A1 Plus | 17:54:40 | 28-04-2004 | Politics | PACE SPRING SESSION |
SHAVARSH KOCHARYAN IS PLEASED WITH THE REPORT ON ARMENIA
As to the draft for the report on Armenia in PACE, Armenian delegation
member Shavarsh Kocharyan considers that it has numerous positive aspects,
there are facts that weren’t included and there are demands which were
necessary.
The rest must be settled by suggestions. The members of the Armenian
delegation have made the suggestions separately. Tigran Torosyan and Armen
Rustamyan made 7 offers each, and Artashes Geghamyan and Shavarsh Kocharyan
made 7 jointly.
Under the order, 5 signatures are necessary to collect for each suggestion.

A1 Plus | 17:30:22 | 28-04-2004 | Politics | PACE SPRING SESSION |
CE FOLLOWING EQUALITY PRINCIPLE
CE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer whose CE commissions end this June
said at today’s press conference that CE role becomes wider.
“Council of Europe is more important than European Union. It is beyond
controversy that CE must and does support all the states which are on the
democratization way”, Mr. Schwimmer said.
Talking about Armenia’s problems he voiced hope that CE will have its good
offices for establishing stability in Armenia.
CE demands the Armenian Authorities to honor the democratic ideas towards
CE, human rights and legality and to engage in a dialogue with the political
powers.
“Ayb-Fe” asked Walter Schwimmer: “What do you mean saying the situation in
Armenia must be settled in a democratic way only?”. “Respect to lawfulness
of human rights, responsibility of the Armenian Government and the legal
bodies not to commit violence against the protestors, especially freedom of
MPs, are the most essential. I call both Opposition and protestors for the
same. But it is impossible to come out of the political crisis through
violence and rallies. Sides must engage in a dialogue and to find peaceful
ways. CE is well-experienced for eliminating crisis and our representative
can assist parts in the dialogue”, Walter Schwimmer said.

A1 Plus | 18:25:05 | 28-04-2004 | Politics |
THE SELF-DEFENSE REACTION OF AUTHORITIES
While the political situation in Armenia is discussed in PACE session,
the arrests and detentions continue here.
“Republic” Party informed that 19 people from various cities were
taken to Police after the rally yesterday. 10 of them are said to be
from Charentcavan and 5 from Artashat.
Under the information we possess there are 10 women among Charentcavan
residents and a criminal case will be instituted against all of them.
“Justice” Bloc says there are many arrested though there isn’t yet
information about them.

Flash Info n° 064 – 2004
Office of the Spokeswoman/ La Porte Parole
Contact: [email protected]
Telephone: 00 33 (1) 45 68 13 26
Fax: 00 33 (1) 45 68 55 66
Paris, 26 April 2004
UNESCO Director-General attends charity concert in support of Armenian children
At the invitation of Mr Nalbandyan, Ambassador of Armenia to France, the
Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koichiro Matsuura, together with Mr Robert
Kocharian, President of Armenia, attended yesterday a charity concert given
by the well-known singer Charles Aznavour, who is also Permanent Delegate
of Armenia to UNESCO. The proceeds of the concert will be used for various
programmes in support of Armenian children.
During the official dinner hosted by the singer after the concert, Mr
Matsuura discussed with President Kocharian developments since his official
visit to Armenia in November 2001, organized on the occasion of the 1700th
anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as the State religion of
Armenia and the opening of a donors’ conference `Regeneration through
Culture’.
Mr Matsuura’s discussions with President Kocharian yesterday touched upon
ways of further enhancing the cooperation between Armenia and UNESCO. It
was the Director-General’s third meeting with the President of Armenia,
following their participation in the festivities of the 300th anniversary
of St. Petersburg in May 2003.

A1 Plus | 22:36:06 | 27-04-2004 | Politics |
COUNCIL OF EUROPE ANTI-TORTURE COMMITTEE VISITS ARMENIA
A delegation of the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of
Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)
recently carried out a three-day visit to Armenia. The main purpose of
the visit, which began on 20 April 2004, was to collect information
concerning the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the
course of or following the recent demonstrations in Yerevan.
The delegation interviewed numerous persons who had been deprived of
their liberty in connection with the above-mentioned demonstrations.
Most of these persons had been released by the time they were
interviewed. The others were interviewed by the delegation at Kentron
penitentiary establishment and at Temporary detention centre of the
Yerevan Department of Internal Affairs. The CPT’s delegation consisted
of Eric Svanidze, a Georgian lawyer, Marija Definis Gojanovic, a
Croatian forensic doctor, and Borys Wodz of the Committee’s
Secretariat.
In the course of its visit, the CPT’s delegation held discussions with
Davit Harutyunyan, Minister of Justice, Hayk A. Harutyunyan, Head of
the Armenian Police, and Aghvan Hovsepyan, General Prosecutor.

Armenian, Azeri leaders discuss Karabakh in Warsaw
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
28 Apr 04
[Presenter] A second meeting between [Armenian President] Robert
Kocharyan and [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev is under way within
the framework of the European economic summit in Warsaw at the
moment. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents discussed the Karabakh
conflict with the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group in
attendance. Then the leaders held a face-to-face meeting.
[Correspondent over telephone] Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Ilham
Aliyev have met in Warsaw with the mediation of the OSCE Minks Group
co-chairmen within the framework of the European economic summit. The
first meeting was held last December in Geneva. This is a one-to-one
meeting between the presidents, which, as President Kocharyan
announced in Paris, can be decisive in continuing discussions on the
Karabakh conflict settlement. At present, Robert Kocharyan and Ilham
Aliyev are continuing the talks they started an hour ago.
The newly-appointed Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
noted in an interview with “Aylur” [news programme] that they expect a
lot from the presidents’ meeting. Mammadyarov said that a certain
foundation had already been laid for the negotiations on the basis of
which the peaceful settlement of the conflict will be
continued. Mammadyarov did not confirm whether the Azerbaijani side
wants to start the negotiations from scratch, but to according to
official Baku, it is necessary to discuss ways of getting the
situation out of deadlock as soon as possible.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani journalists, who are covering the meeting
between the two countries’ leaders, said that the presidents will
present details after the negotiations.

Russian Duma deputy speaker Zhirinovskiy condemns Armenian genocide
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan,
27 Apr 04
[Presenter] Deputy speaker of the lower house of the Russian
parliament, the State Duma, Vladimir Zhirinovskiy announced that
history is moving towards the international recognition of the
Armenian genocide. The deputy speaker of the State Duma said that
Turkey not only must recognize the Ottoman’s crime but also to
apologize before the Armenian people and to compensate for the killing
and loss of more than a million Armenians.
[Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, captioned, in Russian with Armenian voice
over] This was the first severe lesson for all the world. After 10
years we shall mark the 100th anniversary of this bloody events. Many
parliaments have already adopted the laws and condemned the Armenian
genocide. Our State Duma also has already adopted this and we are
always with Armenia.
I am sure that the time will come when all the parliaments of the
world, also the UN, NATO, the European Parliament will recognize this
barbaric act committed by the Turkish government against the Armenian
people. Germany is paying about 3bn dollars annually to the
Jews. Turkey’s turn will also come to pay for the killing of more than
million of Armenians and their loss. The world will condemn Turkey’s
action, will recognize it as a genocide and demand Turkey to pay
compensation to Armenia, which lost more than a million people in the
1915 genocide.

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen attend Azeri-Armenian summit in Warsaw
ANS TV, Baku
28 Apr 04

[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev spoke at the European Economic
Summit in Warsaw today [28 April]. His speech was devoted to the
regional economic projects and security issues in the South
Caucasus. Aliyev also spoke of the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem. Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents met today at 1300 Baku
time [0800 gmt]. More details to follow from ANS TV’s special
correspondent Qanira Pasayeva.
[Correspondent Pasayeva over a still of her photo] Aliyev delivered a
speech at the European Economic Summit about implementation of the
energy projects [in the region]. He is the main speaker on this topic.
He imparted information on Azerbaijan’s economic development. He said
that an attractive climate has been created in Azerbaijan for foreign
investment and such investments are increasing year after year. He
briefed the audience on Azerbaijan’s economic indicators.
The large economic projects under way in the region were the main
topic. Aliyev said that Azerbaijan is implementing projects which are
crucial for the entire region.
Aliyev also touched on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. He said that
the regional conflicts, including the one in Nagornyy Karabakh, posed
a threat to such large economic projects. Armenia’s intransigent
stance and its unwillingness to withdraw from the Azerbaijani lands it
has occupied affects the general economic development of the South
Caucasus.
Following the speech, Aliyev met Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.
Interestingly and contrary to the protocol, the co-chairmen of the
OSCE Minsk Group attended the first part of the meeting.
Now, Aliyev and Kocharyan are having a tete-a-tete meeting. We asked a
question before the meeting whether there were a new proposal [to
settle the conflict] was being discussed. The co-chairmen said that
there would be a discussion of ideas.
Next, the three South Caucasus leaders – Aliyev, Kocharyan and
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili – will have a small lunch to
discuss the situation in the Caucasus.
There was a change in the protocol: instead of having separate
meetings with the presidents, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
attended the meeting between Aliyev and Kocharyan.

Armenia’s controversial law on rallies passes its third reading
Mediamax news agency
28 Apr 04

YEREVAN
The Armenian National Assembly adopted the bill “On the procedure of
staging meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations” in its third
final reading today. Armenian Minister of Justice David Arutyunyan
said earlier this week that the government had taken into
consideration the overwhelming majority of proposals received form
international organizations after having adopted the bill in its first
reading.
In particular, the minister noted, about 90 per cent of the notes made
by the OSCE office in Yerevan were taken into account. On 22 April,
the special representative of the secretary-general of the Council of
Europe in Armenia, Natalya Vutova, said that the bill “On the
procedure of staging meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations”
did not correspond to the 11th article of the European convention on
the right to hold meetings. Vutova said this referring to the
preliminary conclusion by experts of the Venice Commission of the
Council of Europe.

Hid in oven
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Apr 28, 2004

So far the new border controls at Terespol and elsewhere appear to
work. Maj Woloch says there has been no “dramatic increase” in the
number of illegal immigrants trying to enter Poland. There have,
though, been some extraordinary attempts.
“The weirdest case we ever came across was that of an Armenian who
managed to hide in the oven of a passenger train,” says Maj
Woloch. “It was summer, so fortunately the oven wasn’t lit.”
Some immigrants don’t make it, he adds. A fisherman trying to catch
pike and bream in the Bug recently found a body instead.
The border authorities recognise that Poland will not be a point of
entry just for locals from down the road but also for thousands of
people from further east – from Vietnam, China, India and Afghanistan,
and Kurds from the north of Iraq.
Last year a customs dog discovered four Chinese immigrants in a goods
train, hidden by glass, according to Maj Woloch. Many of these
would-be immigrants pay thousands of dollars to criminal gangs.
“There are international groups that are trying to get people from
Russia into the EU. It is very profitable,” he says.
In 2003 the border guards turned back 10,314 people attempting to
enter Poland via Terespol. They also arrested 384 people already in
Poland, many of them prostitutes, who were trying to work illegally.
But with wages in Poland five or six times higher than in Belarus, it
seems inevitable that workers from the east will try to enter both
legally and illegally, while many Poles will head west.
So long as there is inequality, Maj Woloch and his men will have a
tough job on their hands.