Azeris protest in Strasbourg against Armenian leader’s visit
Turan news agency
23 Jun 04
BAKU
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was met with a protest action
staged today by a group of Azerbaijanis outside the PACE
[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe] building in
Strasbourg.
The action was organized by the congress of world Azerbaijanis, the
society of cultural relations and a local student organization of
Azerbaijanis.
The pickets chanted “Karabakh” and “Down with Armenian occupation”,
and demanded that the UN resolutions urging Armenia to vacate the
occupied Azerbaijani territories be enforced.
The picket was still under way when the Armenian president opened an
exhibition in the PACE lobby on the Armenian genocide by Ottoman
Turkey. The exhibition, organized by the Armenian side, features photo
materials and correspondence documents of researcher Fridtjof Nansen
who helped some Armenian refugees from Turkey at the beginning of last
century.

Robert Kocharian: Nagorno Karabagh Republic today is an established state
24.06.2004
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Address by Armenian President Robert Kocharian at
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Mr. President, Members of the Parliamentary Assembly, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
It is an honor and pleasure to address you. Last time I have addressed
the Assembly on a very significant day for Armenia the day of
accession to the Council of Europe.
These were three demanding years of reforms that have touched upon all
the domains of life in our country and necessitated full time
employment of allour efforts.
Today I am here to announce that Armenia has fulfilled the vast
majority of its accession commitments. For the few outstanding ones,
there is a timetable agreed with a deadline fixed at the end of this
year. Still, if asked of the single most vital achievement I would
definitely answer: change in the perceptions in the Armenian society
about own future. The people of Armeniais now more involved in the
everyday life of the country. Formation of the Civil Society is on the
move.
Does this mean Armenia has achieved the desirable level of democratic
freedoms? The obvious answer is NO. Democracy has a long way to go in
any country with high poverty indicators. To assure fully inclusive
participation by the people in the democratic process, it is essential
to achieve at least minimal level of social guarantees. That is
precisely why we have strived to synchronize reforms in economy,
political system, judiciary and the social field.
In essence, Armenia has completed the process of dismantling the
former centralized system of power and economy, which allowed for a
total control over the society.
Armenian economy has undergone radical transformation both in terms of
activity fields and of property forms. The scope and depth of the
reforms allowed for a full scale enactment of market economy.
At present over 85% of Armenia’s GDP is produced in private sector,
over 38% of it in small and medium enterprises. Annual GDP growth has
averaged at I2% for last three consecutive years, regardless of the
blockade implemented bytwo fellow members of this very organization.
That dynamic economic growth has allowed us to develop a long term
Poverty Elimination Strategy.
The first time in Armenia this governmental program was developed in
close cooperation with international financial institutions and also
with wide involvement of the society. That Strategy now guides us in
the political decision making and in choosing our budget priorities.
Fighting corruption is Yet another important step towards effective
democracy. The Government of Armenia watches corruption as a systemic
evil,which cannot be eradicated merely through rhetoric or a couple of
sampler prosecutions.
We concentrate on the systemic change aimed at ruling out the sources
of corruption. That is exactly why we have joined the GRECO group
where we canlearn from the experience of other states on combating
corruption. Through a wide discussion including the OSCE, we have
developed a comprehensive Anti corruption strategy. A few weeks ago I
have established an AntiCorruption Council.
As an urgent measure directed at eradication of corruption in Armenia
I shall prioritize the necessity of deepening the judicial reforms,
improvement in tax and customs administration, and formation of an
effective system of Civil Service. All these are key tools for
implementation of anti corruption policies.
In terms of a broader effort aimed at reducing corruption risks, I
would like to particularly mention the importance of establishing
competitive climate, predictability of governmental action,
simplification of procedures, transparency thereof and public
control. Those are our current priorities aimed at achieving the
sustainability of the reforms and irreversibility of the
democratization process in Armenia.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I know many of you wonder: what was happening in
Armenia last spring? What fostered the activity of the opposition that
surrogated the parliamentary work by revolutionary rallies? You are
right to wonder, since you have been all informed by the monitoring
group Rapporteurs who had visited Armenia only very recently, in
January, that there are significant advancements in fulfillingthe
commitments accepted at the accession. And you know that most of those
deal with advancing democracy.
Expert evaluations of Armenia by international financial institutes
are more than optimistic. Two digit figures of economic growth and
budgetary proficit, by default cannot fuel the revolutionary
atmosphere. Moreover, there are three full years before the next
parliamentary elections.
Therefore, there were no internal prerequisites for increase in
political activity. Accordingly, what has happened? The answer is
easy. The opposition, encouraged by the results of the “rose
revolution” in neighboring Georgia, decided to duplicate it in the
Armenian reality, which, however, had nothing in common with the
Georgian one.
They disregarded the fact that Armenia’s economy, as opposite to
Georgian, undergoes dynamic advancement, the government is efficient,
and the democratic achievements are safeguarded by institutional
structures, including the law enforcement system capable of protecting
the public order.
The history has many times demonstrated that inspiration by foreign
revolutions never results in positive outcomes. Unfortunately,
learning often comes only from own experience. That also happened in
our case. The opposition left the parliament and unfolded street
activity.
They openly declared the goal: to destabilize the situation in the
country, cumulate the maximum possible number of participants in a
street action, surround the building of the Presidency and force me to
resign. Once the opposition witnessed lack of public interest towards
their action plan, they decided to increase the tension, most probably
to attract attention. They blocked the most loaded avenue of the city
of Yerevan.
That resulted in disruption of the traffic, prevented normal
functioning of the National Assembly, of the Administration of the
President and of the Constitutional Court. Four embassies, the
National Academy of Science and one of the biggest schools are located
at the same avenue. The organizers called on the public for
demonstrative disobedience. The police was left with no choice; the
public order was restored quickly, without any significant damage to
the health of the participants.
Necessity of implementation of similar police operations is always
regrettable. Still, authorities have to protect the society from
political extremists. It is particularly important in young
democracies, which still lack the advanced traditions of the political
and legal culture. Even more so when part of the population lives in
poverty and can be easily manipulated by populist rhetoric.
I would like to particularly mention that the parties comprising the
ruling coalition have many times offered cooperation to the
opposition. Unfortunately, those offers were rejected. The opposition
probably thinks that cooperation would undermine the revolutionary
temper of their supporters.
Our country is in the important stage of its advancement, and I am
confident that there are many directions that require non partisan
effort. We have offered the opposition to work together on the most
important issues the Constitutional reform and the new Electoral
Code. The offer is still valid,however the discussions shall be held
in the parliament, not in the street.
Ladies and gentlemen: I would now like to turn to another important
issue: the honoring of obligations by the new members of the Council
of Europe. May I remind you that most of the reforms to be implemented
by a new member are sensitive issues in domestic politics? Often,
implementation of the reforms clashes the inertiaof the public
opinion. In the case of Armenia examples of such issues are the
Constitutional reform, abolition of the death penalty and the new
Electoral legislation.
Active implementation of commitments by the authorities usually
results in increased internal tension and meets active resistance of
the opposition. For example, the parliamentary opposition of Armenia
openly contested the abolition of the death penalty and the new
edition of the Constitution, drafted in close cooperation with the
Venice Commission.
Honoring the obligations is a heavy political load accepted by the
entire country, not only by the authorities. Our application for
accession to the Council of Europe was signed by all the parliamentary
factions. In this Assembly the country is presented by the entire
parliamentary spectrum.
Therefore, the duty of honoring the obligations shall bind the
opposition as much as the government. One ought not purposefully fail
to comply with own obligations for the sole purpose of discrediting
the ruling political authorities in face of the Council of Europe.
I would never talk about all this if “not the recent resolution of the
Parliamentary Assembly on Armenia. I regret that some of our MPs drew
the PACE into that discussion. I am confident that the Council of
Europe is not the best choice for the place to practice the opposition
authority contention. For that purpose there is national parliament:
the main political mise en scene of Armenia.
Mr. Chairman: I would now like to turn to one of the priority interest
issues for Armenia. At the time of accession Armenia undertook to
make steps towards peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict. We have done so because we highly appreciate the necessity
of friendly relations among neighboring states. However, to be able to
effectively secure a long lasting solution, one needs to deeply
understand the essence of the conflict. I would like to outline two
important factors characteristic of the Karabagh conflict.
First of all: Karabagh has never been part of independent
Azerbaijan. At the time of collapse of the Soviet Union two states
were formed: the Azerbaijani Republic on the territory of Azerbaijan
Soviet Socialist Republic and Republic of Nagorno Karabagh on the
territory of the Nagorno Karabagh Autonomous Region. Establishment of
both these states has similar legal grounds. The territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan, henceforth, has nothing to do with theRepublic of
Nagorno Karabagh. We are ready to discuss the issue of settling that
conflict in the legal domain.
Second: the war of I992 94 was launched by the aggression of the Azeri
authorities, which attempted to implement ethnic cleansing of the
territoryof Nagorno Karabagh with the purpose of its annexation. The
situation in placetoday is the result of a selfless fight of the
Armenians of Nagorno Karabagh for survival on their own land. It is a
classical example of both the implementation of the right for self
determination and of misusing the “territorial integrity” concept as a
justification for ethnic cleansings.
The people of Karabagh has prevailed in it’s strive for independent
life in an egalitarian society. Independence of Karabagh today has I6
years of history. An entire generation grew up there that can think
of no other status for the country. Nagorno Karabagh Republic today is
an established state, in essence meeting all of the Council of
Europe’s membership criteria. It is the reality which cannot be
ignored. That is exactly why we insist on direct participation of
Nagorrio Karabagh in the negotiations, in which Armenia actively
participates.
The solution shall emerge from the substance of the conflict and not
from the perception of the possible strengthening of Azerbaijan
through future “oil money”.
“Oil money” approach is the formula of confrontation and not of
compromise. Armenia is ready to continue and advance the cease fire
regime. We are ready for serious negotiations on a full scale solution
for the conflict. That is exactly why we have accepted two last
formulas of solution offered by the international mediators, which,
unfortunately, were denied by Azerbaijan.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of advancement of the
regional cooperation in the Southern Caucasus. There is a wide
spectrum for potential cooperation: from synchronization of
legislation to restoring the interconnected transportation systems and
to joint projects in the energy sector. We are confident that regional
cooperation is the right route to the settlement of conflicts.
We have no doubt that South Caucasus as a region of inclusive economic
cooperation will be able to achieve much more than three states of the
region can dream of doing on their own. We believe in peace and
cooperation.
Southern Caucasus has always been sensitive of external
influences. Located at the crossroads of civilizations with vast
potential in resources and numerous transit roots, it has always been
a zone of increased interest. These considerations guided us in
forming our foreign policy of “complimentarity.”
That policy is based on the concept of seeking advantages in softening
the contradictions of the global and regional powers, and not in
deepening the gaps. We are responsible for the regional stability and
our actions shall help to solve problems, instead of creating new
ones. That approach allowed us to develop trustworthy relations with
the United States, the European Union and Iran, and to strengthen the
traditional kinship with Russia.
In this context I would also like to concentrate on the Armenian
Turkish relations, or rather on their absence. Those relations are
shaded by the memories of the past: the Genocide, its consequences and
lack of repentance. Nowadays the situation is worsened by the blockade
of Armenia by Turkey. I would like to outline two principals which in
my view are crucial to finding the way out from this impasse. First
of all: Developing practical ties and deliberations over the inherited
problems shall take place in different dimensions and shall not
influence one the other.
Second: Armenian Turkish relations shall not be conditioned by our
relations with a third country (Azerbaijan). Any precondition
terminates all positive expectations.
Dear Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: Concluding, I would like to
assure you that Armenia perceives its future in full scale integration
with the European family. A few days ago the European Union has
decided to include Armenia in its “new neighborhood” initiative. This
will further advance our resolve to satisfy the European criteria, to
be able to contribute and fully benefit from the cooperation between
our states and nations. We walk this road with deep belief and
confidence and we appreciate your efforts to help us in that uneasy
but crucial effort.
Thank you for your attention.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA PARTICIPATES IN COALITION CAMPAIGN TO STOP GENOCIDE IN SUDAN
— Takes Part in Congressional Black Caucus/Africa Action Effort
to Secure U.S. Intervention in the Darfur Region
— Calls for Support of Genocide Resolution, H.Res.193/S.Res.164,
Renewing U.S. Commitment to the Genocide Convention
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
participated in a press conference, yesterday, organized by the
Congressional Black Caucus and Africa Action, voicing its support
for a nationwide, grassroots campaign to secure U.S. intervention
to stop the impending genocide in Sudan.
Congressional Black Caucus members, including Chairman Elijah
Cummings (D-MD), Representatives Donald Payne (D-NJ), Barbara Lee
(D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sheila Jackson
Lee (D-TX), and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) were joined by Democratic
Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), and Africa
Action Executive Director Salih Booker in calling attention to the
ongoing tragedy in Sudan, which has already claimed tens of
thousands of lives in 2004.
In response to a question by ANCA Government Affairs Director
Abraham Niziblian regarding how individuals can get involved in
stopping the cycle of genocide in Sudan, Rep. Payne cited the
example of he Armenian Genocide, noting that “if we had done
something then [1915], we would not have had the 1930’s genocide
committed by the Nazis.” Salih then stressed the importance of
participating in a petition drive, initiated by Africa Action on
June 15th, calling on Secretary of State Colin Powell to support an
immediate intervention to stop the killing [in Sudan].”
Individuals can participate in the Africa Action petition drive by
visiting:
Over the past several weeks, the ANCA has called attention to the
atrocities in Sudan through a series of letters to Congressional
offices, urging them to take a stand to stop the cycle of genocide
through support of Congressional initiatives regarding Sudan as
well as for the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193 / S.Res.164), which
reaffirms U.S. commitment to the principles of the Genocide
Convention.
In a June 17th memo to Congressional staff members, Niziblian
stated, “as the descendents of survivors of the Armenian Genocide,
Armenian Americans feel a special obligation to encourage our
government to take the lead in preventing genocides, anywhere
around the world. Please stand up against genocide in Sudan and do
all that you can to ensure we, as a nation, meet our obligations
under the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish all instances
of genocide.” Similarly on June 23rd, Niziblian asked Members of
Congress to “work for the passage of the Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.193 and S.Res.164) to reaffirm our collective commitment to
the aims of the Genocide Convention.”
The Genocide Resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003
by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its
companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI),
was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May
and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the importance of
remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian
Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort
to stop future atrocities. Support for the measure has been
widespread, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious,
civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage,
including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of
Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of
La Raza.
Africa Action has reported that, “In Darfur, the Sudanese
government is destroying African Muslim communities who have
challenged the authoritarian rule of the government. Government
forces and Arab militias known as the janjaweed have burned and
pillaged thousands of villages, poisoned water systems, and
subjected the population to large-scale rape and other atrocities.”
On May 17th, House Members overwhelmingly adopted H.Con.Res. 403,
condemning the Sudanese Government for its attacks against innocent
civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan, by a
margin of 360 to 1. Its companion resolution in the Senate,
S.Con.Res. 99, was adopted unanimously on May 6th. Rep. Payne
announced that he would introduce additional legislation calling on
the “UN Security Council to introduce a resolution authorizing
intervention in Darfur” and “urging the U.S. Administration to
expose those responsible for the genocide.”

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Communications Officer
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 24, 2004
___________________
Week of June 18 to June 24, 2004
* * *
ASP PARTICIPANTS HEAD TO ARMENIA
Participants in this year’s Armenia Service Program (ASP), organized by
the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA), headed to
Armenia on Tuesday (6/22), after a day of orientation and team-building
exercises at the Diocesan Center in New York City. While in Armenia,
the group of 26 young people from throughout the Diocese will serve as
counselors at a summer camp for needy children, and tour the country,
deepening their understanding of their faith and heritage. For updates
on the group in Armenia, and to learn more about the Armenia Service
Program, click to our website:
;selmonth=6&sel
year04
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 6/22/04)
* * *
ARMENIAN OF THE YEAR HONORED WITH MEDAL OF FREEDOM
On Wednesday (6/23), President George Bush awarded the “Presidential
Medal of Freedom” to Dr. Vartan Gregorian. The medal is the nation’s
highest civilian award. Dr. Gregorian is the president of the Carnegie
Foundation and past president of Brown University and the New York
Public Library. Earlier this year, Dr. Gregorian was also the recipient
of the Eastern Diocese’s “Armenian of the Year Award,” during the 2004
Diocesan Assembly.
Dr. Gregorian was one of 13 people awarded the presidential medal during
the ceremony at the White House. Also receiving the award were such
luminaries as Pope John Paul II, entertainers Rita Moreno and Doris Day,
the late cosmetics entrepreneur Estee Lauder, golf legend Arnold Palmer,
the long-time editor of Commentary magazine, Norman Podhoretz, and
former Republican Senator from Massachusetts Edward Brooke, who in 1966
became the first African-American senator to be elected by popular vote.
To learn more about Dr. Gregorian, click to our website:
(Source: The New York Sun, 6/24/04)
* * *
CLICK TO OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Today (6/24) from noon to 3 p.m., the St. Vartan Cathedral Avaks group
is hosting a picnic for the public on the Cathedral plaza. You can
learn about this, and many more exciting events around the Diocese, by
clicking to our website’s Calendar of Events:
If your parish is having an event, get it listed for free by e-mailing
the information to [email protected].
(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 6/24/04)
* * *
FIND THE PERFECT GIFTS ONLINE
You can find perfect gifts for any loved one by going to the St. Vartan
Bookstore website, Shopping online is safe,
easy, and quick.
Go to for great gifts for art lovers, young
readers, musicians, historians, cooks, and people proud to be Armenian.
New items are added to the online inventory every week.
For simple, secure, and speedy ordering, click to the St. Vartan
Bookstore today:
(Source: , 6/24/04)
* * *
COME TO THE ARARAT CENTER CONSECRATION, OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY, JULY 24
Every Armenian is invited to attend an open house and consecration on
Saturday, July 24, the last day of St. Vartan Camp. The day of free
food, live music, and fun will run from noon to 5 p.m. Archbishop
Barsamian will consecrate the land at 2 p.m. The event is free, and
open to the public.
RSVP by July 10, by e-mailing [email protected] or calling (212)
686-0710 ext. 43.
(Source: Ararat Youth and Conference Center, 6/24/04)
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Minister of Foreign Affairs Launches Nansen Exhibit at the Council of Europe
Minister Oskanian inaugurated an exhibition of documents and photographs on
Fritjof Nansen, the Norwegian humanist-explorer, who established the first
High Commission for Refugees, under the League of Nations. The passports
given to Armenian refugees of the Genocide of 1915 bears his name.
The Nansen exhibit was sponsored by the Armenian delegation to the Council
of Europe, on the occasion of Norway’s taking on the presidency of the
Council.
Present at the opening were the Secretary General of the Council of Europe,
Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly, Peter Schieder, Norway’s Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and
President Robert Kocharian.
The text of the Minister’s remarks appears below.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian
On the Opening of the Nansen Exhibit
At the Council of Europe, Strasbourg
June 23, 2004
Mr. Schwimmer, Mr. Schieder, Mr. Prime Minister, and Mr. President,
Armenians have long been fascinated by and grateful to the Norwegian
Fridtjof Nansen. And not because he could ski 50 miles in a day or because
he explored Greenland and survived the North Pole.
As great as Nansen¹s interest was in adventure and the sciences, following
the first World War, he became deeply engaged in international affairs. And
this bore great significance for Armenia and Armenians. He supported the
Covenant of the League of Nations and advocated the rights of small nations.
He repatriated hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war. He mustered help
for millions in Russia dying of famine.

And, he helped establish and lead the office of High Commission for
refugees. In that capacity, Nansen tried to solve the problem of Greek
refugees and arranged for an exchange of 1.2 million Greeks living on
Turkish soil for about 1/2 a million Turks living in Greece. Nansen invented
the Nansen Passport, a document of identification which was recognized by
dozens of governments and which provided an identity to hundreds of
thousands of refugees, including great numbers of Armenians rendered
homeless by genocide, massacres and deportation, at the turn of the 20th
century.

He helped the stateless and homeless whose causes appeared politically
intractable. He helped the human victims on both sides of political and
military conflicts.

Before the creation of international aid and development programs, he drew
up a political, industrial, financial plan for creating a national home for
Armenians. He did this at the invitation of the League of Nations. And
although the League failed to implement the plan, Armenians and others
interested in justice and equal rights believe he accomplished a great deal
– by putting on the international agenda the rights of peoples to their own
homeland.

This man, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, was a Norwegian from a well
to do family. Perhaps it was because he never had to struggle to assure his
own survival, that he had the time and the wherewithal to take on the
struggles of others.

The same can be said for the country and people of Norway who have been
blessed with natural wealth, and the wisdom to use it wisely. From the work
of the Nobel Committee to that of Transparency International, Norway has
found ways to encourage and reward those who make efforts to truly integrate
human rights and democratic values and good governance in their own
societies. With Norway at the helm of the Council of Europe, we look forward
to working together to follow Fritjof Nansen¹s example: to recognize that
which is good and right in society, and to work to improve those aspects
which are still incomplete.

In Armenia, we are thankful for the work of the Norwegian Refugee Council,
and we recognize that today¹s refugees are more fortunate than those whose
fate Fritjof Nansen tried to affect. Yet, judging by the number of those who
still regard the Nansen passports with pride, we can justifiably say that
Nansen gave documents and a sense of belonging to one generation, but his
legacy to succeeding generations is the recognition of a universal
responsibility to acknowledge each individual¹s right to live not as victims
but as equals, in charge of their own lives and their own destiny.

So we offer this modest exhibition, moved by the commitment of this great
humanist, and are proud that it is presented here, in the halls of the
Council of Europe, an organization which espouses the ideas and principles
around which Fridtjof Nansen lived his life.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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
June 24, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
HOUSE FOREIGN AID COMMITTEE REINSTATES U.S. POLICY ON SECURITY PARITY
Assembly Credits Congressman Knollenberg
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly praised members of a key foreign aid
subcommittee today for reinstating U.S. policy to maintain military aid
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 Foreign
Operations bill. The bill, which lawmakers passed by voice vote last night,
foils the Administration’s attempt to provide Azerbaijan a $6 million
increase over Armenia by placing the neighboring countries on equal footing.
“We commend Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and his Subcommittee for maintaining
equal security assistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan by explicit policy
and by allocating $5 million in military financing to Armenia and
Azerbaijan,” said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We
are especially appreciative of Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI), who serves on the committee, for taking the lead to reinstate U.S.
balance and impartiality in dealing with the Karabakh conflict.”
Representative Knollenberg 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 from $2
million to $5 million in order to help them modernize their equipment.”
Congress has recently rebuffed attempts by the Administration to tip the
scale in favor of Baku by upholding this long-standing parity policy. The
Administration attempted, during the August congressional recess last year,
to provide an additional $5 million in security assistance to Azerbaijan via
the 15 day congressional notification process. Fortunately, Congress
blocked this request until Armenia received equal treatment.
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.
In a letter dated February 10th of this year and sent to the 131 members of
the Armenian Caucus 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.”
The Subcommittee also approved “not less than” $65 million 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.
The bill will next be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee.
Once the full House and Senate complete action on their version of the bill,
a joint House-Senate Conference Committee will reconcile the differences.
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#2004-061

ZAWYA
Iran signs customs cooperation agreement with 22 countries
24 June 2004
Tehran — Iran has signed customs cooperation agreements with 22 countries,
said the International Cooperation Department at Iran`s Customs
Administration here on Wednesday.
According to the Department, some of the agreements, related to a bill which
has been passed by Majlis, concern European, Asian and African states and
there are one signed with a South American state. The agreements help
upgrade level of commercial exchanges with countries and remove certain
impediments to expansion of economic cooperation.
The agreements are also expected to facilitate technical and educational
cooperation and help speedy exchange of information. Iran is now engaged in
talks with Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Morocco and China to sign the
agreements. Presently, contracts with Belarussia, Albania, Spain, Italy,
Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and
Hungary are undergoing their final stages.
In addition, Georgia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Portugal, Switzerland, France,
Tanzania, Zambia, Japan and the Philippines have voiced readiness for talks
to ink related agreements. Iran`s Customs Administration official has in
recent years signed 37 memoranda of understanding with 19 countries for
expansion of cooperation.
Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Austria, Ukraine,
Turkey, Armenia, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tazakhstan, Sudan,
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tunisia, Cuba and Lebanon have so far
signed customs cooperation agreement with Iran.
© IRNA 2004
Article originally published by IRNA 24-Jun-04

PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Scholarships Available to Diaspora Armenians to Attend Armenian Universities
The Government of Armenia has established 75 full scholarships to allow
Diaspora Armenians to study in the Armenian public universities and colleges
in the academic year 2004/2005. 70 scholarships will be provided to
applicants interested in pursuing undergraduate studies, and 5 scholarships,
for graduate studies.
Applications for scholarship and enrollment will be considered by a special
commission of the Armenian Ministry of Education and Science. Priority is
given to applicants pursuing studies in Teacher’s Training, Armenian
Studies, and Fine Arts.
In addition to tuition-free positions, Diaspora Armenian applicants will
also have an opportunity to apply for and be enrolled in public universities
on paid basis, following the procedure outlined above.
The deadline for submitting applications is August 20, 2004. The application
forms, list of universities and departments are available upon request from
the Embassy of Armenia, via email: [email protected] or telephone:
202-319-1976, ext. 348.

Northern Avenue Legal Analysis
Arman Zrvandyan 2004
24.06.2004
CSI .csi.am
In 2001 the Government of RA planned to construct Northern Avenue in
Yerevan. For the realisation of this project the Government of the RA made
several decisions approving the area of real assests (sites, houses and
construction) located within the planned area of Northern Avenue in Yerevan
and amortisied for the state needs, as well facilitated establishment of «
Northern Avenue and the Cascade » projects realisation office » governmental
non-profitable organisation wich has been charged for the activities related
to the construction of the Northern Avenue and the Cascade. Morover, in
accordance to the Government decisions N 950 of 05.10.2001 and N 1169-N
14.08.2002 N the organisation was also charged for the whole portfolio in
determination, following it currency adjustment offer and further purchase
of the confiscated sites and real estate in the area of Northern Avenue
It is noteworthy that before the confiscation of individual’s property for
the state needs, the latter should observe particular preconditions
envisaged by the Constitution of the RA, aacting laws and ratified
international agreements; and their ignorance makes the process of the
amortization of the real estate of individualsillegal.
Thus, Article N28 of the Constitution of the RA on confiscation of the
individual’s property either for the state or public needs defines the
following:
“.Confiscation of property for the needs of society and the state may occur
only in exceptional cases with prior full compensation on the basis of the
law. ”
This impleis that before confiscating the property for the needs of the
society and statethe authorities of the RA must observe the following
preconditions in accordance with the Constitution of the RA :
1. Confiscation of the property should serve for the satisfaction of the
needs of the society and the state;
2. Confiscation of property for the needs of society and the state may occur
only in exceptional cases;
3. Confiscation of property should be realized solely on the basis of the
law;
4. The authorities are obliged to provide prior full compensation.
Have the authorities of the RA satisfied the above-mentioned requirements
envisaged in the Constitution and International agreements? In order to give
a proper answer to the question it is necessary to understand how the
authorities should have provided the very guaranties.
The precise answer was given by the Constitutional Court of the RA in its
Decision N SDO-92 (SD) of February 27, 1998, that, while clarifying points
of the above stated article 28 of the Constitution of the RA, declared such
a legal position in which the property of an individual can be confiscated
in accordance to the provisions of the Second part of the Article N28 of the
Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and in case of his disagreement, the
state can terminate the enjoyment of the rights to the property by means of
Accepting Law on that particular property that will substantiate its
explicit importance and significance and define distinctly that the
confiscated property will be used for the needs of the state and the
society. Moreover, the Constitutional Court states that the Government of
the Republic of Armenia cannot establish such procedures of confiscation of
property for the needs of the state and society that will automatically
authorise it with the right for confiscating this type of property.
The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia has never accepted any Law
on Confiscating the Property in the Area of the Northern Avenue as stated in
the Decision of the Constitutional Court of the RA. Furthermore, the
afore-mentioned decisions of the Government of the RA, that were taken as a
legal basis for the realisation of processes of confiscating the property in
this area, are mere Sub-Constitutional Acts and they can no way be addressed
and treated as “Laws”. Accordingly, the absence of the Law automatically
implies the disregard to the other constitutional requirements, as only in
the Law on the Confiscation of the confiscation-due Property in the area of
the Northern Avenue the Government of the RA could have proven the explicit
importance and significance and define distinctly that the confiscated
property will be used for the needs of the state and the society.
Thus, as the Constitutional norms are put into force immediately and
International Agreements of the RA are superior over the Laws that
contradict them, it goes naturally that the provisions of the latter should
be practised.
In these conditions the decision made by the executive branch of the RA
couldn’t have served as satisfactory legal basis for confiscations of the
individuals’ property.
Furthermore, the Article N1 of the Protocol N1 of the European Convention on
the “Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms” states the following
Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his
possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the
public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the
general principles of international law.
So, as you can see, the European Convention also foresees restrictions in
the usage of own property, though, the same way as in the Constitution of
the RA, it allows confiscation in the manner of “except in the public
interest” and “subject to the conditions provided for by law” and not by a
Sub-Constitutional Act.
The European Court on Human Rights in its case of Zvolski and Zvolskaya
against Republic of Czech gave the following in its Verdict:
. Article N1 of the Protocol N1 of the Convention requires that any
interference into the right of enjoying possessions of the natural person by
the state authorities must be legal. Moreover, the predominance of the
Right, which is one of the fundamental principles of the democratic society,
is applicable to all the Articles of the Convention.
The law, which serves as a basis for the interference, should correspond to
the relevant provisions of the inter- state Legislation, including
Constitution of the High Agreeing Side (See, point 65 of December 11, 2002
in the Verdict of ECHR on case of Zvolski and Zvolska against Republic of
Czech)
Those preconditions for the deprivation of the property are included,
primarily, to establish control over restrictions towards individual’s
fundamental right of property by the Legislative body and prevent possible
abuse and violations committed in out of the control on behalf of the
Executives.
Summarising the above written, we can conclude that the Confiscation of the
property realised in frames of the project on the Construction of the
Northern Avenue in the RA was not “on the basis of Law” as the National
Assembly has not ever accepted the relevant Law, which is a direct breach of
both the Constitution of the RA and other laws as well as provisions
envisaged in the Article N1 of the Protocol N1 of the European Convention on
Human Rights.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
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06/24/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. ANCA Joins Coalition Campaign to Stop Genocide in Sudan 2. Berlin Leader Momper Addresses Turkey's Genocide Denial 3. Russian Mediator Confirms Work on New Karabagh Plan 4. Bomb Blasts across Turkey Days before NATO Summit 5. Armenia Reaffirms Plans to Join NATO Drills in Azerbaijan 1. ANCA Joins Coalition Campaign to Stop Genocide in Sudan WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)--The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) participated in a press conference yesterday, organized by the Congressional Black Caucus and Africa Action, voicing its support for a nationwide, grassroots campaign to secure US intervention to stop the impending genocide in Sudan. Congressional Black Caucus members, including Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Representatives Donald Payne (D-NJ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) were joined by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), and Africa Action Executive Director Salih Booker in calling attention to the ongoing tragedy in Sudan, which has already claimed tens of thousands of lives in 2004. In response to a question by ANCA Government Affairs Director Abraham Niziblian about individual involvement in stopping the cycle of genocide in Sudan, Rep. Payne cited the example of he Armenian Genocide, noting, "if we had done something then [in 1915], we would not have had the 1930's genocide committed by the Nazis." Salih then stressed the importance of participating in a petition drive initiated by Africa Action on June 15, calling on Secretary of State Colin Powell to support an immediate intervention to stop the killing [in Sudan]." Over the past several weeks, the ANCA has called attention to the atrocities in Sudan through a series of letters to Congressional offices, urging them to take a stand to stop the cycle of genocide through support of Congressional initiatives regarding Sudan as well as for the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193 / S.Res.164), which reaffirms US commitment to the principles of the Genocide Convention. In a June 17 memo to Congressional staff members, Niziblian stated, "As the descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian Americans feel a special obligation to encourage our government to take the lead in preventing genocides, anywhere around the world. Please stand up against genocide in Sudan and do all that you can to ensure we, as a nation, meet our obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent and punish all instances of genocide." Similarly on June 23, Niziblian asked Members of Congress to "work for the passage of the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193 and S.Res.164) to reaffirm our collective commitment to the aims of the Genocide Convention." The Genocide Resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003 by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. Support for the measure has been widespread, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La Raza. Africa Action has reported that, "In Darfur, the Sudanese government is destroying African Muslim communities who have challenged the authoritarian rule of the government. Government forces and Arab militias known as the janjaweed have burned and pillaged thousands of villages, poisoned water systems, and subjected the population to large-scale rape and other atrocities." On May 17, House Members overwhelmingly adopted H.Con.Res. 403, condemning the Sudanese Government for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan, by a margin of 360 to 1. Its companion resolution in the Senate, S.Con.Res. 99, was adopted unanimously on May 6. Rep. Payne announced that he would introduce additional legislation calling on the "UN Security Council to introduce a resolution authorizing intervention in Darfur" and "urging the US Administration to expose those responsible for the genocide." INDIVIDUALS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE AFRICA ACTION PETITION DRIVE BY VISITING: 2. Berlin Leader Momper Addresses Turkey's Genocide Denial BERLIN (Armenpress)In a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, the president of the Berlin House of Representatives Walter Momper, said on Thursday that Turkey has to follow European Union (EU) guidelines in aspiring to join the EU, and must review its policy on the recognition of the Armenian genocide. "Every intelligent man knows the reality of Armenian genocide," said Momper, clarifying that at least "Germans know of what went on in the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 20th century." Margarian urged Momper to consider taking up the issue of the Armenian genocide in Berlin's parliament so as to "serve as good example for others." He stressed that recognition and denouncement of the genocide would prevent repetition of such crimes. Margarian, along with a sizable Armenian delegation, arrived in Berlin on June 22 to conduct three day's of meetings with high-level officials in an effort to boost a wide variety of relations between the two countries. An Armenian-German Economic Forum took place on June 23 "to introduce Armenia as reliable partner" according to Armenia's ambassador to Germany Karine Ghazarian. "I am confident that this Conference will provide a good environment to achieve its main objective to deepen and further develop the economic cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Armenia and give a new incentive to enlargement and consolidation of the existing ties between the business communities of the two countries," Ghazarian stressed in opening the conference. The one-day forum was organized by the Armenian Embassy in Germany along with the German Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry, as well as by the Technical Cooperation Company, German Industry and Trade House, Restoration Foundation (KFW), Oriental Commission on German Industry, German Investments and Development Organization. 3. Russian Mediator Confirms Work on New Karabagh Plan MOSCOW (RFE/RL)A senior Russian diplomat confirmed on Thursday that he and the other international mediators are working on a new peace plan attempting to reconcile the opposing strategies of Armenia and Azerbaijan on ending the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. The Russian co-chair of the OSCE's Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov, said a synthesis of a "step-by-step" settlement of the conflict pushed by Azerbaijan and a single "package" accord demanded by the Armenian side, is the only realistic way of breaking the decade-long deadlock in the peace process. "The co-chairs are now trying to propose a variant of the settlement which would literally allow us to synthesize incompatible proposals, namely, those two approaches," Merzlyakov said. "In our view, this is possible to do if the parties display good will." The new "third-way" strategy of conflict resolution was apparently the main focus. Merzlyakov and the Minsk Group's French and US co-chairs also took part in it. Precisely what practical form that synthesis might take remains unclear. After his meeting in Prague on Monday with Azerbaijan's foreign minister, Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian said that though the idea is realistic, the approach must somehow address the thorny issue of Karabagh's status. President Robert Kocharian made it clear on Wednesday, however, that Armenians will never agree to Karabagh's return to Azeri rule. "Karabagh has never been part of an independent Azerbaijan," Kocharian said, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. "Azerbaijan's territorial integrity therefore has nothing in common with Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR)." MKR's leadership and the Kocharian administration insist on a "package" settlement which was almost secured during a peace conference on the Florida Island of Key West in April 2001. According to the Armenian side, Azerbaijan's then President Heydar Aliyev backtracked on the deal which would have upheld Armenian control of Karabagh. It proposes settling key problems, including status, security guarantees, and troop withdrawal, with a single, comprehensive agreement. Oskanian and other Armenian officials said earlier this year that the only way to push the peace process forward is to revive those Key West agreements. The step-by-step solution that Azerbaijan advocates was strongly backed in late 1997 by Kocharian's predecessor Levon Ter Petrosian. It calls for Armenia to surrender specific buffer zones to Azerbaijan, in exchange of deployment of international peacekeepers in Mountainous Karabagh. 4. Bomb Blasts across Turkey Days before NATO Summit ISTANBUL (Reuters)A bomb blast has ripped through a city bus, killing four people in Istanbul, days before US President George W. Bush arrives in the country for a NATO summit, Turkish television says. It was the second bomb blast to rock a Turkish city on Thursday. The bus was passing in front of a hospital in a residential district of Istanbul, the country's largest city, when the blast occurred, CNN Turk said. Ambulances rushed to the scene. Seven people were hurt. Witness Mehmet Tatli told Reuters that he helped carry bodies of the dead and injured after the explosion and saw four bodies in total. Earlier on Thursday a small parcel bomb exploded outside the Hilton Hotel in the Turkish capital of Ankara, where Bush is due to stay on Saturday night before attending the summit in Istanbul. That blast wounded three people. The Turkish government, which hosts the NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29, earlier moved to reassure the public on security arrangements. "Turkey is a sufficiently strong and secure country. Such incidents happen everywhere, in London, in Paris, everywhere," Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters, adding that the Bush visit would go ahead as scheduled. Analysts said the blast renewed global security concerns, which since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States have tended to damage the dollar. Bush is due to spend Saturday night at the Hilton in the southern part of Ankara where many embassies are located, before talks on Sunday with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. 5. Armenia Reaffirms Plans to Join NATO Drills in Azerbaijan YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia reaffirmed on Thursday its plans to take part in the NATO-led military exercise in Azerbaijan this September, but appeared to have scaled back its participation, strongly opposed by many Azerbaijanis. Armenian military officials had earlier said that they would like to participate not only with staff officers, but also with a platoon of combat troops, saying they did not want to be reduced to mere "observers." But Deputy Defense Minister Artur Aghabekian told reporters that only five to seven officers will now participate in the "Cooperative Best Effort 2004" war games to be held within the framework of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. "We have been assigned concrete roles [by the organizers] and we will take part in the exercise in accordance with them." Aghabekian clarified that Armenia has been given five slots in the NATO-led multinational force that will practice various peace-keeping tasks at an Azerbaijani military facility. Final preparations for the drills were discussed this week at a conference in Baku attended by military representatives from the participating nations, including two officials from the Armenian Defense Ministry. The conference was overshadowed by angry protests against their arrival in the Azerbaijani capital which were staged by a local pressure group favoring a hard line on Karabagh. 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