PRESS RELEASE
February 24, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

State Trio of Armenia Performs in Washington, DC

On February 18, 2005, World Children’s Transplant Fund/Yerevan Chair, under
the auspices of the Embassy of Armenia held a charitable concert in the
Austrian Embassy Concert Hall in Washington, DC

The concert featured the internationally acclaimed State Trio of Armenia,
comprised of Lilit Zakarian (violin), Shushan Hakobyan (piano), and Vahan
Grigoryan (Cello). The Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. has graciously
provided its Concert Hall to this worthy cause, as part of long-standing
cooperation between the Embassies of Armenia and Austria.

The State Trio of Armenia traveled to Washington, D.C for the exclusive
performance at this charitable event. In addition to being laureates and
winners of several international music competitions in Austria, Italy,
Russia, Lebanon and Ukraine the State Trio of Armenia has become the First
Prize winner in the prestigious Pierre Lantier Competition in Paris in 2001.
The Trio has toured the United States in 1998-1999, performing in
Washington, D.C, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Providence, R.I. On April
25, 1999, the group performed at the Armenian Embassy in Washington at a
special event honoring Armenian President Robert Kocharian, in Washington
for the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit.

During February 18th Concert the Trio performed Sergei Rachmaninov, Arno
Babajanian and Astor Piazolla’s pieces.

The charitable concert at the Austrian Embassy was organized by World
Children’s Transplant Fund/Yerevan Chair. The Fund established its presence
in Armenia in 2001, and to date has successfully helped two Armenian
children in need of eye transplants. The Founder and Chairman of WCTF Mr.
Mark Kroeker and Vice-President of the Fund Valerie McCaffrey flew from
opposite parts of the country, New York and Los Angeles to participate on
this event and support Maria Yeganian, Executive Director of Yerevan Chair,
who organized the event.

The Concert has gathered representatives of the Armenian Community, U.S.
administration, World Bank and Diplomatic Community of Washington, DC. All
proceeds from the February 18 concert will benefit the children in Armenia
in need of life-saving organ transplants.

Armenia’s membership of CIS military bloc won’t impact ties with NATO – envoy

Mediamax news agency
24 Feb 05

YEREVAN

The terms of signing the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP)
between Armenia and NATO depend on the Armenian side, the special
representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons, said in Yerevan today.

NATO highly appreciates Armenia’s wish to sign the IPAP with the
alliance and is ready to render any kind of support to draft this
document, he said.

Nevertheless, it is up to the Armenian side to decide on the contents
and terms of signing the document, Simmons added.

He noted that NATO’s communications officer, Romualds Razuks, will
consult the Armenian interagency group which is working on the IPAP.

Although time is needed to draft the IPAP, Armenia is already involved
in the activities under the aegis of NATO, Simmons said. He informed
that a group of NATO experts on defence planning will visit Armenia in
the near future to meet the representatives of the Armenian Defence
Ministry.

Robert Simmons spoke highly of the Armenian servicemen’s participation
in the peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Iraq. This testifies to
Armenia’s sincere wish to make a contribution to international
security, he said.

Answering questions from journalists, the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general said that Yerevan’s membership of the [CIS]
Collective Security Treaty Organization and close Armenian-Russian
relations will have no impact on the level of the NATO-Armenia
relations.

“We have very good relations with Russia. Apart from this, we have
frequently said that NATO is not building relations with countries on
the basis of rivalry or taking into account its membership of various
organizations or alliances,” Robert Simmons said.
From: Baghdasarian

Changes to OSCE “required and necessary” – Slovene chairman

STA news agency, Ljubljana
24 Feb 05

Vienna, 24 February: Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, the OSCE
chairman-in-office, on Thursday [24 February] addressed the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly to present the organisation’s current plans and
activities.

“These are interesting and dynamic times in the OSCE. Changes are
required and necessary,” he stressed.

According to Rupel, “the OSCE is facing a difficult moment or an
opportunity, depending on how you look at it. Significant changes in
Europe, with EU and NATO enlargement and new challenges to security,
have changed the way that we look at security in Europe and, as a
result, the role of the OSCE”.

The panel of eminent persons, which is expected to unveil proposals
for OSCE reform at the summer session of the parliamentary assembly,
will present its vision for a new impetuous for political dialogue,
explained Rupel.

“The panel met for the first time in Ljubljana last week and has
already begun to consider some fundamental issues. As the focal point
for the panel I have encouraged the seven members…[ellipsis as
published] to think outside the box and to consider root and branch
reforms for the OSCE,” he said.

According to Rupel, the panel was asked to consider the strategic
vision for the OSCE, how the organization can stimulate high-level
political dialogue, what participating states can do through the OSCE
that they can not do through other channels and the role of the OSCE
after EU and NATO enlargement.

The OSCE chairman also summarized his recent meetings with officials
in Ukraine, Russia, Serbia-Montenegro, Germany, Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan, making special mention of the organisation’s active role
in determining a future status for Kosovo.

“Expectations are high among Kosovo Albanians about their political
future…[ellipsis as published] I impressed upon the Kosovo Albanian
leadership the importance of protecting the rights of non-Albanian
ethnic communities. At the same time I stressed to the Serb minority
the need to be involved in the political life of Kosovo,” he said.

The participants were also addressed by Austrian President Heinz
Fischer and President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Alcee
Hastings, while Rupel met with Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian on the sidelines of the meeting.

Who will follow the orange revolution’s example?: Apricot, aubergine or
amber, popular uprisings in the former Soviet republics will continue

The Guardian – United Kingdom
Feb 25, 2005

The revolution in Ukraine was orange, and in Georgia the previous year
it was rose. Velvet revolutions, with their promise of closer links
with the West for former Soviet republics, are on a roll.

>From Kyrgyzstan to Moldova, the spectre of democracy is haunting
politicians and dominating the media. Design-conscious commentators
are guessing which colour the next uprising will adopt: claret in
wine-growing Moldova; apricot in southern Armenia; aubergine in
Azerbaijan; perhaps even amber in the Kaliningrad enclave where a wave
of unrest has hit dock workers. In Chisinau, the Moldovan capital,
nationalist leader Yuri Roshka has already booked the main square for
the period following the election on March 6. Banking on electoral
fraud, he plans to stage a repeat of the orange revolution.

Georgia and Ukraine are tempting examples, having overthrown their
ageing elites to usher in a new generation of western-educated
politicians committed to change. They seem to have reached the second
stage in the process of rooting out communism. And none too soon. Some
12 years after independence most of the republics have made little
real progress towards democracy. Having escaped from Moscow’s control,
many countries sank into one-party rule or outright tyranny.

The same corrupt elites, out of touch with popular demands, still hold
the levers of power, flogging to death Stalin’s maxim, “It’s not who
votes that counts. It’s who counts the votes.”

Yet stuffing ballot boxes no longer works. In Ukraine and Georgia it
was the electoral fraud organised by the regimes in power that
triggered their fall. They wrongly assumed that voters were still
apathetic, whereas they switched roles and rose in protest.

“There will not be any rose, orange or banana revolutions in our
country,” the president of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko, assured the
press in January. Kyrgyzstan’s President Askar Akayev, facing a
general election on February 27 and a presidential election in
October, has criticised “attempts by provocateurs to prepare a velvet
revolution” in his country.

They have good reason to worry. In Kiev the young activists of the
Pora (It’s time) movement, which spearheaded the orange revolution,
are determined to spread the word across the former Soviet
Union. Carrying on where others started, they have contacted
opposition parties in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Russia sees these regime changes as underhand manoeuvres orchestrated
by the West. In the middle of the crisis in Kiev, the Kremlin’s spin
doctor Vyacheslav Nikonov warned: “If we lose Ukraine the West will
treat us as a banana republic.”

Reasserting Russian influence over its closest neighbours was among
the priorities for Vladimir Putin’s second term. But events have not
gone his way and Ukraine and Georgia are determined to join the EU and
Nato, following the example of the three Baltic republics.

The root problem is that Moscow has little to offer former Soviet
republics, apart from increasing energy dependency and one-sided trade
agreements.

Kazakhstan: Russian minister urges more ties between NATO, Shanghai group

Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty
25 Feb 05

ASTANA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has come out in support of
stepping up cooperation between the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
[SCO; members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, Russia] and NATO.

“The Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO; members are
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia] has
already come up with the initiative to establish cooperation with
NATO,” the Russian foreign minister said today at a news conference
following a session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO
member states.

“I think such cooperation could be also established between NATO and
the SCO.”

The Russian minister said that yesterday during the Russian-US summit
in Bratislava Russian President Vladimir Putin “drew the attention of
George Bush to the fact that such entities as the SCO and CSTO exist
in Central Asia”.

Lavrov said that: “The USA has interests in the region, and they
concern, above all, the fight against terrorism.” The minister
clarified that a threat emanating from Afghanistan was meant.

“Russia reaffirms its position on the need for cooperation with the
region’s countries and resolving the set tasks. Most importantly, this
cooperation should be transparent,” Lavrov said.

Armenian defence minister, Red Cross official discuss cooperation

Arminfo
23 Feb 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan today met Isabelle Barras,
head of the eastern European department of the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC).

During the meeting, the defence minister stressed the effective
humanitarian role of the ICRC, the press secretary of the Armenian
Defence Ministry, Col Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, has told Arminfo news
agency.

For her part, Isabelle Barras thanked the Armenian defence minister
for providing quick and operational information and expressed her hope
that this cooperation will continue. The minister stressed that the
Armenian side will continue taking such an approach and at the same
time, expressed the opinion that a similar approach by the Azerbaijani
side to the issue of providing operational information will promote
the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

Ms Barras said that the ICRC’s working style is the same in its work
with all the conflicting sides. During the meeting, the sides
discussed the work of the standing commissions for missing persons
working in Armenia, Karabakh and Azerbaijan and the work of public
organizations cooperating with these commissions.

Taking into consideration the scale and importance of work on
searching for missing persons, collecting and processing information
and exchanging prisoners of war, the Armenian defence minister
specially stressed the importance of cooperation between organizations
which are working and being established in Azerbaijan and the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic [NKR], will be dealing with the problems of
prisoners of war and missing persons and maintain daily contact with
the ICRC.

Isabelle Barras also promised that for its part, the ICRC will render
technical, consultative and training assistance for the fully-fledged
work of the structure.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian migration chief notes growing number of Iraqi asylum-seekers

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
23 Feb 05

Text of Shushan Matevosyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayots
Ashkharh on 23 February headlined “The number of Iraqi asylum-seekers
has increased and no-one has been refused”

Lately, the number of those seeking asylum in the Republic of Armenia
has sharply increased in connection with the Iraq war. What are
statistical figures of asylum-seekers? What countries are they from?

The following is an interview with the chief of the Migration and
Refugees Department, Gagik Yeganyan.

[Gagik Yeganyan] Since 2000, our department has received applications
for asylum and refugee status from citizens of different
states. Before 2003, the number of applications was not so great. We
received 15-20 applications per year mainly from Afghanistan, Iraq and
African countries like Sudan and Somalia, as well as from Iran and
even from Ukraine and China.

As a rule, a great number of them were refused, as after the
examination it became clear that their reasons for leaving the country
were not true. Most of them left their home country due to difficult
social and economic conditions or in order to avoid military
service. They applied for asylum in Armenia as a transit state as
their real purpose was to settle in the West. And in order to settle
legally in any transit country, they applied for refugee status.
Incidentally, this is common among our compatriots as well.

In 2002, we initiated the adoption of a new law regarding temporarily
protected people. This law says that Armenia is expanding the circle
of people it protects. That’s to say, it receives not only potential
refugees, but also people who are in danger of being persecuted
because of wars or armed conflicts.

[Hayots Ashkharh correspondent] In fact, the adoption of the law was
well-timed, as it was followed by an influx of Iraqis who are seeking
asylum.

[Yeganyan] In this case, people were really forced to leave their
country and seek asylum because of the war.

Since 2003, the influx of applications from Iraq has increased
sharply. That year, we had 61 applications and they were all given the
status of temporarily protected people. Last year [2004], we had 142
applications. I think the influx of applications will be permanent.

[Correspondent] What does this status give people apart from
protection, accommodation, a job and financial aid?

[Yeganyan] It gives security and a chance to avoid persecution. They
have the right of legal settlement in Armenia at least for a year, and
one year later, their applications may be considered again. If the
situation remains the same in the countries of which they are
citizens, in that case, these persons’ status may be extended for one
more year. Those who want to become permanent residents of Armenia may
get different status up to citizenship during that year.
Incidentally, those who are Armenians by nationality are granted
Armenian citizenship in a simpler way. But we cannot promise anything
to those who are trying to settle their social problems by extending
their status.

[Correspondent] What is the number of those who sought asylum this
year?

[Yeganyan] I cannot mention figures, but undoubtedly the potential has
not been exhausted. It is presumed that their numbers will grow.

[Correspondent] Mr Yeganyan, recently there was an interesting report
in the press saying that the chairman of the Civil Service Council,
Manvel Badalyan, had informed the state juridical commission of the
National Assembly that an official had been granted the status of an
Armenian refugee in order to leave the country illegally. In fact,
this concerns your department.

[Yeganyan] We also registered such a case recently, but I do not think
that this is the case that was covered by the press. One of our
department employees illegally issued a reference to a citizen and
made him a refugee. In this case, the citizen tried to use the refugee
status to avoid military service. Thanks to the measures taken by our
department, the violation of the law was prevented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian official, NATO envoy discuss Individual Partnership Programme

Arminfo
24 Feb 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul Markaryan and the special
representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons, discussed the prospects for the
development of relations between Armenia and NATO in Yerevan today.

Simmons is also NATO’s deputy secretary-general for security
cooperation and partnership, the public relations department of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry has told Arminfo. Simmons’s visit is mainly
factfinding, during which he intends to familiarize himself in more
detail with the current problems, to report on his activities and to
introduce NATO’s newly-appointed communications officer, Romualds
Razuks, to the Armenian leadership.

During the meeting, the Armenian deputy foreign minister and the
special representative of the NATO secretary-general discussed spheres
which are a priority for Armenia in the context of cooperation with
NATO on the Individual Partnership Programme. The sides also discussed
the work that NATO’s communications officer will carry out in Armenia
and a number of organizational issues.

The NATO delegation led by Robert Simmons will leave Armenia tonight.

Armenian defence minister, NATO envoy discuss deepening relations

Mediamax news agency
24 Feb 05

YEREVAN

The secretary of the National Security Council of the Armenian
president and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, said in Yerevan today
that “if it was not for the unsettled conflict, Armenia would have the
possibility of wider involvement in different NATO programmes”.

Sarkisyan said this at a meeting with the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and Central Asia,
Robert Simmons, the press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry,
Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, told Mediamax news agency today.

“I want to stress that we intend to follow the path we have chosen and
will consistently deepen our relations,” Sarkisyan said.

Speaking about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Simmons pointed out
that it is an obstacle standing in the way of the development of the
region’s countries.

“I think that a mutually acceptable solution will be found. NATO is
not directly involved in the settlement process, however, it is
closely following all the developments,” the special representative of
the NATO secretary-general said.

Turkish MPs fault France for raising alleged Armenian genocide in EU talks

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
24 Feb 05

Strasbourg, 24 February: Turkish MPs reacted to French MP Jacques
Toubon who brought alleged Armenian genocide to the table and wanted
Turkey to accept Sevres Treaty. Turkey’s relations with its neighbours
were discussed in the closing session of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
Commission (JPC) meeting held in Strasbourg on Thursday [24
February]. Turkey’s relations particularly with Armenia, Greece and
Cyprus were assessed during the meeting that was closed to the
press. Speaking at the meeting, Toubon said European Parliament made a
decision about the alleged Armenian genocide and argued that Turkey
should recognize the so-called genocide before joining European union
(EU).

[Turkish opposition] Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sukru Elekdag
denied the claims of Toubon, saying they were baseless. Explaining
Turkish-Armenian relations Elekdag said Turkey supported the idea that
allegations of genocide be searched solely by historians and not by
the politicians. Elekdag suggested that a committee of experts
composed of Turkish and Armenian historians be formed under the
auspices of UNESCO to investigate the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress