OSCE Office presents study on development of Armenia’s remote Syunik province
OSCE
Feb 11 2005
The remote Syunik province of Armenia. (Photo OSCE)
YEREVAN, 11 February 2005 – The OSCE Office in Yerevan yesterday
presented the report of a year-long study of the social-economic
development of Armenia’s most remote province, Syunik.
“There is a certain progress in Armenia’s development towards a
free market economy, however there is still a lot to be done in the
regions,” said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office
in Yerevan. “The poverty and unemployment levels remain quite high,
particularly in remote regions of the country”.
The findings of the report were presented to representatives of the
government and parliament, international and donor organizations,
the diplomatic corps, as well as business associations and NGOs.
The study began in 2003 when the OSCE Office organized a forum where
representatives of the province gathered to discuss the current
situation and problems facing the region, and outlined potential
solutions. A working group was organized to assist a professional
consulting company in preparing the study.
The paper reveals major social and economic problems in the province,
identifies priorities and suggests solutions and potential business
opportunities.
“The report will allow the Government to follow a more systematic
approach towards Syunik’s development,” said Vache Terterian, Deputy
Minister of Regional Administration. “I believe we can soon see the
results of this exercise”.
The OSCE Office also supported the publication of the “Syunik Yellow
Pages”, a business directory, which will help the local population,
entrepreneurs as well as investors from other parts of Armenia and
the world to get a better idea about opportunities and business
partners here.
The Office considers the strengthening of socio-economic stability
as a key pillar for the country’s sustainable development and security.
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

WEST-LEANING OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER CALLS FOR IDEOLOGICAL UNITY
ArmenPress
Feb 16 2005
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS: Hovhannes Hovhanesian, the chairman
of a recently emerged west-bending Liberal Progressive party, told a
news conference today that talks with the Hanrapetutyun (Republic )
Party of Aram Sarkisian and Zharangutyun (Heritage) party of Armenia’s
first post-Soviet foreign minister Raffi Hovhanesian on forming a new
pro-western opposition would end soon, but stopped short of saying
whether any progress was reached.
A new opposition format is being strongly opposed by Stepan Demirchian,
who is still considered as the top leader of the Ardarutyun (Justice)
opposition alliance, made up of nine parties. According to local
observers, Demirchian is opposed to the idea for fear of losing his
status of Armenia’s number one opposition politician.
Hovhannes Hovhanesian, a former chairman of a parliament committee on
foreign relations, accused today Ardarutyun of failing to consolidate
its positions and slammed also the authorities for their inability
to comprehend the role of opposition in a democratic society.
“The opposition has to get united and present its ambitions to the
people,” he said, arguing also that the new opposition should be
cemented by the same ideology.
Asked to comment on a recent announcement by the leader of the Armenian
New Times party Aram Karapetian, that he was going to stage a national
revolution in spring this year, Hovhanesian said: “every political
figure has his own vision of how the country should move forward.”

7 states ready for world fencing fights in Iran
IranMania News, Iran
Feb 16 2005
LONDON, Feb 16 (IranMania) – Iran’s Fencing Federation on Wednesday
announced that seven foreign teams have till now voiced their
willingness for participation in the world youth meet in the central
city Yazd.
According to the IFF, Kuwait, Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Turkmenistan, Jordan, and Kazakhstan have voiced their readiness for
the event. Turkish federation has also announced it will dispatch
a team to Yazd but it has yet to release the list of swordsmen.
The world competitions are held in three fields of saber, foil,
and epee from Feb 23-25.

OSCE, Georgia Launch Measures to Strengthen Inter-Ethnic Ties
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Feb 16 2005
The Georgian government, with the assistance of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), launched a new project
aimed at the strengthening of inter-ethnic relations in Georgia,
the OSCE Mission in Georgia reported on February 15.
The project will mainly focus on Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti region,
which is predominately populated by ethnic Armenians.
The project, which was developed by the OSCE High Commissioner
on National Minorities, envisages Georgian language courses for
civil servants and university students, Armenian translations of
re-broadcasted of Georgian television news programs, and free legal
consultations for the ethnic Georgian and Armenian populations
in the towns of Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda, in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
President Mikheil Saakashvili called for a “building of bridges”
with the country’s ethnic minorities, while addressing students of
Tbilisi State University on February 15. “We should learn to look at
things through their [ethnic minorities’] eyes,” he said.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
January 25, 2005
____________________
DR. VAHAKN DADRIAN, WORLD’S LEADING SCHOLAR OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, TO
RECEIVE “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” IN GALA BANQUET AT DIOCESAN CENTER
ON APR. 2
The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America is proud to
announce that it will bestow a special Lifetime Achievement Award on Dr.
Vahakn N. Dadrian, the eminent scholar of the Armenian Genocide, during
a gala banquet on Saturday, April 2, 2005.
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the Diocesan Primate, will
preside over the event and present the award to Dr. Dadrian, who is
considered to be the world’s leading authority on the Genocide.
Through decades of study, and in a number of major publications, Dr.
Dadrian has not only documented the atrocities of the Genocide itself,
but has also shed critical light on the mechanics of organized
extermination employed by the Turkish government of the period, and has
detailed the sociological and legal consequences of state-sponsored
genocide.
A blue-ribbon program of speakers will be on hand to honor Dr. Dadrian
on this occasion.
Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation, will be one
of two main speakers.
Professor Stephen Feinstein, the distinguished Holocaust specialist at
the University of Minnesota, will also deliver an address.
Professor Peter Balakian, author of the Genocide memoir, “Black Dog of
Fate,” and the best-selling historical account, “Burning Tigris,” will
be master of ceremonies.
In addition, the banquet guests will view a multi-media presentation on
Dr. Dadrian’s life and work, by the Zoryan Institute.
The Lifetime Achievement Award banquet honoring Dr. Vahakn Dadrian will
take place on Saturday, April 2, 2005, in the Haik and Alice Kavookjian
Auditorium of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (630 Second
Avenue, New York City). A reception starting at 6:30 p.m. will precede
the dinner and program at 7:30 p.m. The donation for this event is $125
per person, and tables of ten can be reserved for $1,250. Proceeds will
be used to establish a special fund in Dr. Dadrian’s honor.
More information on the award banquet will be forthcoming; but
reservations can be made by calling the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), at (212) 686-0710.
–1/25/05
PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Vahakn N. Dadrian will be honored by the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, which will bestow a special
Lifetime Achievement Award on the eminent scholar of the Armenian
Genocide at a gala banquet on Saturday, April 2, 2005.
# # #

Le Monde, France
14 février 2005
Anticommunisme, nationalisme, goût de l’ordre : les raisons de leur
engagement PATRICK DEVEDJIAN
FRANCE GÉNÉRATION Quarante ans après, les anciens d’Occident
revisitent leur passé
Ministre délégué à l’industrie.
« Je ne me suis jamais caché de mon passé. J’étais d’origine
arménienne et c’était aussi une façon, pour moi, de me sentir
français.
J’étais anticommuniste et, finalement, je n’ai pas changé. Je me suis
engagé pour la cause de l’Algérie française. J’ai quitté Occident en
1966, après avoir découvert Raymond Aron. Ce mouvement n’avait rien à
voir avec l’extrême droite de Jean-Marie Le Pen. C’était une autre
époque, on ne peut pas comparer… »
–Boundary_(ID_aKi0TWyvbEm/0FC24oSrMw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAFTA Winners
Indiewire.com
February 14, 2005
The Orange British Academy Film Awards were presented last night in London.
The complete list of winners if available below.
Film
The Aviator – Michael Mann / Sandy Climan / Graham King / Charles Evans Jr
The Alexander Korda Award For The Outstanding British Film Of The Year
My Summer Of Love – Tanya Seghatchian / Christopher Collins / Pawel
Pawlikowski
The Carl Foreman Award For Special Achievement By A British
Director/Producer Or Writer In Their First Feature Film
Amma Asante – Director/Writer (For A Way Of Life)
The David Lean Award For Achievement In Direction
Vera Drake – Mike Leigh
Original Screenplay
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – Charlie Kaufman
Adapted Screenplay
Sideways – Alexander Payne / Jim Taylor
Film Not In The English Language
Diarios De Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) – Michael Nozik / Edgard
Tenembaum / Karen Tenkhoff / Walter Salles
Actor In A Leading Role
Jamie Foxx – Ray
Actress In A Leading Role
Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake
Actor In A Supporting Role
Clive Owen – Closer
Actress In A Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett – The Aviator
The Anthony Asquith Award For Achievement In Film Music
The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios De Motocicleta) – Gustavo Santaolalla
Cinematography
Collateral – Dion Beebe / Paul Cameron
Editing
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – Valdís Óskarsdóttir
Production Design
The Aviator – Dante Ferretti
Costume Design
Vera Drake – Jacqueline Durran
Sound
Ray
Achievement In Special Visual Effects
The Day After Tomorrow
Make Up & Hair
The Aviator – Morag Ross / Kathryn Blondell
Short Animation Film
Birthday Boy – Andrew Gregory / Sejong Park
Short Film
The Banker – Kelly Broad / Hattie Dalton
The Orange Film of the Year(voted for by members of the general public)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
–Boundary_(ID_6pYnW2l9Yl/iprcvvYxW0Q)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/15/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) The Aftermath of Hariri's Death 2) Kocharian, ARF Lebanon React to Hariri’s Assassination 3) Armenian Youth Determined to Gain Genocide Recognition 4) ARF Leader Stresses Turkey Has Nothing to Offer through Mere 'Dialogue' 5) Mediator Sees No Organized Settlement Policy in Karabagh 1) The Aftermath of Hariri's Death --US Recalls Ambassador from Syria BEIRUT (MSNBC)--The United States recalled its ambassador to Syria on Tuesday, expressing "profound outrage" amid growing suspicion that Damascus was involved in a massive bombing in Lebanon a day earlier that killed Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Condemnation and expressions of grief echoed throughout the Arab world and beyond, while in southern Lebanon an angry mob attacked Syrian workers. The bombing and its aftermath raised fears that Lebanon might revert to the political violence of the 1970s and '80s, and the US Embassy in Beirut warned Americans in the Lebanese capital to exercise extreme caution. French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said the UN Security Council was working on a declaration demanding that the Lebanese government bring to justice those responsible for the assassination and could adopt it later Tuesday. "For us, it is very important that the text can effectively express today and without waiting the unanimity of the international community in condemning this criminal and odious act," Ladsous said. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, told The Associated Press on Tuesday he saw no immediate need to change EU relations with Syria, but supported an international investigation into the bombing. EU relations, he added, could change depending "on how the responsibilities on the assassination of Mr. Hariri are resolved." Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh suggested that, based on the crater in the middle of the road and preliminary reports, the attack may have been carried out by a suicide bomber who rammed Hariri's motorcade with a vehicle laden with explosives. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, announcing the move to withdraw American ambassador to Damascus Margaret Scobey, said it reflected the Bush administration's "profound outrage" over Hariri's assassination. Boucher did not accuse Syria of being involved in the bombing Monday in Beirut. "I have been careful to say we do not know who committed the murder at this time," he said. But he said the deadly attack illustrated that Syria's strong military and political presence in Lebanon was a problem and had not provided security in the neighboring country. Earlier, Scobey delivered a stern message to Syrian officials, a senior State Department official told NBC News, saying the Syrians needed to take action to fight terrorism in Lebanon, stop interfering in Lebanon's internal politics, and abide by a UN resolution that calls for Syrian troops to withdraw from Lebanon. Boucher refused to describe Syria's reaction to Scobey's diplomatic messages in Damascus. Syria has not yet taken any reciprocal action, such as withdrawing its own ambassador to Washington. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States has "made it clear to Syria that we expect Syria to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and the disbanding of militias." McClellan said, "We also made it clear to Syria that we want them to use their influence to prevent the kind of terrorist attack that took place yesterday from happening." Although most suspicion has fallen on Syria or its supporters in Lebanon, it was clear the possibilities also might include rogue Syrian intelligence operatives, or even factions among the country's myriad religious groups. Claims of responsibility by Islamic militants also raised the possibility that Hariri had been targeted because of his close ties to Saudi Arabia--a top enemy of al-Qaida and other groups. But Justice Minister Adnan Addoum played down that possibility, and Hariri's political allies openly accused Syria and its Lebanese allies of being to blame. In Hariri's hometown of Sidon on southern Lebanon's Mediterranean coast, dozens of demonstrators attacked Syrian workers Tuesday, slightly wounding five before police intervened. Hundreds of others marched in the streets. Black banners and pictures of the slain leader covered the streets as the country began three days of official mourning. On Monday night, a mob attacked the offices of the Lebanese chapter of Syria's ruling Baath Party in Beirut with stones and set fire to shacks used to exchange money and sell cigarettes in front of it. Police said the toll from the bombing was 14 dead and about 120 injured. A claim of responsibility by a previously unknown Islamic militant group--Support and Jihad in Syria and Lebanon--was not considered credible, with Addoum warning it could be an attempt "to mislead the investigation." At Hariri's Beirut residence Tuesday, long lines of mourners offered condolences to the family. Dignitaries also arrived to pay their respects, including Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam, a longtime friend; Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos; and Hariri's political ally, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, head of the Maronite Catholic Church. 2) Kocharian, ARF Lebanon React to Hariri’s Assassination (Combined Sources)--President Robert Kocharian conveyed his condolences to his Lebanese counterpart Emil Lahoud, expressing sorrow for the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. Praising Hariri as a leading political figure who made considerable contributions to strengthening Lebanon's statehood and Armenian-Lebanese relations, Kocharian said Hariri's death is a difficult challenge not only for Lebanon, but also for the entire region. In his message to Hariri's widow Nazik Hariri, Kocharian said, "Rafik Hariri not only made an invaluable contribution to strengthening of peace and stability in Lebanon and in the whole region, but also exerted considerable efforts to strengthen the relations between Armenia and Lebanon. I remember my meetings with Rafik Hariri with special warmth. On behalf of the Armenian people and myself, I express deep condolence to you and all his relatives." The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of Lebanon also issued a statement on Monday denouncing the assassination and extending its condolences to the families of Hariri and other victims. The statement condemns the blast, calling it "an attempt to infringe on the Homeland's security, peace, civil serenity, and national accord." "This crime was committed against the Lebanese Homeland and points to the dangerous stage Lebanon has come to," the statement continued. Urging all to maintain internal unity and underscoring national responsibility in the dangerous and sensitive situation that Lebanon and the region are facing, the statement concludes, "The absence of Rafik Hariri, a symbol of the national accord and prominent political leader, will felt greatly in Lebanon and the Arab world." 3) Armenian Youth Determined to Gain Genocide Recognition YEREVAN (Armenpress)--The youth divisions of Armenia's political parties, student councils, and a number of non-government organizations (NGOs) released a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the Turkish media for deliberately distorting historical facts about the Armenian genocide. The deputy head of the Armenian NGO youth division, Abraham Bakhchagulian, said youth must work for the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and are ready to organize various events to attain that goal. He said it is inadmissible to talk about the Armenian genocide in a dismissive manner, as the Turkish mass media and political elite do, in order to hinder the process of the international recognition of the Armenian genocide. "We condemn the activity of the organizations and people who aim to cast doubt on the Armenian genocide and impede the process of condemning this crime against humanity. Armenian youth are determined and united in its position to promote the recognition of the Armenian genocide," the statement reads. 4) ARF Leader Stresses Turkey Has Nothing to Offer through Mere 'Dialogue' YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Levon Mkrtchian, who heads the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's (ARF) faction in parliament, described an offer to the ARF to engage in "dialogue" with Turkey, as "unserious," and questioned the motives behind yesterday's invitation. He also questioned the credentials of Turkish businessman Kaan Soyak, who made the offer at a news conference in Yerevan yesterday. Soyak co-chairs the Turkish-Armenian Business Council (TABC). "Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] has received no formal offers to that effect," Mkrtchian said. "I don't know who that person represents, what goals he is pursuing here and how substantiated his proposals are." "Offers of a dialogue addressed to Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] must be much more serious. They must specify the subjects or topics of such a dialogue. Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] ascertained those topics long ago," Mkrtchian added. Mkrtchian argued that Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and reconciliation is hardly possible because Turkey's ruling establishment remains unwilling to come to terms with its Ottoman past. "Modern-day Turkey, given its position on the genocide issue and policy on the Republic of Armenia, has nothing to offer Dashnaktsutyun [the ARF] in a dialogue," he said. 5) Mediator Sees No Organized Settlement Policy in Karabagh By Jean-Christophe Peuch The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) last week completed an unprecedented fact-finding mission to regions around Mountainous Karabagh to verify Azeri claims that Armenian authorities are sending settlers to the area. The mission, which was supervised by the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, was the first of its kind since the suspension of the 1988-94 Karabagh war. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, France's Minsk Group co-chairman, Bernard Fassier, discussed the mission's preliminary findings. PRAGUE--For more than a week, experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) conducted an unprecedented tour of the Kelbajar, Lachin, Qubadli, Fuzuli, Cebrayil, Zangilan, and Agdam districts around Mountainous Karabagh. The eight-member mission was placed under the supervision of the Minsk Group of nations that has been mediating the Karabagh conflict for the past 13 years on behalf of the OSCE. That Group has been co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, beginning in 1996. France's co-chair, Bernard Fassier, who toured the territories with the OSCE experts, said that the mission, which had long been demanded by Azerbaijan, was made possible only after arduous talks between Baku and Yerevan. Azerbaijan claims the Armenian and Karabagh authorities have already sent some 23,000 settlers to the areas and demands that an end be put to what it says is a deliberate policy of colonization. "The determinant factor that made this mission possible--despite Armenia's earlier objections--was a compromise reached recently by the two countries under the aegis of the Minsk Group co-chairs. The main provision of the compromise was that Azerbaijan would suspend its action at the United Nations in return for--among other things--Armenia's consent to that mission, the technicalities of which were agreed to by both parties," Fassier said. In early 1993, ethnic Armenian forces were in full control of Mountainous Karabagh and had already secured the strategic southern corridor of Lachin that links the exclave to Armenia. In March 1993, ethnic Armenian forces launched a two-pronged offensive that drove Azerbaijan's army farther east. Kelbajar fell on April 3, 1993. Agdam, Fuzuli, Cebrayil, and other cities and towns followed soon thereafter. Azerbaijan claims the Armenian and Karabagh authorities have already sent some 23,000 settlers to the areas and demands that an end be put to what it says is a deliberate policy of colonization. But French Ambassador Fassier said that, with one noticeable exception, Armenian migration into the occupied territories seems to be largely spontaneous and improvised. "Contrary to what many people thought, there doesn't seem to be a deliberate, large-scale plan to settle those areas. One exception, however, is the Lachin district. In Lachin, one can say that the [Armenian] settlement is being encouraged and sponsored. But with regard to the six remaining districts, its seems that up to 80 to 90 percent of settlers have gone there either on their own or with the support of local nongovernmental organizations or the [Armenian] diaspora. Except for Lachin, there is no large-scale involvement from [the capital of Mountainous Karabagh Republic] Stepanakert, even less so from Yerevan," Fassier said. The French diplomat said the largest group of settlers is made up of Armenian refugees who fled Azerbaijan before the Karabagh war broke out in 1988 and in the early months of the conflict. The second-largest group is composed of victims of the December 1988 earthquake that leveled the Armenian city of Spitak and partially destroyed Leninakan, Stepanavan, and Kirovakan. "Finally, there is a third and much smaller group that consists of people who have fled Armenia for economic reasons, or who live in mountainous areas of Armenia and come on a seasonal basis to these more temperate areas for cattle-breeding purposes. During the winter season, these families come down from their mountains to graze their few cows or sheep in these more temperate zones," Fassier said. Fassier noted that most Armenian settlers are apparently receiving no assistance whatsoever from Yerevan or Stepanakert. He said the precarious Armenian settlements, generally made up of a few families, remain isolated from each other because there are neither roads nor any means of communication. With the exception of Lachin, no organized effort has been made to restore infrastructure destroyed during the war. Also, Fassier said, no reconstruction program has been initiated and many settlers continue to live in appalling conditions more than 10 years into the cease-fire. "In many areas there is no electricity and poverty predominates. I wouldn't say people live. Rather, they are surviving in half-destroyed walls topped by a tin roof. To survive, these families rely on small gardens or plots of land that offer only limited agricultural possibilities. Sometimes, they also rely on what a few fruit orchards that have been in a state of neglect for the past 10 years are still able to produce. In the most extreme situations there is no electricity and just a hole in the ground, a fountain or a well to draw water from. In areas where conditions are slightly better, accumulators allow for just enough electricity to supply a single bulb. In other areas there are small generators. Sometimes electricity is either imported from Karabagh or supplied by an Armenian military base nearby," Fassier said. Due to its key strategic importance as a land bridge between Karabagh and Armenia, Yerevan insists that the notion of returning the Lachin corridor to Azerbaijan is a nonnegotiable issue. In Lachin, Fassier said, migrants live in much better conditions then in other occupied lands. The reconstruction rate is nearing 50 percent. Schools have been built with government support, water and electricity supplies progressively restored, and local administrations set up. The OSCE experts are due to present their final report to the Minsk Group co-chairs. The latter will then add their own recommendations and political conclusions before passing on the report to the other Minsk Group members and the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna--tentatively scheduled for the second half of March. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. --Boundary_(ID_n487VAWzt2L++rPl2HTrIA)--

The law on national and ethnic minorities and regional languages
Polish News Bulletin
Feb 16, 2005
Dated 6 January 2005
Journal of Laws No 17, item 141 – Chapter 1 General provisions
Art.1. This law sets down affairs connected with preserving and developing
the cultural identity of national and ethnic minorities and preserving and
developing regional languages as well as the method of realizing the principle of
equal treatment of persons irrespective of ethnic origin and sets down the
tasks and authority of public administration organs and territorial local
government organs in this scope.
Art.2.1. National minorities pursuant to this law shall be a group of Polish
citizens satisfying the following conditions:
1) is less numerous than the remaining part of the population of Poland;
2) essentially differs from other citizens by language, culture or tradition;
3) strives to preserve its language, culture or tradition;
4) is conscious of its own historical national community and is directed at
its implementing and protection;
5) its ancestors resided in the present territory of Poland for at least 100
years;
6) identifies with the nation organized in its own country.
2. The following shall be recognized national minorities:
b) Byelorussian;
c) Czech,
d) Lithuanian;
e) German;
f) Armenian;
g) Russian;
h) Slovakian;
i) Ukrainian;
j) Jewish.
3. Ethnic minorities pursuant to this law shall be a group of Polish citizens
which satisfies jointly the following conditions:
1) is less numerous than the remaining part of the population of Poland;
2) essentially differs from other citizens by language, culture or tradition;
3) strives to preserve its language, culture or tradition;
4) is conscious of its own historical national community and is directed at
its implementing and protection;
5) its ancestors resided in the present territory of Poland for at least 100
years;
6) does not identify with the nation organized in its own country.
4. The following shall be recognized as ethnic minorities:
1) Karaite;
2) Lemko;
3) Roma;
4) Tatar.
Art. 3. Whenever this law reefers to:
1) minorities ? this shall mean national and ethnic minorities referred to in
art. 2;
2) minority language ? this shall mean the own language of national and
ethnic minorities referred to in art. 2.
Art.4.1. Any person belonging to minorities holds the right to free decision
on treatment of the person as a person belonging or not belonging to
minorities and such a choice or enjoying rights connected with such choice shall not
cause any unfavorable effects.
2. No one shall be obligated other than pursuant to the law to disclose
information on own affiliation to minorities or to disclose their origin, minority
language or religion.
3. No one shall be obligated to prove their own affiliation to the given
minority.
4. Persons belonging to minorities may enjoy rights and freedoms arising from
principles contained in this law individually as well as jointly with other
members of their minority.
Art.5.1. The use of measures for the purpose of assimilating persons
belonging to minorities shall be banned, where the measures are used against their
will.
2. The use of measures for the purpose of changing the national or ethnic
proportions in areas populated by minorities shall be banned.
Art. 6.1. Discrimination arising from affiliation with minorities shall be
banned.
2. Public administration organs shall undertake the proper steps to:
1) support the full and authentic equality in the sphere of economic, social,
political and cultural life between persons belonging to minorities and
persons belonging to the majority;
2) protect persons who are the subject of discrimination, hostility or
violence being the result of their affiliation with minorities;
3) strengthen intercultural dialog. – Chapter 2The use of minority languages
Art. 7.1. Persons belonging to minorities hold the right to use and spell
their names and surnames pursuant to the principles of spelling of the minority
language in particular in the civilian register and identity documents.
2. Names and surnames of persons belonging to minorities spelled in an
alphabet other than Latin shall be transliterated.
3. The minister proper for public administration in agreement with the
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall set down, by
ordinance, the method of transliterating referred to in sec. 2 taking into
account the principles of spelling of the minority language.
Art. 8. Persons belonging to minorities shall in particular hold the right
to:
1) the free use of minority languages in private and public;
2) disseminate and exchange information in the minority language;
3) place information of a private nature in minority languages;
4) learn minority languages or in minority languages.
Art. 9.1. Minority languages may be used as auxiliary languages apart from
the official language before gmina organs.
2. Auxiliary languages may be used only in gminas in which the number of
gmina citizens belonging to minorities the language of which is to be used as
auxiliary is not lower than 20% of the total population of the gmina and which are
entered to the Official Gmina Register in which the auxiliary language is
used, hereinafter referred to as the “Official Register”.
3. The possibility of using auxiliary languages shall mean that persons
belonging to minorities, save for sec. 5, hold the right to:
1) apply to gmina organs in auxiliary languages in writing or orally;
2) receive, on express application, replies also in the auxiliary language in
writing or orally.
4. Submitting applications in auxiliary languages is admissible. Submitting
applications in auxiliary languages shall not constitute a defect causing
non-examination of the application.
5. Appeal proceedings shall be conducted only in the official language.
6. No one shall avoid performance of legal orders or decisions issued in the
official language where circumstances require their immediate enforcement in
order to achieve their aim.
7. Doubts shall be resolved pursuant to documents prepared in the official
language.
Art. 10.1. Entries to the Official Register shall be made by the keeper of
the Official Register, the minister proper or religion and national and ethnic
minorities pursuant to gmina council applications.
2. Applications referred to in sec. 1 shall include in particular the
official data on the gmina population including the number of citizens belonging to
minorities whose language is to be used as an auxiliary language and a gmina
council resolution on expressing consent for introducing the auxiliary language
with an indication of the minority language which is to be the auxiliary
language.
3. Prior to entry to the Official Register the minister proper for religion
and national and ethnic minorities shall verify applications referred to in
sec. 1. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities may
refuse entry to the Official Register where applications do not satisfy
requirements referred to in sec. 2.
4. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
refuse entry to the Official Register where the number of gmina citizens
belonging to minorities whose language is to be used as an auxiliary language is
lower than 20% of the total number of gmina citizens.
5. Refusals to enter to the Official Register may be appealed by the gmina
council to the administrative court.
6. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities on
gmina application shall delete the gmina from the Official Register.
7. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
determine, in agreement with the minister proper for public administration, by
ordinance, the method of keeping the Official Register and the specimen
application referred to in sec. 1 taking into account in particular data enabling
the univocal identification of the gmina (name of voivodship, poviat, gmina)
and information referred to in sec. 2
Art. 11.1. Supplements may be granted to employees of gmina offices, gmina
auxiliary units and gmina budget units and plants for knowledge of the auxiliary
language in force in the gmina area in gminas entered to the Official
Register. The principles of granting supplements and their level are set down by
provisions on the principles of remunerating local government employees.
2. Knowledge of auxiliary languages shall be confirmed by diploma or
certificate.
3. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities in
agreement with the minister proper for education shall set down, by ordinance,
the list of diplomas and certificates referred to in sec. 2 taking into account
all minority languages.
Art. 12.1. Additional traditional names in minority languages may be used
beside:
1) official names of localities and physiographic objects,
2) street names
– in Polish pursuant to separate provisions.
2. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 may be used only in the areas of
gminas entered to the Register of gminas kept by the minister proper for
religion and national and ethnic minorities in the area of which names in minority
languages are used, hereinafter referred to as the “Register of gminas”. Entries
to the Register of gminas shall be made by the minister proper for religion
and national and ethnic minorities on application of gmina councils in the area
of which the names are to be used, save for sec. 7 and art. 13 sec. 1 ? 7.
3. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 shall not have reference to names
from the period of 1933 ? 1945 granted by German Third Reich authorities or the
USSR.
4. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 may be introduced in the whole
gmina area or in particular localities.
5. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 shall be placed after the name in
Polish and shall not be used independently.
6. Determining additional names in the minority language shall be made
pursuant to the rules of spelling of the language.
7. Additional names of localities or physiographic names in minority
languages may be determined on gmina council application where:
1) the number of gmina citizens belonging to minorities is lower than 20% of
the total number of the gmina population or, in case of inhabited localities,
more than half the citizens of the locality taking part in consultations
conducted pursuant to art. 5a sec. 2 of the law of 8 March 1990 on gmina local
government (Journal of Laws of 2001 No 142, item 1591, as amended are for
determining an additional name of the locality in the minority language;
2) the gmina council resolution obtained a positive opinion of the Committee
for names of Localities and Physiographic Objects established pursuant to the
law of 29 August 2003 on official names of localities and physiographic
objects (Journal of Laws No 166,item 1612).
8. Provisions of the law referred to in sec. 7 point 1 shall apply to
determining additional names in minority languages.
Art. 13.1. Gmina councils shall present applications referred to in art. 12
sec. 7 on application of gmina citizens belonging to minorities or on own
initiative. In case of applications on names of inhabited localities the gmina
council shall prior conduct consultations with citizens of the locality on the
case pursuant to at. 5a sec. 2 of the law on gmina local government.
2. Gmina councils shall present applications referred to in art. 12 sec. 7 to
the minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities through
voivods.
3. Applications referred to in art. 12 sec. 7 should include:
1) the council resolution on determining additional names of localities or
physiographic objects;
2) the proper spelling of the official name of the locality of physiographic
object in Polish;
3) in case of physiographic objects ? an opinion of voivodship boards in the
area of which the objects are situated;
4) the proposed spelling of the additional name in the minority language;
5) a review of results of consultations referred to in sec.1 and in art. 12
sec. 7 point 1;
6) information on the financial costs of introducing the proposed changes.
4. The requirement for obtaining opinion shall be assumed to be satisfied in
case of non-issue of the opinion referred to in sec,. 3 point 3 within 30 days
from the date of applying for the opinion.
5. Voivods shall deliver applications referred to in art. 12 sec. 7 to the
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities not later than
within 30 days from the date of receipt and enclosing their opinion. The
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall deliver the
application for opinion to the Commission for Names of Localities and
Physiographical Objects. The Commission for Names of Localities and Physiographical
Objects shell present its opinion to the minister proper for religion and national
and ethnic minorities through the minister proper for public administration
immediately after examination of the application.
6. Additional names of localities or physiographical objects shall be
regarded as determined where they are entered to the Register of gminas.
7. Entries referred to in sec. 6 shall be made by the minister proper for
religion and national and ethnic minorities after obtaining a positive opinion of
the Commission for Names of Localities and Physiographical Objects.
8. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
refuse entry of additional names of localities of physiographical objects in
minority languages to the register of gminas or shall delete names from the
register where they refers to names from the period of 1933 ? 1945 granted by
authorities of the German Third Reich or the USSR.
9. Complaints to the administrative court may be filed by gmina councils
against refusal to make entries referred to in sec. 6 and against deletion
referred to in sec. 8.
10. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities in
agreement with the minister proper for public administration shall set down, by
ordinance, specimen gmina council applications:
1) on entry to the register of gminas,
2) on establishing additional names of localities of physiographical objects
in minority languages
– taking into account the detailed scope of information included in the
Register of gminas.
11. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities in
agreement with the minister proper for public administration shall set down, by
ordinance, the method of keeping the register of gminas and the detailed scope
of information included in the Register taking into account indications of
voivodships and poviats in the area of which the gmina is situated, the gmina
name, the official name of the locality or physiographic object and the
additional name in the minority language.
12. The minister proper for transport in agreement with the minister proper
for religion and national and ethnic minorities and the minister proper for
public administration shall set down, by ordinance, the details concerning
placing additional names in minority languages on signs and boards in minority langua
ges taking into account in particular the size and font style of names in
Polish and in minority languages.
Art. 14. The population of gminas belonging to minorities referred to in art.
9 sec. 2, art. 10 sec. 4 and art. 12 sec. 7 point 1 shall be understood to be
the number officially determined by the result of the last general census.
Art. 15.1. Costs connected with introducing and using auxiliary languages in
the area of the gmina and costs connected with introducing additional names
referred to in art. 12 sec. 1 in minority languages shall be borne, save for
sec. 2, by the gmina budget.
2. Costs connected with exchanging information signs arising from determining
additional names of localities or physiographical objects in minority
languages shall be borne by the state budget.
Art. 16. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities
shall order translations of this law into minority languages. – Chapter
3Education and culture
Art. 17. Realization of rights of persons belonging minorities to study
minority languages or in minority languages as well as rights of the persons to
study the history and culture of minorities shall occur on principles and by the
procedure set down by the law of 7 September 1991 on the education system
(Journal of Laws of 2004 No 256, item 2572, as amended).
Art. 18.1. Public authority organs shall undertake the proper measures for
the purpose of supporting activities for protecting, preserving and developing
the cultural identity of minorities.
2. Measures referred to in sec. 1 may be in particular target subsidies or
subsidies for entities for:
1) activities of cultural institutions, artistic movements and creativity of
minorities and artistic events of essential significance for the minority
culture;
2) investment serving preservation of the cultural identity of minorities;
3) publishing books, magazines, periodicals and folders in minority languages
or in Polish in printed form and in other technologies of recording pictures
and sounds;
4) support for television programs and radio programs realized by the
minorities;
5) protection of sites connected with minority culture;
6) community center activities;
7) managing libraries and documentation on cultural and artistic life of
minorities;
8) education of children and youth realized in different forms;
9) promoting knowledge on minorities;
10) other programs realizing aims referred to in sec. 1 and supporting
citizen integration of minorities.
3. Subsidies referred to in sec. 2 shall be granted from the part of the
state budget at the disposal of the minister proper for religion and national and
ethnic minorities may be granted in omitting open competition of offers. The
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall annually
announce the principles of proceedings in cases on granting subsidies referred
to in sec. 2. Provisions of art. 14 ? 18 of the law of 24 April 2003 on pro
bono activities and volunteers (Journal of Laws No 96, item 873, as amended)
shall apply accordingly.
4. Measures referred to in sec. 1 may also include funds delivered from the
territorial local government budget to organizations or institutions realizing
tasks serving the protection, preservation and development of the cultural
identity of minorities.
5. Subsidies for entities referred to in sec. 2 may be granted to minority
organizations or cultural institutions of essential importance for minority
culture. Provisions of art. 73 sec. 4 of the law of 26 November 1998 on public
finances (Journal of Laws of 2003 No 15, item 148 , as amended) shall apply
accordingly. – Chapter 4Regional languages
Art. 19.1. Regional languages pursuant to this law, pursuant to the European
Regional or Minority Language Charter shall be assumed to be languages which:
1) are traditionally used in the territory of the given country by its
citizens who constitute a group numbering less then the remaining population of the
country;
2) differ from the official language of the country; this does not include
dialects of the official national language nor languages of immigrants.
2. Regional languages pursuant to this law is Kashubian. Provisions of art. 7
? 15 shall apply accordingly, save for that the number of gmina inhabitants
referred to in art. 14 is understood to be the number of persons using regional
languages officially determined as the result of the last general census.
Art. 20.1. Realization of rights of persons using the language referred to in
art. 19 to study the language or in the language shall occur on principles
and by the procedure set down by the law referred to in art. 17.
2. Public authority organs shall undertake the proper measures for the
purpose of supporting activities aiming at preserving and development of the
language referred to in art. 19. Provisions of art. 18 sec. 2 and 3 and sec. 5 shall
apply accordingly.
3. Measures referred to in sec. 2 may also include funds from the territorial
local government units for organizations or institutions realizing tasks for
preserving and developing the language referred to in art. 19. – Chapter 5
Organs for national and ethnic minority affairs
Art. 21.1. The public administration organ in affairs covered by this law
shall be the minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities.
2. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
in particular:
1) favor realization of rights and needs of minorities by undertaking actions
in favor of minorities and initiating programs concerning:
a) preserving and developing the minority identity, culture and language
ensuring the full citizen integration of persons belonging to minorities,
b) realizing the principle of equal treatment of persons regardless of ethnic
origin;
2) cooperate with the proper organs in the scope of counteracting violations
of minority rights;
3) shall prepare analyses and evaluations of the legal and social situation
of minorities including the scope of realizing the principle referred to in
point 1b);
4) disseminates knowledge on the subject of minorities and their culture as
well as initiates research on the situation of minorities including in the
scope of discrimination referred to in art. 6 sec. 1 its manifestations and the
method and strategy of its counteracting;
5) undertakes actions for preserving and developing languages referred to in
art. 129.
Art. 22.1. The voivod tasks shall include:
1) coordinating actions in the voivodship area of public administration
organs realizing tasks in favor of minorities;
2) undertaking actions for respecting minority rights and counteracting
violation of the rights and discrimination of persons belonging to minorities;
3) undertaking actions for solving minority problems;
4) undertaking actions for respecting rights of persons using languages
referred to in art. 19.
2. For the purpose of realizing tasks referred to in sec. 1 voivods shall
cooperate with territorial local government organs and social organizations in
particular with minority organizations and shall give opinion on programs in
favor of minorities as well as preserving and development of languages referred
to in art. 19, realized in the area of the given voivodship.
3. Voivods may establish plenipotentiaries for national and ethnic minority
affairs pursuant to art,. 35 of the law of 5 June 1998 on public administration
in voivodships (Journal of Laws of 2001 No 80, item 872, as amended) for an
indefinite period of time. if ……………………………..
Law Supplement Editor Marcin Wawrzynczak;
Editor-in-Chief Ewa Szczesna;
President, CEO Andrzej Mietkowski;
Sales Assistant Ludmila Obojska;
Accounting Inga Kosciakiewicz;
Office Manager Monika Krupa; end

British shop that aims to put young designers on top
Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion Editor, in London
Irish Times
Feb 16, 2005
LONDON FASHION WEEK: Yesterday morning, in the august surroundings
of the Royal Academy in Mayfair, three new young generation British
designers sponsored by Top Shop got the chance to present catwalk
shows and their professional mettle to press and buyers.
The three, Gardem Demerdjian, a Lebanese Armenian from Beirut,
Ebru Ercon, a British-born designer of Turkish descent, and Swash,
two graduates of Central St Martin’s, produced widely differing
collections for winter 2005. Each had its strengths and surprises,
but Gardem was outstanding.
His clothes, hand-dyed in earthy colours, harked back to the l8th
century, but in a modern way. Highwayman coats flared over ballerina
layers of thin and delicate tulles, nets, silks and chiffons.
Imagine Marie Antoinette in a firmly fitted black jacket, raggy skirts
and long, loose hair. Chocolate leather jodhpurs and a tight, toreador
jacket was another typical combination and accessories like crystal
studded headphones, silver jewelled belts and mitts added witty,
decorative touches.
Swash was more tricksy and playful, using marine rope to loop elements
of a skirt together or to lace up a grey wool jacket.
Leg o’mutton trousers are not the most flattering clothing items and
the Long John Silver look appeared self consciously laboured. Outsize
bucket pockets, cropped academic gowns and a pink cable-knit coat
with gold lame trousers did little to excite the imagination either.
Ebru Ercom used robust materials like army blankets, rough hemp and
denim to fashion some artful combinations that often worked in a
folksy way like a black, empire-line pleated dress with a cutaway
white blanket bolero and white beads.
Top Shop is currently the single biggest patron of young British
designers, with an annual spend of around GBP1 million on practical,
behind-the-scenes support.
“Everybody who is successful in the industry should give something
back,” their marketing manager, Jo Farrelly, told The Irish Times
yesterday. “We would rather spend money on nurturing young talent
than on advertising.”
Valuable endorsement for Top Shop’s own design label “Unique” came
this week from the uber chic boutique, Corso Como in Italy, which is
to Milan what Colette is to Paris. It ordered the complete collection
from the British high-street chain.
Fashion retailing may be changing fast at the moment, but British
designers continue to raid the past. Jessica Ogden’s jaunty collection
of Madras cotton checks and ginghams evoked the 50s and featured
kimono tops, denim dungarees and big patchwork skirts with a certain
Gallic twist. Handiwork like embroidery and quilting mark her style,
and swing jackets added to the jaunty air of the whole collection
notable for fuller sleeves, fuller skirts and child-like smock tops.
Betty Jackson had a reflective moment, too, with a collection, as
polished as ever, that harked back to the 70s and hippy chic with
sequined dresses, embroidered Afghan coats and cowboy boots.
But whether it was a neat cigar leather belted coat over narrow
trousers or a flared check jacket over a full skirt, her sense of
colour and proportion was as sharp and as chic as ever.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress