LAW-GOVERNED STATE OUT OF QUESTION: RUZAN KHACHATRYAN

YEREVAN, AUGUST 12. ARMINFO. “The results of trials of opposition
representatives once more convinced us that a law-governed state in
Armenia out of the question. The RA Court of Appeal, which considered
Vardan Zurnachyan’s claim, and the Court of Cassation, which
considered Artak Gabrielyan’s claim, demonstrated their full
dependence on the ruling regime,” Ruzan Khachatryan, Press Secretary
of the “Justice” bloc told ARMINFO.

“From April to August, trials were held in Armenia, which proved the
undemocratic and antinational essence of the ruling regime. The
criminal charge trumped up against the Justice’ bloc is a singular
phenomenon. An opposition bloc, which was second after mass
falsifications, as well as hundreds of thousands of our supporters, is
prosecuted. This is the face of the present-day law-governed Armenian
state,” Khachatryan said.

VISA REGIME BETWEEN RUSSIA, ARMENIA SIMPLIFIED

YEREVAN, AUGUST 12. ARMINFO. The RA Government approved draft
amendments to the protocol on visa regime between Armenia and Russia,
which considerably simplified this procedure, Levon Amirjanyan, Head
of the Legal Affairs Department, RA Foreign Office, told a news
briefing.

According to him, this is the Russian side’s initiative. The Russian
side proposed bringing the current agreements to conformity with
international standards and reducing the number of documents necessary
to get a visa.

Armenian foreign minister, US envoy to OSCE discuss expanding cooperation

Arminfo
12 Aug 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and the US ambassador to the
OSCE, Stephan M. Minikes, have discussed prospects for settling the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

At the meeting the sides discussed the activities of OSCE structures
and departments, including its Yerevan office, and wide-ranging
problems related to regional security, the press service of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry told Arminfo news agency.

The sides expressed their hope that cooperation between Armenia and
the OSCE will continue and deepen in a constructive way.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: “THE ARMENIAN-POLISH RELATIONS DEVELOP QUITE
DYNAMICALLY”

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The Armenian-Polish relations
develop quite dynamically. RA President Robert Kocharian said about
it, receiving newly appointed Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Tomash
Knohte on August 13. The newly appointed Ambassador of Poland to
Armenia presented his credentials to the RA President. Robert
Kocharian mentioned the importance of the development of mutual
relations with Poland in the context of the European direction of the
foreign policies of Armenia. Stressing that Poland has been a full
member of the European Union since 1 May 2004, the RA President
mentioned that Armenia, which is on the way to the European
integration, within the framework of the European Union found a new
partner in the person of Poland supporting its aspirations. According
to the RA presidential press service, the sides considered the
official visit of the RA President to Poland scheduled for September
5-7 as key in the matter of the further development of the
Armenian-Polish relations.

COOPERATION OF ARMENIA AND OSCE TO STRENGHTEN

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian received Ambassador Steven M. Minikes, Head of the US
delegation to the OSCE, on August 12. During the meeting the sides
discussed the activities of the OSCE structures and departments, its
Yerevan Office, as well as the wide circle of problems regarding
regional security. The sides also discussed the Karabakh problem, the
processes and prospects of the settlement of the confrontation.

According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the sides expressed hope that Armenia-OSCE cooperation will continue
and strenghten in a constructive spirit.

DRAFT LAW “ON JUSTICE SCHOOL” PASSES INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATION TODAY

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The draft law necessary for the
establishment of the justice school in Armenia is subjected to
international examination today. RA Minister of Justice David
Harutiunian told journalists about it on August 13. He mentioned that
in case of the positive answer of the international examination, the
draft law is likely to be submitted to the RA National Assembly for
discussion till the end of this year. David Harutiunian didn’t exclude
that current judges will be also retrained in the school parallel with
the training of new judges.

CHILDREN ALSO SUFFER FROM FAMILY VIOLENCE

VANADZOR, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The research on 400 cases of family
violence has been conducted in nine marzes of Armenia since October
2002. The research results were presented during the August 13 seminar
in Vanadzor organized by the Helsinki Association of Armenia (HAA) and
the “Tsovinar” public organization. HAA Chairman Mikael Danielian
noted that family violence is not limited to cases when husbands
batter their wives. According to him, one motive for family violence
is the fact of being a sexual minority member either by husband or by
wife. At the same time, M. Danielian noted that the Association
undertakes protective measures with respect to victims only if they
seek the organization’s help. It was also mentioned that the research
done in the Lori marz revealed that not only women but also children
suffered from family violence. Anna Hakobian, Chairwoman of the
“Tsovinar” organization, reported that their interference in the cases
of family violence does not pursue the goal to dissolve marriages, and
they intervene in these conflicts only when the case gets to court and
the victims need free legal defense.

PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN EDUCATION DISCUSSED AT PAN-DIASPORA CONFERENCE
HELD IN ANTELIAS

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). Over 70 delegates from 18 hubs of
the Diaspora participated in the Pan-Diaspora Conference on Armenian
Education held in Antelias on August 5-7. The Pan-Diaspora Conference
was held under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the
Great Cilician House. Hranush Hakobian, Chairwoman of the RA NA
Commission on Education, Science, Culture and Youth Affairs, and Levon
Ananian, Chairman of the Armenian Writers’ Union (AWU), represented
Armenia at the conference. The AWU Chairman told NT’s correspondent
that reports entitled “Current Situation of Armenian Education by
Statistic Data and Estimation of Results of Armenian Education”,
“Prospects of Armenian Education”, “Role of Children’s-Junior
Literature in Armenian Education”, as well as other reports were heard
during the conference.

According to Levon Ananian, “the conference showed that the primary
problems in the educational-cultural sphere are put before the
Diaspora”. That’s why participants of the conference considered that
it is necessary to pay special attention to the development of the
children’s-junior literature, because the aesthetic education should
start from childhood. Levon Ananian mentioned that the work should be
carried out in order that the children’s books should be published in
Armenia both in Western Armenian and Eastern Armenian. The problem of
the closing of the Melgonian Gymnasia of Cyprus was also touched upon
during the conference.

According to Levon Ananian, this anti-national policies should be
stopped. “Our national structures and foundations resolve their
problems in narrow circles, meanwhile problems agitating the Armenian
people should be submitted for open discussion,” said the Chairman of
the Armenian Writers’ Union. Levon Ananian said that the problem was
arisen during the conference to establish the Pan-Armenian Educational
Center in Beirut and the Open University in Aleppo. “This conference
is a fine simulus, which should contribute to the Pan-Armenian forum
to be held in Tsaghkadzor on August 27-29, because if there is the
Armenian school, there is the Armenian nation, if there is no Armenian
school, it means there is no Armenian nation. And the school in the
Diaspora is the stronghold of the Armenian preservation,” Levon
Ananian concluded.

GEORGIAN PROSECUTOR TO BE APPOINTED IN GEORGIAN TERRITORY POPULATED
MAINLY WITH ARMENIANS

AKHALKALAKI, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda and
Aspindza regions will have one Prosecutor’s Office as a result of the
reforms carried out in the justice sphere of Georgia. According to the
“A-Info” Agency, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda were displeased both by
the fact of the unification of the regional Prosecutor’s Offices and
by the fact that the Georgian Prosecutor will be appointed in the
Georgian territory populated mainly with the Armenians. The name of
the Prosecutor is still unknown, the population is just unaware of
it. At the same time, it is expected that the actions of protest will
be organized against the Georgian Prosecutor in Akhalkalaki and
Ninotsminda.

THIS SUMMER ABOUT 100 PARENTLESS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO HAVE REST
IN CAMP AT ST. CROSS CHURCH

AKHALKALAKI, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). This summer about 100 parentless
and vulnerable children of Akhalkalaki will have a rest in a camp at
the St. Cross church, which is organized by the Samtskhe-Javakheti
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Participants of the camp are
taught religion and the Armenian history. Taking into account their
social conditions, the children will also undergo medical
examination. Pilgrimage to saint and historical sights (Gumbordo,
Tmkaberd, etc.) is also within the program. The Pan-Armenian Youth
Foundation and American-Armenian philanthropists Shake and Poghos
Terterians have sponsored the camp program.