5,178 ARMENIANS LODGED ASYLUM APPLICATIONS IN 2004

YEREVAN, MARCH 11. ARMINFO. 5,178 citizens of Armenia applied for
asylum to industrially developed states in 2004.

The press-service of UNHCR Office in Yerevan informs ARMINFO that as to
the number of applications, Armenia is in the 18th place in the world.

Armenians lodged asylum applications in the following industrialized
countries:

Austria 414, Belgium 477, Bulgaria 86, Canada 38, Cyprus 127, Czech
75, Denmark 28, Finland 42, France 1314, Germany 544, Great Britain
50, Greece 21, Hungary 16, Netherlands 228, Ireland 9, Luxemburg 10,
Norway 46, Poland 18, Spain 91, Slovakia 151, Sweden 485, Switzerland
329, USA 579. The number o

f asylum applications lodged in Europe and the non-European
industrialized countries declined sharply in 2004. In 50 countries in
total 396,400 asylum-seekers applied for refugee status. This is 22%
less than in 2003 (508,200). The main receiving countries in 2004
were France (61,600), USA (52,400), United Kingdom (40,200), Germany
(35,600) and Canada (25,500). The largest group of asylum-seekers
in 2004 was from Russian Federation (30,100), the majority of whom
is Chechens; followed by asylum seekers from Serbia and Montenegro
(22,300), China (19,700), Turkey (16,200) and India (11,900). Armenia
is on the 18th place (5,178).

GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER TO ARRIVE ON WORKING VISIT TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 11. ARMINFO. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaudeli
arrives on a working visit to Yerevan today on the invitation of his
Armenian counterpart Andranik Margaryan.

The Armenian governmental press-service informs ARMINFO that the
ministers of foreign affairs, finance, defense, energy, economic
development, as well as the Advisor of the Prime Minister, the Deputy
Head of the Department of Regional Cooperation of the Georgian Foreign
Ministry, and representatives of other departments of the country
are in the Georgian delegation.

Within the frameworks of the visit, the two countries’ prime ministers
will have a tete-a-tete meeting, which will result in an enlarge
meeting. Georgian premier will visit the Georgian Embassy in Armenia
and will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. On March
12 Zurab Nogaideli will visit the Memorial Complex for the Victims
of the Armenian Genocide. The premier will meet with Catholicos of
All Armenians Karekin II. The same day, the Georgian governmental
delegation will leave Armenia. Before departure at the airport
“Zvartnots,” Armenian and Georgian Prime Ministers will meet with
journalists to sum up the results of the visit.

JIHAD AGAINST ARMENIA

A1+
11-03-2005

Azerbaijan must announce jihad â~@~S sacred war against Armenia in
order to free his â~@~ownâ~@~] lands. Hajig Nuriev, head of the
Azerbaijani Islamic Party has made this announcement.

The latter is pessimistic towards International structures mentioning
that the negotiations cannot give serious results, informs the site
day.az. According to Nuriev, in the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict no help can be anticipated from international
structures as they are not interested in the â~@~fairâ~@~]
settlement of the conflict.

â~@~]Only we can wipe the dishonor off us. Time has come for sacred
warâ~@~, announces Nuriev.

–Boundary_(ID_Fe6yoRupahxxroxla8sjVQ)–

IN LATE APRIL U.S. EMBASSY IN ARMENIA TO CELEBRATES NEW HOME

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. In later April early May U.S. Embassy
in Armenia will move to a new building. A resource in the diplomatic
mission of the United States to Armenia informed ARMINFO.

According to the resource, the construction works in the new building
of the embassy on the avenue after Admiral Isakov is coming to the
end. The whole staff of the embassy will move to the new building.

It should be noted that the new building of the U.S. Embassy in
yerevan is one of the largest buildings of the American diplomatic
mission all over the world.

WORKERS OF YEREVAN FAIRS DEMAND CHANGING TAX LEGISLATION

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. Some 250 workers of Yerevan fairs are
rallying near the government building today to demand changing
Armenia’s tax legislation.

Particularly the ralliers are protesting against the laws on cash
registers and simplified tax. They have not decided yet if they will
send a delegation to the government.

The ralliers say that they pay 1,500-3,000 AMD a day or 300-1,500
USD a month to their fair directors.

They say that they were instructed to come to the government building
by some man who has not appeared himself though.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CAPITOL HILL TO BE VENUE FOR COMMEMORATING 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. US congressmen Franck Pallone and John
Knollenberg have proclaimed Capitol Hill in Washington as a venue for
holding an event to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, reports AAA.

The memory day will be held under the auspices of US Armenian Caucus
and US Embassy in the US. The event will remind the world of the
victims of the tragedy and will assemble representatives of over 25
big Armenian-US organizations.

SOME 5,000 PROSTITUTES UNDERWENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT
UNDER PROGRAM MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES OF BELGIUM IN VILLAGE OF
BAGRATASHEN, TAVUSH REGION, ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. Some 5,000 prostitutes underwent medical
examination and treatment under the program Medecins Sans Frontieres
(MSF) of Belgium in the village of Bagratashen, Tavush region,
Armenia, Press Secretary of MSF Mission to Armenia Pyotr Maghdashyan
informs ARMINFO.

According to the source, the program implemented since 2002 was aimed
at improvement of the situation with diseases transmitted through
sexual intercourse and is designed for five years. Maghdashyan
said that MSF provides both prostitutes and local residents with
free contraceptives and holds examinations of sexually transmitted
diseases. An anonymous source informs ARMINFO that in the village
of Bagratashen bordering with Georgia the trade with “live goods” is
rather active. Souteneurs recruit the local “butterflies” transporting
them to Turkey and United Arab Emirates for prostitution.

FIRE BREAKS OUT AT YEREVAN JV “POLYPLAST” OSJC

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. A not large fire broke out at Yerevan
JV “Polypalst” OJSC today. The press- service of the Armenian
Governmental Emergency Situations Department informs ARMINFO that
the alarm was received at13.11. Two fire brigades arrived in the
place of the fire in 2, Odesskaya Street. According to the source,
the fire broke out during welding works. Approximately at 13.30 the
fire was liquidated. As a result, an empty 10-ton cistern for mazut
burnt. No victims were recorded.

ASSEMBLY BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONVENE FOR ANNUAL MEETING IN FLORIDA

YEREVAN, MARCH 10. ARMINFO. The Armenian Assembly of America held
its annual national meeting in Boca Raton, Florida last week to
review operations in Washington, Los Angeles and Yerevan, launch new
initiatives and honor those who have served the Armenian cause with
distinction. ARMINFO was informed in the press office of AAA, the
33rd annual Board of Trustees meeting was held March 4-5 at the Boca
Raton Resort and Club and included two full days of business meetings.

As the first order of business, Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair
Hovnanian welcomed participants and thanked them for their involvement
in the meeting. Reflecting on the standard for the Assembly’s
three decades of service to the Armenian people, Hovnanian said
it was imperative to continually “strive for perfection in all the
Assembly does.” He also challenged each member to grow the Assembly
exponentially, so that the organization can better support the citizens
of Armenia and Karabakh to face the enormous challenges ahead. Looking
ahead, participants reviewed the Assembly’s legislative priorities
which include: maintaining robust assistance to Armenia and Karabakh,
maintaining U.S. military assistance parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan,
further promoting U.S.-Armenia trade relations, confronting Turkish
and Azerbaijani blockades and reasserting the basis for Nagorno
Karabakh’s self-determination. In addition, the Assembly reiterated
its pledge to secure U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide
and actively participate in community-wide commemorations of the 90th
anniversary. To achieve these goals and others, including assisting
Armenian communities in war-torn Iraq, Assembly leaders said they will
need to rely more strongly on members and activists across the country.

Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr.
(D-NJ), who attended and participated in the events, addressed
supporters during the Friday night welcoming reception. Pallone
discussed the recent public declarations by U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans, who candidly affirmed the Armenian Genocide
during his visit with Armenian communities across the U.S. Pallone
said Evans’ remarks did not contradict U.S. policy, but rather
articulated the same message that the Bush Administration has set
forth in the President’s annual April 24 proclamations. Pallone again
pledged to pursue U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Also
during the meeting, the following Trustees Officers were re-elected
for 2005: Chairman Hirair Hovnanian, President Carolyn Mugar, Vice
President Gerard L. Cafesjian, Vice President Robert A. Kaloosdian,
Vice President Noubar Afeyan, Vice President Joyce Stein, Secretary
Peter Vosbikian, Counselor Robert A. Kaloosdian and Solicitor Albert
Momjian. Edele Hovnanian was elected Treasurer, a position previously
held by Afeyan. Assembly officials also welcomed two new members to
the Board of Directors – Associate Trustee Lu Ann Ohanian of Belmont,
Massachusetts and former Director John

Armenian president, new Georgian envoy discuss ties

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Mar 05

The newly-appointed Georgian ambassador to Armenia, Revaz
Gachechiladze, has submitted his credentials to Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan.

President Kocharyan congratulated the Georgian ambassador on his
appointment and spoke about the recent intensification of
Armenian-Georgian ties in various spheres.

The meeting also discussed issues pertaining to cooperation in the
energy and transport spheres. The ambassador informed the president
of the latest processes in Georgia, particularly in the economic
sphere.