable to humiliate, dishonour and
assail his dignity” (Article125 of new criminal law) is punishable by
three months to two years in prison. The sentence can be increased by
one third if the offence is committed in the press (Paragraph 4).

Another controversial article, 305, imposes a prison sentence of
three to 10 years and a fine for any claim relating to the “Armenian
genocide” or “withdrawal of Turkish forces from Cyprus,” seen as
being contrary to fundamental national interest.

The sentence can be increased to 15 years if the claim is made in the
press. Dozens of journalists have been imprisoned in the past for
simply expressing an opinion on these questions.

Elsewhere, before the new law comes into effect, the courts appear to
have stepped up convictions for “insulting the army”. The relevant
article – 159/1 – is due to be abolished after 1st April.

Columnist Erol Özkoray of the pro-Kurdish daily Ozgur-Gundem heard
from the high court in Sisli, Istanbul on 16 March that he had been
sentenced to one year in prison or payment of 1,000 euros damages for
articles posted on the website www.ideapolitika, on 26 November 2001,
headlined, “What use is the Army” and “New barbarians and Taliban in
epaulettes”.

NKR: Families Of Servicemen To Get Free Medical Care

FAMILIES OF SERVICEMEN TO GET FREE MEDICAL CARE

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
18 March 05

People have always had controversial opinions on free medical care. In
fact, many of us do not know in which cases free medical aid and care
is provided, thereby creating problems for ourselves and the doctors.
According to the NKR minister of health Zoya Lazarian, this year the
government provided 592 million 979 thousand drams for free inpatient
treatment (against 475 million 506 thousand drams last year) and 711
million drams for outpatient treatment. The minister of health said in
NKR the groups of people who get free medical care outnumber those in
the Republic of Armenia. According to her, until 2005 pensioners in
Armenia did not get free medical care. This year it is available for
persons above 65 whereas in NKR free medical care is provided to all
the pensioners. There are no limitations for children under 18 (in
Armenia only children under 7 receive free medical care), sole mothers
and families having many children. By the decision of the government,
free medical treatment is provided to diabetic patients, people
suffering malignant tumours, tuberculosis, mental disorders and
venereal diseases, the disabled, the veterans of the Patriotic War,
sole mothers, families of servicemen killed during the defence of NKR,
liquidators of the consequences of Chernobyl, the internees, children
under 18, persons of conscription age, army servicemen, arrested and
imprisoned persons, persons of 18-24 without parental care, pensioners
and students. Recently, the families of servicemen were also included
in this list. Z. Lazarian said this change was introduced in
accordance with the Article 33 of the law on social security of the
servicemen and the members of their families. The minister of health
added that the soldiers can get necessary medical service at army
hospitals. If the necessary service is not provided by the military
hospital, they can go to civilian hospitals having a special note
signed by the head of the military hospital. The same order works for
the members of families of soldiers.

SRBUHI VANIAN.
18-03-2005