RFE/RL Armenia: Jehovah’s Witnesses Trapped In Bureaucratic Maze
Friday, 22 October 2004
At a gathering of the Council of Europe in June, the deputy speaker of
Armenia’s parliament said Yerevan would free Jehovah’s Witnesses who had
been jailed as conscientious objectors — as soon as parliament passed a
new alternative-service law. The law was passed in July, but at least 13
conscientious objectors remain in jail in Armenia, including five jailed
just this month. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
has questioned the country’s actions, as have other civil rights
organizations.
By Don Hill
Prague, 22 October 2004 — Different government officials offer
divergent statements about the treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armenia.
According to deputy speaker of parliament Tigran Torosyan, there are no
members of the Christian denomination in jail for resisting military
service as conscientious objectors. Torosyan told RFE/RL yesterday, “I
don’t know examples of people belonging to this organization who are in
jail.”
The Forum 18 news service — which covers religious freedom in the
former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe — reported that, in fact,
five Jehovah’s Witnesses have been jailed this month alone for refusing
military service. That brings to 13 the number serving prison time for
the offense. The maximum sentence for such an offense in Armenia is two
years.
In yet another statement, Torosyan said those conscientious objectors in
jail in Armenia would be freed when a new law on alternatives to
military service was passed. He made the comment to Jehovah’s Witnesses
representatives at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe last June. The law passed on 1 July. Yet the
conscientious objectors remain in jail.
Despite parliament adopting a law on alternative service, the government
has not made any provision for such service. A lawyer for the Jehovah’s
Witnesses, Rustam Khachatryan, said that is what Defense Ministry
officials told his clients individually before they were prosecuted and
jailed.
Officials have also said Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot be recognized as
conscientious objectors until the denomination achieves official
registration as a religious organization.
But Paul S. Gillies, a spokesman for the group, points out that
authorities finally registered the church on 11 October. The group had
sought this status for nine years. “One of the explanations [for denying
conscientious objectors’ rights] that was given to me personally was
that they were waiting for registration. Because we were unregistered,
then they couldn’t release the prisoners. But then one of the obstacles
to registration was always said to be the fact that we were
conscientious objectors,” Gillies told RFE/RL.
“I get the feeling that no government department particularly wants to
do this — to [implement] an alternative-service law.”
Forum 18 says that Vladimir Karapetian of the ministry’s Media Relations
Division said on 19 October that the issue is outside the competence of
the Foreign Ministry.
Natalia Voutova, a Council of Europe representative in Yerevan, said the
Foreign Ministry declined to explain how keeping a promise the country
made to the council in 2001 could be construed as outside the competence
of the ministry.
Forum 18 editor Felix Corley told RFE/RL that he does not believe all of
these contradictions indicate that Armenia’s bureaucracy is incompetent.
“No. I get the feeling that no government department particularly wants
to do this — to [implement] an alternative-service law.” he said.
“They know perfectly well what they are doing. The Foreign Ministry, the
Justice Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the representatives to the
Council of Europe — they all know perfectly well what the commitments
are. They all know perfectly well what the current situation is. They
just don’t want to. They fear political and social pressure.”
Corley said the Jehovah’s Witnesses — which says it has 8,000 members
in Armenia — is probably the most unpopular religious group in Armenia,
where normalcy means membership — however casual — in the Armenian
Apostolic Church.
In a country troubled by tense relations with neighboring Azerbaijan,
refusal of military service is disliked. Also, the group aggressively
seeks to recruit new converts, an activity that offends many in the
country.
Jehovah’s Witnesses has its headquarters in New York and claims 6
million members around the world. The group’s fundamental guiding belief
is that the Bible contains the literal word of God.

MEETING AT NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
22 Oct 04
On October 20 the speaker of the NKR National Assembly Oleg Yessayan
met with the British group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on visit
in Stepanakert. The delegation included members of parliament of the
House of Commons Gordon Marsden (head of the delegation), Jane
Griffits, Candy Aterton, member of the House of Lords Baroness
Caroline Cox, vice secretary of the group Jim Rogers.
Addressing the guests, the speaker of the National Assembly pointed
out the significance of the visit of the delegation representing the
British parliament. At the same time he mentioned that this and
similar events in Nagorni Karabakh are not regarded as a fact of
recognizing NKR but are highly appreciated asan `expression of
attention towards our country and people’. Gordon Marsden said that
taking into consideration all the political complications, as
individual parliamentarians they personally treat Karabakh people and
theirefforts with respect, the evidence to which is this cognitive
visit. During the talk questions concerning the Karabakh problem and
the process of peaceful settlement, the formation of the legislative
sphere, post war restoration, results of democratization of the public
and political life in Karabakh were discussed. `We think’, said the NA
speaker, `that we shall not attract theattention of the European
community if we do not direct our efforts at promotion of the commonly
acceptable values adopted by Europe and building a civil society.’
Mentioning that a lot still has to be done on this way, he said, `We
are readyto present to our guests all we have achieved without being
recognized, without the help of the international community.’ At the
meeting were present the chairman of the NKR NA permanent committee of
foreign relationships Vahram Atanessian, leaders of the parliament
groups of Democratic Liberal Union and Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Janna Galstian and Vahram Balayan, vice foreign minister of
NKR Masis Mayilian.
AA.
22-10-2004

ARMENIAN LEADER SAYS OPENING OF RUSSIAN BORDER SHOWS “TENSION EASED”
Mediamax news agency
22 Oct 04
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today said that Russia’s decision
to open the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border on
the eve of his official visit to Tbilisi was “a coincidence, but a
pleasant coincidence”.
A Mediamax special correspondent reports from Tbilisi that Robert
Kocharyan today said that the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint was closed due
to the Beslan events and the decision to open it shows that “the
tension has eased”.
The Armenian president said that he did not tend to dramatize the
situation, but he wanted the Georgian-Russian border not to close
again.
“When the border is closed, everyone loses – not only Georgia and
Armenia, but Russia as well,” Robert Kocharyan concluded.

Armenian leader urges Georgian counterpart to open railway via Abkhazia
Mediamax news agency
22 Oct 04

YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili discussed in Tbilisi today a whole range of problems
concerning the resumption of the railway communication in the South
Caucasus. A special correspondent of Mediamax agency reports from
Tbilisi that Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told this at today’s
press conference after his meeting with Saakashvili and negotiations
of the Armenian and Georgian delegations.
“We have certain ideas, however, they are somehow ‘raw’, and it is
premature to go into details. I can only say that it is about all the
railways in the South Caucasus, and it cannot be ruled out that those
ideas could acquire definite shapes,” Robert Kocharyan said.
As for the resumption of the railway communication between Armenia and
Russia via Abkhazia, Robert Kocharyan said he sensed the delicacy of
this issue for the Georgian leadership. “At the same time, bearing in
mind that the railway from Russia to Abkhazia is operating, the lack
of a through line benefits neither Armenia nor Georgia,” the Armenian
president said and expressed his hope that Georgia will approach the
issue with a greater deal of pragmatism.
In March this year, Georgian President Saakashvili said in Yerevan
that he would discuss with the Turkish leadership prospects of
restoring the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway link. Asked by our special
correspondent today about the outcome of his discussions, Saakashvili
said that “Georgia does not welcome any restrictions and is in favour
of having more transport communications in the region”.
The Georgian president said that the Turkish leadership is fully
determined to integrate into the European Union, and this can play a
role in ironing out the existing problems. Saakashvili said that
Georgia will in future defend Armenia’s interests, including in the
transport sphere, both at the bilateral level and at international
forums.

Britain tells Azerbaijan MPs’ visit to Karabakh private
ANS TV, Baku
22 Oct 04

[Presenter] Baku’s sharp protest against the visit by a British
parliamentary delegation to Nagornyy Karabakh has been conveyed to the
leadership of the United Kingdom.
[Correspondent Afat Telmanqizi over video of news conference] The
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry sent appropriate notes to the British
embassy in our country over the fact that Deputy Speaker of the
British House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox and other MPs visited
Stepanakert without the permission of the Azerbaijani government, head
of the press service of the Foreign Ministry, Matin Mirza, told a news
conference today. Mirza said that Azerbaijan’s dissatisfaction had
been passed on to the British leadership through the embassy. We have
already received an answer.
[Mirza] The Foreign Ministry was told that the visit had been made at
the initiative of pro-Armenian Cox. The embassy said that the British
parliament had been repeatedly asked to put an end to Cox’s
destructive position.
[Passage omitted: the OSCE will be informed about recent truce
violation on the front line with Armenia]

Dallas Morning News , TX
Oct 21 2004
Conserve, clean, repair: Keeping those carpets gorgeous

The Oriental Rug Cleaning Co., founded in 1911 by Hagop Amirkhan and
run for 30 years by his son, noted carpet expert Mirza Amirkhan, is
under the stewardship of granddaughter Ellen Amirkhan. She is a
third-generation expert on cleaning, conservation, restoration and
appraisal with a booming Texas accent. As a member of the
International Society of Appraisers (certified in Orientals), she
travels the country teaching classes on the fine art of rug cleaning
and restoration.
Grandfather Amirkhan fled Turkey during the Armenian genocide. To pay
for his passage, he worked as a rug cleaner for a cousin in
Cincinnati. After a year, he struck out on his own. He chose Dallas
because in 1911, fine rugs were already plentiful and experienced
cleaners were not.
In addition to rug cleaning and repair work, the Amirkhans also sell,
appraise and restore. While almost any rug can be repaired (a rug
with colors that have bled extensively is “a lost cause”), Ms.
Amirkhan is conscientious about what should and should not be done.
Repairs and restoration may mean setting in patches cannibalized from
other rugs, knotting, reweaving or remounting on a second fabric
backing. Proper technique is crucial to re-create, as closely as
possible, the original rug. Expert repair and restoration can
actually increase the value of a fairly battered rug.
To that end, Ellen Amirkhan has trained three women in the art of
knotting. “Such reweaving is charged by the job because more densely
knotted rugs are more difficult to do.” In contrast, a dog-chewed
fringe can be relatively easy to replace (about $12 a linear foot).
How best to maintain a rug? Ms. Amirkhan says that not vacuuming may
be the most damaging myth. “Eighty percent of the soil in rugs is dry
particulate matter. If you don’t vacuum, it’s like walking over
sandpaper and wears the rug out.” She also suggests going easy on
over-the-counter spotting agents: “They leave residue in the rugs.”
Finally she says, don’t think that because a rug has been sitting in
the formal living room and walked on only twice in 20 years that it
doesn’t need cleaning. “Moisture needs to be introduced,” she says,
“and it’s to places where it’s quiet that moths tend to gravitate.”
Barbara Rodriguez

Arutz Sheva, Israel
Oct 21 2004
Lupolianski Deplores Spitting Incident

(IsraelNN.com) The mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupolianski, met yesterday
with the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch, Turkom Manuagian and the
chairman of Archbishops in Jerusalem, Nora Manuagian.
The mayor condemned a recent incident in which an Orthodox resident
of the capital spat at clerics, explaining he was taught to spit at
Catholic priests and leaders of other faiths. Lupolianski condemned
the young man’s actions which he called `despicable acts’.
`On behalf of myself and all the people of Jerusalem I apologize for
the heinous act which I strongly condemn. As a representative of
Jerusalem I’m ashamed and embarrassed by this act,’ said the mayor.
Mr. Lupolianski added, `The spitting wasn’t just meant for you and
the community you represent, it was a spit in the face of all the
people of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, just like its name, is a city of
peace that symbolizes peace and brotherhood between religions and
it’s unfortunate that the wild thorns hurt us all. In the coming days
I’ll appoint a special advisor for Christian Affairs, from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will outline a broad and
comprehensive plan to improve the relationships between religions and
to restore Jerusalem’s status as a city of peace.’
The mayor also announced that he had talks regarding this issue with
rabbi’s, which will condemn the incidents and prepare an educational
plan for synagogues and community centers.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Oct 22 2004
Government Pledges To Keep Part Of Famous Yerevan Orchard
By Atom Markarian 22/10/2004 10:59
The government made on Thursday concessions to protesting tenants of
a big fruit grove in the middle of Yerevan, promising to partly
preserve one of the Armenian capital’s few remaining green areas.
The famous Dalma Orchards, which serve as the principal source of
income for some 1,800 families, have been at the center of a
controversy ever since a government decision last May to sell most of
its 530 hectares (1,325 acres) to private real estate developers. The
rest of the land was to be handed over to the Hayantar state forestry
agency.
The tenants reacted to the move angrily, branding it unfair and
vowing to fight back eviction attempts. In recent months, they have
regularly staged protests outside President Robert Kocharian’s
residence and other government buildings in Yerevan. Local
environmentalists have expressed their solidarity with the
protesters, saying that the break-up of the orchards will deal a
further blow to the city’s shrinking green belt.
Speaking to reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting, Yerevan Mayor
Yervand Zakharian said the government decided to preserve 256
hectares of the orchards by allowing tenants to use the land for ten
more years. He indicated that the decision was initiated by
Kocharian.
However, it will affect only 580 families and is therefore certain to
be rejected by most of the other occupants dependent on proceeds from
the sale of fruit grown on the land. They have repeatedly threatened
to resist attempts to deprive them of their main source of revenue.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 22 2004
Georgia Grants Entry to Armenians Stuck in South Ossetia
22/10/2004 11:22
Georgian authorities gave entry to the dozens of the Armenian
citizens, who have been trapped in breakaway South Ossetia en-route
to Armenia for more than a week already.
A convoy of busses and trucks belonging to the Armenian citizens were
moving from Russia to Armenia via Georgia’s breakaway region of South
Ossetia, as the border checkpoint in Larsi remains closed by the
Russian authorities since early September. The Larsi checkpoint is
the only land border linking Georgia with Russia that is controlled
by the official Tbilisi.
The Georgian authorities blocked the convoy near the village of
Ergneti in the South Ossetian conflict zone and refused to give the
Armenian citizens an entry, as they crossed the border with Georgia
at the Roki Pass, which is out of the Georgia’s control.
Georgian officials say that Tbilisi showed `its good will’ by giving
the Armenian citizens an entry.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 21 2004
USA SUPPORTS PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNY
KARABAKH CONFLICT
[October 22, 2004, 11:30:05]
Foreign minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov met US
aide to Secretary of State for Europe and Asia affairs ambassador Ms.
Lora Kennedy, 21 October.
Expressing confidence that the visits of the US representatives will
play positive role in gaining comprehensive knowledge on Azerbaijan,
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated that the US-Azerbaijan relations
are developing successfully in all fields and expressed hope these
relations would acquire higher level due to joint efforts in the
years coming.
Ms. Lora Kennedy said she adheres expansion of relations with
Azerbaijan, which is strategic partner of her country, and these
relations should certainly acquire higher level in future.
Underlining that the United States supports economic projects
promoting development of Azerbaijan and peaceful settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, said that the OSCE
Minsk Group is keen in solution of this problem. Representative of
the Department of State expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s
participation in global combat against terror, saying, the US
government has given high assessment to the role of Azerbaijani
militaries in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov emphasized that partnership with
the United States is of great importance for the country and as a
sign of this partnership he named the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects especially stating that the necessary
efforts would be made for realization of transportation of the
Azerbaijani gas to the European markets through the said gas
pipeline. Also noting the necessity of quick resolution to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict threatening economic
and political stability in Azerbaijan, the Minister has called the US
to be more active in this process as one of the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group. The Minister expressed hope that US would hold fair
position related to illegal inhabiting of the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan by Armenia. Elmar Mammadyarov stated that, as a part of
Europe, Azerbaijan would carry out the democratic reforms and
henceforth on the base of international legal norms.
Also were discussed other questions of mutual interest.