PRESS RELEASE
“YERKIR”, UNION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
FOR REPATRIATION AND SETTLEMENT
Bagramyan ave., ap. 47/A, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel. +(374 1) 26 28 75
Web:
Contact: Robert Tatoyan, [email protected]
YERKIR
Union of Non-Governmental Organizations for repatriation and settlement
presents the schedule of grand opening ceremonies of its 2004 projects in
Armenia
(July-September, 2004)
DATE July 28
PROJECT Kindergarten
COMMUNITY MKR Nor Shahoumian Region, Yeghegnout
SPONSOR ARF Patanekan (Canada)
DATE August 15
PROJECT Kindergarten-Dance & Music School Complex
COMMUNITY RA Davoush Region, Chinari
SPONSOR Alen Gragirian (USA)
DATE August 18
PROJECT 5 single family homes
COMMUNITY MKR Hadrout Region, Haykavan
SPONSOR Armenian American Nurses Association,
Anadolian Family,
A group of LA Armenians,
Mr. & Mrs. Apo and Rose
Saghtejian,
Patyl Aposhian & Family (USA)
DATE August 18
PROJECT Clinic-Community Center
COMMUNITY MKR Hadrout Region, Haykavan
SPONSOR William So and Astghik Dadrian of
Newport Beach, California
DATE August 20
PROJECT School
COMMUNITY RA Geghargounik Region, Aregouni
SPONSOR United Armenian Students (USA)
DATE August 23
PROJECT Medical center
COMMUNITY MKR Hadrout Region, Norashen
SPONSOR Ara Aharonyan, AGBU France
DATE September 3
PROJECT 10 single family homes and School
COMMUNITY MKR Nor Shahoumian Region, Knaravan
SPONSOR Haroutiounian Family (New Jersey, USA)
DATE September 10
PROJECT School
COMMUNITY MKR Hadrout Region, Haykavan
SPONSOR Armenian American Council on Aging
(USA)
DATE September 13
PROJECT Kindergarten
COMMUNITY MKR Martakert Region, Talish
SPONSOR D.A. Connexion & France Karabagh
(France)
DATE September 15
PROJECT School
COMMUNITY MKR Hadrout Region, Tsamtsor
SPONSOR Armenia Fund (Geneva, Switzerland)
On June 1st, 2004, The MKR southern Hadrout Region community of Araler,
witnessed the grand opening of its new hospital, another Yerkir UNGO
project, sponsored by the Hayrenik Union of Los Angeles, USA.
Construction on the following projects will be completed by December 2004:
– 3 single family homes in Araler, Hadrout Region, MKR. Sponsor:
Charles Ghazerian, France.
– Water Distribution System in Araler, Hadrout Region, MKR.
Sponsor: Hayrenik Union, Los Angeles, USA.
– 10 single family homes and water distribution system in
Saralanch, Hadrout Region, MKR. Sponsor: France Karabagh and Amitie
Alsace-Armenie (France)
– 3 single family homes in Norashen, Hadrout Region, MKR. Sponsor:
AGBU.
– 5 single family homes and Clinic-Community Center, Knaravan, Nor
Shahoumian Region, MKR.
Sponsor: Haroutiounian Family, New Jersey, USA.
Yerkir UNGO invites all its sponsors and all those interested, to attend the
formal opening ceremonies of our 2004 projects. For further information
visit or call the Yerevan office at 01-262875, or “Yerkir
USA”‘s homepage at or 818-291-9703.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
July 16, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY, ACTIVISTS DISCUSS COMMUNITY ISSUES AT ANNUAL PICNIC
Detroit Area Event Welcomes More Than 100 Supporters
Farmington Hills, MI – The Armenian Assembly’s annual summer picnic in
Michigan July 11 brought together more than 100 area supporters, eager to
address the critical issues facing the community through increasing their
political activism at state and federal levels.
Assembly Congressional Relations Director Rob Mosher, in a Washington
update, addressed several pending issues including the recent vote by the
House Appropriations Committee to reinstate U.S. policy to maintain security
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mosher said activists were
particularly pleased to learn that legislators agreed to allocate $5 million
in military financing to both countries, thereby breaking from the Bush
Administration request to seek a $6 million increase for Baku over Yerevan.
Fellow Trustee Edgar Hagopian, who as Regional Director of the Great Lakes
Council helped organize the event in Farmington Hills, added that
Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) was instrumental in reinstating balance
which is fundamental to the Nagorno Karabakh peace process.
Mosher also discussed a crucial trade bill that would strengthen the
U.S.-Armenia trade relationship. Known as “permanent normal trade
relations” (PNTR), the legislation would remove a provision governing
Armenia’s continued access to low tariffs. Some activists inquired about
the additional benefits attached to PNTR status. Mosher said that the bill,
if enacted, would signal an upgrade to Armenia’s status as a trading partner
and could open the door to additional bilateral trade agreements.
Event participants also embraced the recent decision by Congressmen
Knollenberg and Frank Pallone Jr., (D-NJ), as Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, to head a series of pan-Armenian events to
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide next year in
Washington. The Assembly, Mosher said, has already pledged its full
cooperation and is welcoming the opportunity to join with the
Armenian-American community to honor this occasion.
Hagopian closed the event by thanking supporters for their participation and
interest in the Assembly and commended fellow Council members, including
Board of Directors Member and Associate Trustee Daniel Ajamian, Fellow
Trustees Bob and Margaret Benian, Affiliate Member Paul Kulhanjian,
Affiliate Member Shirley Sarkissian, Fellow Trustees Bob and Madeline
Thomasian and Affiliate Member David Terzibashian for contributing to the
success of the yearly picnic.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-068
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
Caption: Left to Right: Armenian Assembly Great Lakes Regional Council
Members Bob and Madeline Thomasian, David Terzibashian, Shirley Sarkissian,
Edgar Hagopian and Paul Kulhanjian during the annual picnic at Heritage
Park. Not pictured: Daniel Ajamian and Bob and Margaret Benian.
Caption: More than 100 Detroit-area supporters attended a briefing by
Armenian Assembly Congressional Relations Director Rob Mosher at Heritage
Park on July 11.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
HOUSE PAVES WAY FOR SECURITY PARITY BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
ADOPTS AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN OPERATIONS BILL ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly praised the House of Representatives
for its resounding vote Thursday in support of maintaining military aid
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The 365-41 vote, which upheld an earlier House Appropriations Committee
decision granting $5 million each in military financing to both countries,
reinstated parity in the FY 2005 Foreign Operations bill despite the Bush
Administration’s initial request of $8 million to Azerbaijan and only $2
million to Armenia.
Thursday’s vote also approved “not less than” $65 million in economic aid to
Armenia, an increase of $3 million over the Administration’s FY 2005 budget
request. An additional $5 million in humanitarian assistance for Nagorno
Karabakh was also allocated. The Administration did not propose any
assistance for Karabakh.
Once the Senate completes its action on the Foreign Operations bill, a joint
House-Senate Conference will meet to reconcile differences before sending it
to the White House for enactment.
“We applaud the House, along with Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim
Kolbe (R-AZ) and his Subcommittee for maintaining equal security assistance
between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” said Assembly Board of Directors Chairman
Anthony Barsamian, who has recently visited Armenia and the region to
discuss key issues with government officials, including the question of
parity and the level of military aid to Armenia.
“We are especially thankful to Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) for taking the lead to reinstate U.S. balance and impartiality in
this matter,” Barsamian said.
Shortly before the vote, the House passed and included in the FY 2005
Foreign Operations bill an amendment introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
prohibiting Turkey from using U.S. foreign aid funds in its ongoing campaign
to derail legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Rep. Schiff underlined the importance of
his amendment, and said:
“Today I offer a simple amendment that will honor the one and a half million
Armenians who perished in the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and 1923. I consider
this a sacred obligation to ensure that the men, women and children who
perished in the Armenian Genocide are not lost.”
Fellow Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., co-chairman of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, praised the House for approving the Schiff
amendment and said:
“The passage of this amendment is a major victory. It clearly sends a
message that the United States House of Representatives will not tolerate
Turkey’s lobbying against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”
The Schiff amendment reads as follows:
“SEC. 576: None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the
Government of Turkey to engage in contravention of section 1913 of title 18,
United States Code, relating to lobbying with appropriated monies, with
respect to H. Res. 193, Reaffirming support of the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the 15th
anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act
of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003.”
Earlier, also addressing the House before the vote, Rep. Knollenberg
emphasized the importance of parity in U.S. military assistance to Armenia
and Azerbaijan and said:
“Unfortunately, Armenia is a land-locked country surrounded by nations that
are hostile to it.  Because transportation routes into Armenia are sealed,
the Armenian economy is being strangled.  Therefore, it is appropriate for
the United States to provide substantial economic assistance.  This bill
provides $65 million in economic assistance for Armenia, which is an
increase above the Administration’s request.”
“We must also be very careful with the military assistance we provide to the
South Caucasus.  I believe it is absolutely critical to maintain complete
parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan – and I am pleased
that this bill does exactly that,” he said.
In a letter dated February 10th of this year and sent to the 131 members of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and 35 Senators, the Assembly
said that providing asymmetrical military assistance to Azerbaijan will not
only “have a potentially destabilizing effect on the South Caucasus,” but
also “damage U.S. credibility as an impartial and leading mediator in the
ongoing sensitive peace negotiations for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.”
Knollenberg, in remarks last month, said “parity in military assistance to
Armenia and Azerbaijan is absolutely critical to maintaining the careful
balance between the two countries. We cannot settle for anything less. I’m
also pleased we were able to increase military assistance to Armenia to $5
million in order to help them modernize their equipment.”
This April, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus
member John E. Sweeney (R-NY), along with over 40 of their congressional
colleagues, wrote to Chairman Kolbe urging that the subcommittee maintain
symmetry in levels of any military/security assistance for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In addition, they requested “not less than” $75 million in
economic assistance for Armenia and an additional $5 million in humanitarian
assistance for Nagorno Karabakh in FY 2005. The Assembly strongly supported
this initiative by urging Members to sign on to this letter during its
advocacy portion of its National Conference and via a nationwide Action
Alert.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-067

GOVERNMENT APPROVES NEW METHODS OF FINANCING FAMILY DOCTORS
YEREVAN, JULY 15. ARMINFO. The RA Government has approved the “Pilot
public health program of organizing primary health care and
elaborating new methods of financing family doctors.”
Talking to journalists, First Deputy Minister of Health Haik Darbinyan
reported that a patient receives medical assistance from his family
doctor free of charge. The patient pay for the medical examination his
family doctor prescribes to him. The family doctor’s services will be
financed from the state budget. The Government pledges to pay 2,800
AMD for each child-patient and 1,302 AMD for each adult annually. The
minimum, optimal and maximum number of patients for each family doctor
has been determined – 1,000, 1,700 and 2,300 respectively. According
to Darbinyan, the salaries of family doctors will exceed those of
doctors at outpatient clinics by 50% and amount to 50,000 AMD a month.
Darbinyan reported that about 25,000 residents have been registered
for examination by family doctors in Yerevan’s Erebuni community
alone.
Darbinyan pointed out that under the WB’s credit program, 276 Armenian
doctors were trained as family doctors in 2003-2004,m and eight of
them studied abroad. However, he said that the country needs 1,700
family doctors. Darbinyan reported that about 200 medical nurses have
been retained. Besides, 81 medical outpatient clinics were repaired
and equipped for family doctors. Darbinyan reported that another 20
clinics are to be constructed under the WB’s 2nd credit program for
2004-2008.

SESSION AT LORI REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION CHAIRED BY ARMENIAN NA
CHAIRMAN ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN
YEREVAN, JULY 15. ARMINFO. A session at Lori regional administration
chaired by Armenian NA Chairman Artur Baghdasaryan today discussed the
urgent problems and prior tasks of the region. Speaker Baghdasaryan
got first hand information on the economic situation in Lori region.
Lori Governor Henrik Kochinyan informed the Speaker that 2.2
thous. families in the region still need housing. He pointed out the
necessity for completing the construction of Culture House in the town
of Stepanavan and several other cultural facilities. At the same time,
the governor said that light industry and machine building effectively
develop in the region, and the cheese produced in Lori is successfully
exported to the USA and Russia. A deficit of this product is already
observed on the local market.
Speaking at the session, NA Chairman Artur Baghdasaryan said that an
Armenian-Italian Business Forum will be held in October, and Lori
businessmen should take an active party in it. He promised that in
November, a Center of Information Technologies will open in Vanadzor
and that the forthcoming adoption of a Law On Public Health will solve
many problems in the sphere in region. Baghdasaryan also promised to
contribute to computerization of secondary schools in the region.

RUSSIAN GAS TO BE SUPPLIED TO THIRD COUNTRIES VIA ARMENIA
MOSCOW, JULY 15. ARMINFO. There are prospects of supplying Russian gas
to the markets of third countries en route via Armenia, said Russian
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov during his meeting with his Armenian
counterpart Andranik Margaryan.
According to the agency “Neftegazovaya Vertikal,” M. Fradkov said that
Russia and Armenia will finish preparation for an agreement of
cooperation in the gas sphere soon. He said that cooperation in
construction of new gas pipes is currently under discussion. It should
be noted that the sides confirmed the intention of Russia and Armenia
to develop cooperation in all spheres of activity, Fradkov stated that
Russia and Armenia successfully cooperate in the economic sphere:
commodity turnover increased 30% as compared to the last year.
Besides, by the end of the year, regular session of the
Intergovernmental Commission for Trade-and Economic Cooperation will
be held, wherein issues of economic, humanitarian cooperation, in the
sphere of military and technical ties will be discussed, as well as
the issues related to payment of the debts under the project of
property purchase in Armenia by Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MARROW DONOR VAHE VARDANYAN HELPS SAVING LIFE OF 5-YEAR-OLD
ITALIAN BOY SUFFERING LEUCAEMIA
YEREVAN, JULY 15. ARMINFO. Italian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Marco Klemente thanked 22-year-old Armenian
marrow donor Vahe Vardanyan who help saving the life of a 5-year-old
Italian boy suffering leucaemia.
Talking to journalists, Executive Director of the Armenian Charitable
Fund of Marrow Register Sevan Avagyan said that since the register’s
foundation in 1999, it is the third case of marrow
transplantation. The register contains data on 8,223 donors, who in
their turn were included in the register of the International Marrow
Donors Orgnaization. Some 300 people suffering leucaemia or leucosis
have already applied to the Armenian register. It should be noted that
the International register contains data on 8 million donors from 52
marrow registered world wide.
Avagyan said that by the end of the year, the number of donors from
Armenia is expected to reach 10 thousands. He said up-to-date medical
technologies allow medics to take the necessary cells from blood of
donors and not directly from marrow. As Armenia has no center for
marrow transplantation, Armenian donors leave abroad themselves,
Avagyan said, adding that the country’s public Health Ministry takes
steps to establish a similar center in Armenia. He said that the only
problem is lack of funds for purchase of up-to-date equipment, it
should be noted that the register operates due to charitable funds and
First Lady of Armenia Bella Kocharyan is its Honorable President.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VARDAN OSKANYAN AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO
ARMENIA THORDA ABBOT-WATT SIGN AGREEMENT “ON CULTURAL VALUES”
YEREVAN, JULY 15. ARMINFO. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
and British Ambassador to Armenia Thorda Abbot-Watt signed an
agreement “On Cultural Values”.
The Press-Service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told ARMINFO that
Director of the British Council in Armenia Roger Budd attended the
signing ceremony. The agreement raises the cultural ties between the
two states to an offical basis. These ties have got a special
development since the opening of the British Council Office in Armenia
in 2001. According to the agreement, the British Council is officially
recognized a body regulating cultural ties between Armenia and Great
Britain as well as creates preconditions for establishment of a
similar Armenian cultural office in Britain. The agreement says that
the sides get a right to open cultural centers in the capitals and
regions of the two states on a mutual agreement. Cultural centers will
contribute to implementing various programs aiming development of
cultural cooperation between the two states. The major goal of the
centers is development of relations between Armenia and Great Britain
in the sphere of language and literature, culture and art, education,
science and technologies, exchange of knowledge and information
between Mass Media.

AZERI PRESSURE GROUP URGES REJECTION OF OSCE MEDIATION GROUP
ANS TV, Baku
15 Jul 04
The Karabakh Liberation Organization has issued a statement calling
for a total rejection of the services of the OSCE Minsk Group. Yet
another time the Azerbaijani public is witnessing that the Minsk Group
is pursuing the interests of member countries and is protecting the
aggressor – Armenia – rather than resolving the (Nagornyy Karabakh)
conflict on the basis of international legal norms, the statement
reads.
The organization announces that the Azerbaijani government has to
change its position and reject the services of the Minsk Group, end of
quote.

OSCE reps to hold talks in Baku on settling Karabakh conflict
TASS/Baku
July 15, 2004 Thursday
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group, set up by the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for settling the dragged-out
ethnic conflict in Nagorny Karabakh, are holding talks with top-rank
Azerbaijani officials here Thursday.
The OSCE representatives – Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia, Steven Mann of
the U.S., and Henri Jacolin of France – are expected to meet with
President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov.
Politicians in Baku do not expect any special proposals from the three
men on how to settle the conflict between the ethnic Azerbaijanis and
Armenians in and around Nagorny Karabakh that has been smoldering
since the end of the 1980’s, but Minister Mamedyarov does not rule out
that new ideas about stepping up the talks may come up in the process
of discussions.
“The absence of new proposals doesn’t mean that the negotiations have
deadlocked, all the more so that the contours of the new ideas, which
we have discussed with the Armenian side, are getting clear,” he said.
As the three co-chairmen of the Minsk Group addressed a news
conference in Yerevan Wednesday, they indicated there could hardly be
anything new in their proposals now, as resolution of the conflict was
highly contingent on the actions on both Azerbaijani and Armenian
sides.
“We believe the sides must not waste time away, and actions must be
taken right now,” said the Russian envoy Yuri Merzlyakov.
“The sides are now working on the agenda of future talks in the light
of changes in the situation after elections in Azerbaijan,” he said.
Steven Mann, a U.S. envoy, said solution of the problem was highly
contingent on the stance that Armenia and Azerbaijan would take, and
the Minsk Group could only help the sides tap the practical solutions.
Armenia and Azerbaijan will bear the brunt of responsibility for
decision-making, and the OSCE leaves it up to them to decide on who
should take part in the talks, Mann said.
The French envoy, Henri Jacolin, said the talks would definitely take
some time, since one or two meetings would by no means suffice to
untangle a conflict like the one in Nagorny Karabakh.
He also warned that there was no external force, including the Minsk
Group that could possibly offer a miraculous solution to the Karabakh
problem.
Jacolin stressed the European Union’s great interest in a peaceful
settlement of the dragged-out conflict and in general stability in
Southern Caucasus, in the light of which the Europeans were closely
watching the progress of talks on Karabakh.