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Reading Between the Lines in Strasbourg: PACE issues report on Nagorno
Karabakh
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
British parliamentarian David Atkinson's report on the Nagorno
Karabakh issue was heard in Strasbourg Tuesday (January 25) within the
framework of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) winter session. The report was written still in 2004 by the
then rapporteur on Nagorno Karabakh, now Council of Europe Secretary
General, Terry Davis. Unlike his predecessor, Atkinson had not visited
Nagorno Karabakh and didn't make any basic changes in the text of
Davis' document. As a result of the discussions of the report, the
PACE winter session adopted a resolution on Nagorno Karabakh.
In particular, the Assembly states that `significant parts of
Azerbaijan's territory continue to remain occupied by Armenian forces,
and separatist forces still control the Nagorno-Karabakh region.' At
the same time, it is pointed out that `the separation of a region from
the state and its sovereignty can be achieved only as a result of a
peaceful and legal process based on the democratic support of the
inhabitants of the given territory, but not by way of an armed
conflict leading to ethnic evictions and de-facto annexation of this
territory by another state.' The PACE also states that `the
occupation of a foreign territory by a CE-member state is a gross
infringement of the obligations of this state as a member of the
СЕ and confirms the right of persons displaced from the
conflict zone to return to their homes safely and with dignity.' The
Assembly reminds also about the resolutions on this conflict adopted
by the UN Security Council and calls for their enforcement, including
the abstention from any armed clashes and withdrawal of armed forces
from any occupied territories. If the OSCE Minsk Group-sponsored
negotiations fail to end in a success, the Assembly urges Armenia and
Azerbaijan to consider the possibility of using the International
Court for solving this `international legal dispute'. The resolution
calls on the Azeri authorities `to develop contacts with political
representatives of both communities of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the
future status of the region.' Characterizing the events in `the
Nagorno-Karabakh region' as something very reminiscent of `ethnic
cleansings', the Assembly mentions the continuation of regular control
carried out by it over a peaceful settlement of the conflict and sets
the PACE winter session of next year for discussion of the issue.
During discussion of the report the Armenian delegation initiated
three amendments to the draft resolution, however only one of them was
accepted. In particular the Assembly refused to add in an appeal to
the government of Azerbaijan `to develop contacts with political
representatives of both communities of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the
future status of the region'.
The report refers to the Armenian presence in Nagorno Karabakh as
`separatist forces', a term that rankled Armenian authorities,
including Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan.
As the REGNUM news agency reports, the definition `separatist forces'
regarding the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh also remained unchanged
in the report. The efforts of the Armenian delegation led to the
acceptance of only one change consisting in the necessity of using the
influence of Armenia in the matter of achieving a peaceful settlement
of the conflict. The Armenian `Yerkir-Media' TV Channel quoted the
head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Torosyan who said that the
definition `separatist forces' not only fails to reflect the essence
of the conflict, but also is offensive to the Armenians of Nagorno
Karabakh, who made more than 90% of the area's population during
Soviet times. `In 1991, more than 83% of the total population took
part in a referendum,' said Tigran Torosyan. `The word calling
Karabakh people `separatists' was used only during the Soviet times.'
Another member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE, member of the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun fraction Armen Rustamyan said that `all those
dangerous points that could be used by Azeris in the future remained
in the report.' Still on the eve of the adoption of the resolution, a
third member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Shavarsh Kocharyan
was not optimistic about making any changes in the report.
`Of course, we have prepared several variants, but in conditions of
the atmosphere reigning in the Council of Europe today, it will be
practically impossible to get our proposals accepted,' said Kocharyan.
The former OSCE Minsk Group cochairman from Russia Vladimir Kazimirov
also described the report as `pro-Azeri'. In his letter addressed to
David Atkinson still on December 3, 2004, the diplomat, in particular,
writes: `Your respectful attitude towards your predecessor, Mr. Terry
Davis, and also the short term of your work over the report are quite
understandable. But the maximal closeness to the true, objective
estimation of the conflict should still be the main guidelines. The
major international documents on Nagorno Karabakh have always been
prepared on a balanced basis so as to help the sides reach
compromises. None of them has been so one-sided, with a bias in favor
of Azerbaijan, as your drafts are.'
Earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian called the report
`subjective'.
Commenting on the contents of the resolution itself, Torosyan, head of
the Armenian delegation to the PACE put a different spin on the report
and even defined some `very positive' points for the Armenian side. In
his interview to the Public TV of Armenia he said that Nagorno
Karabakh appears in the resolution as a separate unit, and in point 2
there is a very important provision `on which the Armenian delegation
deliberately hadn't accentuated attention since September 2004, for
fear the Azeri side would unfold serious struggle in this direction.'
`The matter concerns the fact that `the Assembly confirms that the
separation of a region from the state and its sovereignty can be
achieved only as a result of a peaceful and legal process based on the
democratic support of the inhabitants of the given territory',' said
Torosyan. `And this fully applies to the pre-war Nagorno Karabakh.'
Thus, the resolution objectively does not exclude the possibility of
the recognition of the right of Nagorno Karabakh's people to political
self-determination, but excludes the possibility of resolving the
issue militarily. The latter circumstance, in Torosyan's opinion, is
the third positive piece of the document adopted in Strasbourg.
---------------------
Patriot or Provacateur? Arian Order leader jailed for statements against Jews
By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
The Armenian nationalistic party whose leader was arrested early this
week for anti-Jewish propaganda announced that the arrest was nothing
but a trumped-up charge and said their leader is a political prisoner.
Armen Avetisyan, head of Armenian Arian Order (AAO) was arrested on
Monday after numerous protests of a Jewish community in Armenia. In a
series of publications and interviews Avetisyan has blamed Jews for
Armenia's social and economic hardship. He claims that the republic is
ruled by Masonic forces who are conspiring with similar forces
outside.
Avetisyan has appealed to patriots of Armenia to `cleanse' the country
of Jews. Now in detention, Avetisyan is charged according to Article
226 of the Armenian Criminal Code that prohibits incitement of ethnic,
racial and religious hatred. He faces from three to six years in
prison, if found guilty. `The Armenian Arian Order officially denies
the accusation,' said Mar Martirosyan, representing AAO at a press
conference Wednesday. `We are going to appeal the court decision and
have established a committee in defense of Avetisyan.' The members of
AAO though confirm that Avetisyan was calling Judaic-Masons Armenia's
enemy saying that he did not mean the Jewish nation but those who are
united in Judaic-Masonic Organization and lead the country to collapse.
(Masons is believed to be an international secret powerful
organization, which interfere in the global political processes) To
prove their claim, AAO referred to copies of interviews with Avetisyan
in which he said he had nothing against Jewish or any other nationality
living in Armenia, so long as they don't harm the country. The Jewish
community in Armenia registered a Non Governmental Organization in
Armenia in 1991 with around 900 members. The leader of the Jewish
community in Armenia, Rimma Varzhapetyan told ArmeniaNow that despite
the community being indignant over Avetisyan's statements, they never
applied to prosecutors to arrest him. `Instead we wrote several
letters to the country's President and Prime-Minister. The fact that
Avetisyan is arrested proves that Armenia is a civil country,' she
said. `We are glad he is arrested. He might think about what he was
saying.'
--------------------
Union Recognition: Armenia looks to Europe to press Turkey on the Genocide
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
After waiting 41 years for the invitation, Turkey will begin formal
membership negotiations with the European Union in October.
No other state, especially a member of NATO, has had to stand in the
Brussels queue for so long. During this period the European Union,
originally the European Economic Community, has extended across most
of the continent. `The idea that the EU may soon have a direct land
border with countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia probably does not give comfort to the European community,'
says Armen Poghosyan, a political analyst and lecturer in
social-political geography at the Armenian State University.
`Neither are they inspired by the prospect of introducing a
100-million-strong Muslim population into Europe: this is the
predicted demographic that Turkey may have in 15-20 years.'
Although Turkey's membership could take 15 years to conclude, and is
by no means guaranteed, Armenian political and public thought is
already focused on two elements of the question: recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by official Ankara and removal of Turkey's blockade
of its border with Armenia.
`This has an immediate relation to the interests of Armenians as it
gives an opportunity for a more frequent and louder voicing of
Armenian positions. By their importance, the two `Armenian points'
stand practically immediately after the first condition of membership
- the recognition of Cyprus's integrity by Ankara,' says Poghosyan.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 15 December, two days
before the Brussels summit that confirmed the decision to open
negotiations with Turkey. Among the list of issues raised in the
resolution, which is not binding on the negotiators, were points
relating to the recognition of the Genocide and the lifting of
blockade. Vartan Oskanian and some political analysts consider that in
time the two points could become factors to be reckoned with in the
talks.
The issue of Turkey's possible membership in the European Union
aroused strong public reaction among Armenians. ARF Dashnaktsutyun
offices organized protest demonstrations, including one in Brussels
last month. The World Armenian Congress said in a statement: `The
World Armenian Congress thinks that Turkey's refusal to condemn the
crime of the Genocide of Armenians, refusal to apply international
legal norms in solving disputes with Greece, refusal to submit to
numerous UN decisions condemning the intervention of Turkish
occupational forces into Cyprus and the arbitrary division of this
state, and Turkey's negation of the rights of the Kurdish national
minority, make Turkey's admission to the European Union impossible
today.'
------------
Representatives of the Armenian clergy also spoke on this issue.
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, expressed his
bewilderment over the hastiness of a number of European countries in
the matter of Turkey's membership in the EU. `The European community
is not a community based exclusively on economic interests and
political cooperation. There are values that ensure the identity,
integrity and unity of Europe. Where is Turkey today in terms of these
values and observance of human rights? Turkey still negates its past,
the Armenian Genocide and Europe should raise this question before
this country in all seriousness.' The Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, expressed a somewhat
different opinion. He said: `The 1915 disaster is a very suitable
subject for speculation. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan stated that
this subject should be left for historians and I agree with
him. Turkey's accession to the European Union will promote peace in
our region.'
Jacques Chirac, the President of France, said in Brussels on December
17 that if Ankara fails to recognize the Genocide of Armenians and the
Republic of Cyprus `Paris will boycott negotiations on Turkey's
joining the EU'. The government of Slovakia, which earlier had
recognized the Genocide of Armenians, also urged Ankara to reconsider
its position on the issue.
Many political organizations in Armenia attach certain hopes for the
country in connection with Turkey's EU membership. A common border
with the EU, in their opinion, would promote Armenia's case for
integration into the European space. Only the ARF Dashnaktsutyun among
the influential parties unequivocally opposes Turkish membership.
`The optimistic position of some representatives of the Armenian
political establishment concerning Ankara's possible accession to the
EU is not justified by modern history,' Poghosyan says `They
completely ignore the fact that Turkey's membership in the Council of
Europe does not prevent it from blockading 268 kilometers of the
Council of Europe's political space along its border with Armenia.
`The same can be said also about the World Trade Organization. Turkey
openly declares that it is impossible for it to respect the WTO's
principles of open trade in relations with Armenia, even though both
are members. It is absolutely unclear why Turkey should respect EU
values if it becomes a member of the Union.'
Official Yerevan has welcomed the resolution of the European
Parliament adopted on December 15, on the eve of the EU summit,
calling on the leaders of Europe to begin negotiations with
Turkey. This was prompted by the presence of the two Armenian points
as conditions for Ankara in the text of the resolution.
`These two provisions - the Genocide of Armenians and the lifting of
the blockade from the border, are certain to find a place in the
process of further development of the issue,' Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated on December 15. `I cannot say how they
will be voiced at the summit, but they will be demanded in a long term
in one way or another.'
On December 17, the Armenian points were not voiced, and negotiations
were conducted basically around of the problem of Turkey's recognition
of Cyprus. Nevertheless, political analysts believe that they will
find reflection in the debates sooner or later, especially as the EU's
negotiations with Turkey are opening in the year of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
----------------
Kiev-Yerevan Connections: Armenia-Ukraine relations and Yuschenko's
`third time' success
By Suren Musayelyan and Suren Deheryan
ArmeniaNow reporters
Viktor Yuschenko was sworn in as President of Ukraine last Sunday
after winning in the `third round' of presidential elections. During
the hotly disputed election process in Ukraine that took more than two
months, Armenia expressed its position twice. First official Yerevan,
following Russia, responded very quickly congratulating pro-Russian
Viktor Yanukovich when he was pronounced winner by the Central
Election Commission of Ukraine. Russia and Armenia became the only
members of the Council of Europe to have accepted Yanukovich's
victory. But the second time around it congratulated Yuschenko, with
some delay, and again only after Russia. According to a number of
Armenian analysts, similar political changes may reflect on Ukraine's
ties with Armenia. Armenian Center for National and International
Studies political analyst Stepan Safaryan thinks that the hasty
congratulations of Armenian authorities to Yanukovich and then to
Yuschenko will not be reflected in any actions on the diplomatic
level. But he adds:
`Ukraine's attitude towards our administration will change in a
certain way, especially as it concerns GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Moldova). In any case, there will arise a division between
Armenia and Ukraine because of different geopolitical approaches.'
As for the economic component of relations between the two countries,
Safaryan believes they will develop quite successfully in the
foreseeable future. `At present Ukrainian products are not competitive
on the European market and until Ukraine enters the European Union,
Ukrainian goods will be marketed in the territories of CIS countries.'
According to the data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia,
among CIS countries Ukraine is the second largest exporter of goods to
Armenia after Russia and by the volume of trade is Armenia's third
largest partner after Russia and Georgia.
According to the State Customs Department of Armenia, in 2003 Armenia
exported goods worth about $7 million to Ukraine, while in 2004 the
export increased to more than $10 millions. And according to the data
of the State Committee of Statistics of Ukraine, since 2000 the
commodity circulation between Ukraine and Armenia has increased
fivefold, reaching about $75 million in 2004 - up by $15.3 million
over 2003.
Ukraine mainly exports building materials, chemical products,
foodstuffs, and recently the structure of trade improved with the
delivery of Ukrainian buses for the Yerevan transport system.
According to Samvel Hovakimyan, executive director of the RA Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, despite the increased commodity circulation
between the two countries, Armenia's share still remains insignificant
in Ukrainian foreign trade.
`Armenia should be interested in developing closer economic ties with
Ukraine. However, our political vector has not yet been formed and
remains on the level of `wishes',' Hovakimyan said.
According to him, one of the reasons is that Armenia's resources are
extremely limited. `From that point of view we cannot be compared and
therefore depend on the situation,' he said. `We have problems of
blockade that directly impact our economic development.'
Hovakimyan says the Chamber is working in the direction of integrating
small and medium-sized enterprises of Armenia into the Ukrainian
economic system, such as textile industry and leather production.
According to Ukraine Ambassador to Armenia, Vladimir Tyaglo,
Armenian-Ukrainian economic ties are based on the Agreement on
Economic Cooperation for 2001-2010 signed by the presidents of the two
countries. He says that the contractual-legal base between the two
states consists of 64 agreements, of which 54 are currently in effect.
--------------------
Unsure of Security: Controversy continues as Social Security card goes
into effect
By Mariam Badalyan
Editorial Assistant
A month after Armenia's first Social Security cards have gone into
use, many citizens continue to resist them. Starting January 1, no
government-involved transactions were to take place with citizens who
do not have a card, including old-age, disability and unemployment
wages.
The card is now necessary for payment of wages, opening a bank
account, licensing, etc. The government assures the new system will
help to handle an effective and efficient social protection system by
eliminating possible fraud and improving the record keeping of social
data. It will also help to conduct an effective reform of the pension
system.
Hasmik Khachatryan, public relations officer of the Ministry of Labor
and Social Issues, assures that more people started to realize the
importance of the new system. Currently, 2.420 million people have
applied for the cards, and 1.650 million have been issued.
Khachatryan says every detail has been considered in order to minimize
the complications of the application process.
Citizens may apply for their social security cards in any social
services unit throughout the republic irrespective of his or her
registration place or whether he has a registration or not.
But while a majority of citizens have accepted the Social Security
card as a fact of life, others continue to maintain that it is an
intrusion of their privacy, a means of government control. Some even
say it is the `mark of the beast' of biblical apocalyptic prophesy.
Hranush Kharatyan, head of the Governmental Department for National
Minorities and Religious Issues, joins the protest of hundreds of
people who believe that imposition of the cards is a violation of
religious rights.
`On the other hand, if a person refuses to take a passport for the
same reasons, can we say that his or her constitutional rights have
been breached?' Kharatyan says.
Nevertheless, she thinks there are a few ambiguous statements and
inconsistencies in the law that should be eliminated. In particular,
she recalls that Article 5 of the law states the aim of a Social
Security card, amongst others, to be insurance of personal data
confidentiality, which she believes to be illogical. Besides, she
points out that it is not clear from the law whether the same personal
data are referred to in Articles 5 and 7.
A well know Armenian bard says no one will make him and his wife have
cards. `I will be forced to temporarily leave my country for a place
where there are no such cards. They demean my dignity and religious
feelings,' says folk musician Ruben Hakhverdyan.
----------------
Protecting Preservation: Youth groups concerned about capital construction
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
A group of young people is concerned that modern construction is
detrimental to old landmarks, and are taking action against the
destruction.
Non-governmental youth organizations, unions and other structures, as
well as students and individuals have united around an
initiative. United they hope to struggle against the last years
large-scale construction works in the capital, as a result of which
old cultural monuments, residential buildings and streets of public
value are being destroyed.
`The bloom of reconstruction in the center of Yerevan during the last
years is accompanied with the process of destroying national
historical-cultural heritage, buildings of outstanding Armenians,
urban complexes and the historical environment,' reads the open letter
the young people have planned to address to the President, the
Prime-Minister, NA Speaker and the Mayor of Yerevan. `The young
Armenians express their strong concern and ask for your direct and
immediate mediation for preventing the situation and sustaining
all-human values of our capital.'
`We have collected signatures; all those people under 30 who are not
indifferent of the fate of our capital and history have taken part in
it,' says Lilit Vardanyan, a young architect participating in the
initiative. `There are some people who agree with our initiative, but
don't sign the letter because they work in state bodies and are afraid
of having problems in their workplace.'
The initiators say, although they had decided to collect 1000
signatures before, taken into account the number of those willing to
support them, they have decided to wait for a while to send the letter
to the mentioned addresses.
--------------------------------
Teaching Teachers: Junior Achievement initiative strengthens knowledge
of legal rights.
By Arpi Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
If one tries to ask passers-by whether they are aware of their rights
of citizens, the answer will be almost the same: `What rights are you
talking about? We are not aware of anything.' Moreover they will
wonder if, for instance, they are told they have the right to demand
any information from any state structure regarding their security.
`In civilized countries awareness of human rights is an utmost
priority. But our people are unaware of the laws, we do not know our
rights, or the responsibilities as well. Even we - the specialists -
are unaware of many rights because of the lack of minimal legal
knowledge,' says Vanadzor Pedagogical Institute professor Anna
Grigoryan.
According to the plan affirmed by the RA Ministry of Education and
Science since September 2001 `Human Rights', `Civic Education', `State
and Law' have become compulsory subjects in the school program. The
initiator was Junior Achievement which, since October 2000 had
undertaken a responsible task: to achieve the inclusion of `Civic
Education' into the school program.
`As far as Armenia is a newly independent state, there was a need for
legal training. To create a democratic state a legal consciousness is
necessary that the teachers should spread. And the teachers need
education first of all', says Gayane Vardanyan, program coordinator of
JA.
As a result, achievements exceeded expectations. Three subjects on law
formed a part of the school program.
Junior Achievement international organization was founded in the USA
in the beginning of the 20th century. It was established in Armenia 12
years ago.
Initially the organization aimed at helping teachers learn applied
economics. But throughout time the programs grew and reached to law.
In cooperation with the Academy for Educational Development the
Armenia-based JA organized the first courses of `Civic Education' for
Armenian teachers' re-qualification in January 1998.
Up to now more than 3000 teachers of civic education have been trained
in the USA. In 2004 Junior Achievement initiated also
re-qualification courses for professors in Yerevan.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Art of Tax: New law makes movement of artifacts easier
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
Visitors to Armenia who have endured stringent `art' export
regulations should be relieved to know that, since late December, the
law has been changed in favor of more liberal movement.
Until now, practically anything leaving the country that had been hand
crafted - whether a vernisage amateur's work, or the masterpiece of an
honored artist - was subject to being certified (and taxed) before it
could be taken outside Armenia.
Whether a silver spoon or, sometimes, even a musician's own instrument
had to be presented for inspection, with documents and photographs.
`The previous law adopted in 1994 restricted rights even in terms of
private property with some of its provisions,' says, Shoghik Asoyan,
director of the Agency for Preserving Cultural Values under the
Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues.
But according to the new law, works of fine art not older than 50
years can be freely exported except for 12 great Armenian artists
Martiros Saryan, Sergey Parajanov, Minas, Yervand Kochar, Garzou,
Hakob Kojoyan, Vahram Gayfejyan, Harutiun Kalents, Aleksandr
Bajbeuk-Melikyan, Vahan Hatsagortsyan, Artsrun Berberyan, Nazaret
Kuyumjyan.
Previously, mass-produced souvenirs and artifacts were allowed to
export without certificates, if they were not older than 50
years. Now, the term has been extended to 75.
`For us, of course it is a big thing to have escaped from waiting for
hours in the Agency for Preserving Cultural Values to get permission
for exporting;' says one of the artists affected by the law, Robert
Elibekyan. `People of arts should be free. If he does not take out his
works how will he show his art to the world?' But President of the
Union of Artists Karen Aghamyan believes the law is both good and bad.
`Definitely, artists will be free of wasting of time, but smugglers
will get big opportunities to take out values of big importance for
Armenian art. If the market is liberalized, it is uncontrollable.'
Aghamyan says it now becomes easier to pass off an old artwork as a
new one. `There is threat that anything can get into the stream. We
are going to address to the government to send some of the experts
group to work in turn in the airport customs,' says Asoyan. `Officers
cannot identify common works, for, instance, from an unsigned work by
Saryan.'
----------------
High Marks for HyeSanta: Donations ($9,270) lead to establishment of
year-round foundation
By Suren Musayelyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
Nearly doubling the total of its 2003 campaign, ArmeniaNow's HyeSanta
charity project has concluded its holiday drive with $9,270 to
distribute to needy families featured in its December 24 and December
31 issues. (In 2003, the first HyeSanta, readers contributed about
$5,000.)
Last week, ArmeniaNow journalists began the careful but happy task of
distributing items - ranging from medicines to blankets and
mattresses, to livestock, to computers - to 13 families.
HyeSanta Project Coordinator Armine Petrosyan says each case was
evaluated on its own circumstances and the families were assisted in
the best possible way. But she emphasized that the goal of the action
is to provide people with lasting help rather than give them cash.
`Assistance given to these people has made a difference in their
lives. This would be impossible without the generosity of our
readers,' Petrosyan said.
According to Petrosyan, the aid given to people solves their most
vital problems, and is received with gratitude.
`But the idea of the project is to provide aid that will have a
continuous nature. For example, buying a cow that will give milk and
offsprings,' she said.
The purchase of sheep, cows and chickens is being voluntarily assisted
by the Tufenkian Foundation, which itself maintains a program that
encourages villagers to become self-sustained through livestock
production.
Tufenkian Foundation veterinary specialist Zorik Pambukhchyan says he
helps the project with great enthusiasm.
`I support any project that supports villagers and rural communities,
especially this one that targets vulnerable families in villages,' he
said. `I am happy to be part of this project to help with advice.'
Readers from North America, from England, from Ukraine and,
significantly, from within Armenia responded to HyeSanta
2004. Locally, many were brought in by video documentaries of the
project, produced and shown by Shoghakat Television.
(Armenian Public Television H1 had promised to show the programs, but
withdrew an hour before airtime, saying it didn't want to upset its
viewers with stories about needy people during holidays.)
`The results are satisfying, but they could be incomparably better had
H1 kept its promise,' Petrosyan said.
According to Petrosyan, from the outset the project met with a very
friendly attitude from everyone. She says that the project would have
been impossible without the support of various organizations and
individuals, including:
The Karabakh Representation in Armenia, the Emergency Situations
Department of Karabakh, the Armenia office of World Council of
Churches and its head Karen Nazaryan, Shoghakat TV, `Orran' benevolent
NGO, the Club, Shoghakat's Tigran Paskevichyan and his friends, and
musicians Vahan Artsruni, Hasmik Harutyunyan, Lilit Pipoyan, Lusine
Azaryan, Armen Movsisyan, who held a concert in support of the
project.
Administration Address: 26 Parpetsi St., No 9
Phone: +(374 1) 532422
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.armenianow.com
Technical Assistance: (For technical assistance please contact to
Babken Juharyan)
Email: [email protected]
ICQ#: 97152052
---------------
Reading Between the Lines in Strasbourg: PACE issues report on Nagorno
Karabakh
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
British parliamentarian David Atkinson's report on the Nagorno
Karabakh issue was heard in Strasbourg Tuesday (January 25) within the
framework of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) winter session. The report was written still in 2004 by the
then rapporteur on Nagorno Karabakh, now Council of Europe Secretary
General, Terry Davis. Unlike his predecessor, Atkinson had not visited
Nagorno Karabakh and didn't make any basic changes in the text of
Davis' document. As a result of the discussions of the report, the
PACE winter session adopted a resolution on Nagorno Karabakh.
In particular, the Assembly states that `significant parts of
Azerbaijan's territory continue to remain occupied by Armenian forces,
and separatist forces still control the Nagorno-Karabakh region.' At
the same time, it is pointed out that `the separation of a region from
the state and its sovereignty can be achieved only as a result of a
peaceful and legal process based on the democratic support of the
inhabitants of the given territory, but not by way of an armed
conflict leading to ethnic evictions and de-facto annexation of this
territory by another state.' The PACE also states that `the
occupation of a foreign territory by a CE-member state is a gross
infringement of the obligations of this state as a member of the
СЕ and confirms the right of persons displaced from the
conflict zone to return to their homes safely and with dignity.' The
Assembly reminds also about the resolutions on this conflict adopted
by the UN Security Council and calls for their enforcement, including
the abstention from any armed clashes and withdrawal of armed forces
from any occupied territories. If the OSCE Minsk Group-sponsored
negotiations fail to end in a success, the Assembly urges Armenia and
Azerbaijan to consider the possibility of using the International
Court for solving this `international legal dispute'. The resolution
calls on the Azeri authorities `to develop contacts with political
representatives of both communities of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the
future status of the region.' Characterizing the events in `the
Nagorno-Karabakh region' as something very reminiscent of `ethnic
cleansings', the Assembly mentions the continuation of regular control
carried out by it over a peaceful settlement of the conflict and sets
the PACE winter session of next year for discussion of the issue.
During discussion of the report the Armenian delegation initiated
three amendments to the draft resolution, however only one of them was
accepted. In particular the Assembly refused to add in an appeal to
the government of Azerbaijan `to develop contacts with political
representatives of both communities of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the
future status of the region'.
The report refers to the Armenian presence in Nagorno Karabakh as
`separatist forces', a term that rankled Armenian authorities,
including Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan.
As the REGNUM news agency reports, the definition `separatist forces'
regarding the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh also remained unchanged
in the report. The efforts of the Armenian delegation led to the
acceptance of only one change consisting in the necessity of using the
influence of Armenia in the matter of achieving a peaceful settlement
of the conflict. The Armenian `Yerkir-Media' TV Channel quoted the
head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Torosyan who said that the
definition `separatist forces' not only fails to reflect the essence
of the conflict, but also is offensive to the Armenians of Nagorno
Karabakh, who made more than 90% of the area's population during
Soviet times. `In 1991, more than 83% of the total population took
part in a referendum,' said Tigran Torosyan. `The word calling
Karabakh people `separatists' was used only during the Soviet times.'
Another member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE, member of the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun fraction Armen Rustamyan said that `all those
dangerous points that could be used by Azeris in the future remained
in the report.' Still on the eve of the adoption of the resolution, a
third member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Shavarsh Kocharyan
was not optimistic about making any changes in the report.
`Of course, we have prepared several variants, but in conditions of
the atmosphere reigning in the Council of Europe today, it will be
practically impossible to get our proposals accepted,' said Kocharyan.
The former OSCE Minsk Group cochairman from Russia Vladimir Kazimirov
also described the report as `pro-Azeri'. In his letter addressed to
David Atkinson still on December 3, 2004, the diplomat, in particular,
writes: `Your respectful attitude towards your predecessor, Mr. Terry
Davis, and also the short term of your work over the report are quite
understandable. But the maximal closeness to the true, objective
estimation of the conflict should still be the main guidelines. The
major international documents on Nagorno Karabakh have always been
prepared on a balanced basis so as to help the sides reach
compromises. None of them has been so one-sided, with a bias in favor
of Azerbaijan, as your drafts are.'
Earlier, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian called the report
`subjective'.
Commenting on the contents of the resolution itself, Torosyan, head of
the Armenian delegation to the PACE put a different spin on the report
and even defined some `very positive' points for the Armenian side. In
his interview to the Public TV of Armenia he said that Nagorno
Karabakh appears in the resolution as a separate unit, and in point 2
there is a very important provision `on which the Armenian delegation
deliberately hadn't accentuated attention since September 2004, for
fear the Azeri side would unfold serious struggle in this direction.'
`The matter concerns the fact that `the Assembly confirms that the
separation of a region from the state and its sovereignty can be
achieved only as a result of a peaceful and legal process based on the
democratic support of the inhabitants of the given territory',' said
Torosyan. `And this fully applies to the pre-war Nagorno Karabakh.'
Thus, the resolution objectively does not exclude the possibility of
the recognition of the right of Nagorno Karabakh's people to political
self-determination, but excludes the possibility of resolving the
issue militarily. The latter circumstance, in Torosyan's opinion, is
the third positive piece of the document adopted in Strasbourg.
---------------------
Patriot or Provacateur? Arian Order leader jailed for statements against Jews
By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
The Armenian nationalistic party whose leader was arrested early this
week for anti-Jewish propaganda announced that the arrest was nothing
but a trumped-up charge and said their leader is a political prisoner.
Armen Avetisyan, head of Armenian Arian Order (AAO) was arrested on
Monday after numerous protests of a Jewish community in Armenia. In a
series of publications and interviews Avetisyan has blamed Jews for
Armenia's social and economic hardship. He claims that the republic is
ruled by Masonic forces who are conspiring with similar forces
outside.
Avetisyan has appealed to patriots of Armenia to `cleanse' the country
of Jews. Now in detention, Avetisyan is charged according to Article
226 of the Armenian Criminal Code that prohibits incitement of ethnic,
racial and religious hatred. He faces from three to six years in
prison, if found guilty. `The Armenian Arian Order officially denies
the accusation,' said Mar Martirosyan, representing AAO at a press
conference Wednesday. `We are going to appeal the court decision and
have established a committee in defense of Avetisyan.' The members of
AAO though confirm that Avetisyan was calling Judaic-Masons Armenia's
enemy saying that he did not mean the Jewish nation but those who are
united in Judaic-Masonic Organization and lead the country to collapse.
(Masons is believed to be an international secret powerful
organization, which interfere in the global political processes) To
prove their claim, AAO referred to copies of interviews with Avetisyan
in which he said he had nothing against Jewish or any other nationality
living in Armenia, so long as they don't harm the country. The Jewish
community in Armenia registered a Non Governmental Organization in
Armenia in 1991 with around 900 members. The leader of the Jewish
community in Armenia, Rimma Varzhapetyan told ArmeniaNow that despite
the community being indignant over Avetisyan's statements, they never
applied to prosecutors to arrest him. `Instead we wrote several
letters to the country's President and Prime-Minister. The fact that
Avetisyan is arrested proves that Armenia is a civil country,' she
said. `We are glad he is arrested. He might think about what he was
saying.'
--------------------
Union Recognition: Armenia looks to Europe to press Turkey on the Genocide
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
After waiting 41 years for the invitation, Turkey will begin formal
membership negotiations with the European Union in October.
No other state, especially a member of NATO, has had to stand in the
Brussels queue for so long. During this period the European Union,
originally the European Economic Community, has extended across most
of the continent. `The idea that the EU may soon have a direct land
border with countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Georgia probably does not give comfort to the European community,'
says Armen Poghosyan, a political analyst and lecturer in
social-political geography at the Armenian State University.
`Neither are they inspired by the prospect of introducing a
100-million-strong Muslim population into Europe: this is the
predicted demographic that Turkey may have in 15-20 years.'
Although Turkey's membership could take 15 years to conclude, and is
by no means guaranteed, Armenian political and public thought is
already focused on two elements of the question: recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by official Ankara and removal of Turkey's blockade
of its border with Armenia.
`This has an immediate relation to the interests of Armenians as it
gives an opportunity for a more frequent and louder voicing of
Armenian positions. By their importance, the two `Armenian points'
stand practically immediately after the first condition of membership
- the recognition of Cyprus's integrity by Ankara,' says Poghosyan.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 15 December, two days
before the Brussels summit that confirmed the decision to open
negotiations with Turkey. Among the list of issues raised in the
resolution, which is not binding on the negotiators, were points
relating to the recognition of the Genocide and the lifting of
blockade. Vartan Oskanian and some political analysts consider that in
time the two points could become factors to be reckoned with in the
talks.
The issue of Turkey's possible membership in the European Union
aroused strong public reaction among Armenians. ARF Dashnaktsutyun
offices organized protest demonstrations, including one in Brussels
last month. The World Armenian Congress said in a statement: `The
World Armenian Congress thinks that Turkey's refusal to condemn the
crime of the Genocide of Armenians, refusal to apply international
legal norms in solving disputes with Greece, refusal to submit to
numerous UN decisions condemning the intervention of Turkish
occupational forces into Cyprus and the arbitrary division of this
state, and Turkey's negation of the rights of the Kurdish national
minority, make Turkey's admission to the European Union impossible
today.'
------------
Representatives of the Armenian clergy also spoke on this issue.
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, expressed his
bewilderment over the hastiness of a number of European countries in
the matter of Turkey's membership in the EU. `The European community
is not a community based exclusively on economic interests and
political cooperation. There are values that ensure the identity,
integrity and unity of Europe. Where is Turkey today in terms of these
values and observance of human rights? Turkey still negates its past,
the Armenian Genocide and Europe should raise this question before
this country in all seriousness.' The Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, expressed a somewhat
different opinion. He said: `The 1915 disaster is a very suitable
subject for speculation. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan stated that
this subject should be left for historians and I agree with
him. Turkey's accession to the European Union will promote peace in
our region.'
Jacques Chirac, the President of France, said in Brussels on December
17 that if Ankara fails to recognize the Genocide of Armenians and the
Republic of Cyprus `Paris will boycott negotiations on Turkey's
joining the EU'. The government of Slovakia, which earlier had
recognized the Genocide of Armenians, also urged Ankara to reconsider
its position on the issue.
Many political organizations in Armenia attach certain hopes for the
country in connection with Turkey's EU membership. A common border
with the EU, in their opinion, would promote Armenia's case for
integration into the European space. Only the ARF Dashnaktsutyun among
the influential parties unequivocally opposes Turkish membership.
`The optimistic position of some representatives of the Armenian
political establishment concerning Ankara's possible accession to the
EU is not justified by modern history,' Poghosyan says `They
completely ignore the fact that Turkey's membership in the Council of
Europe does not prevent it from blockading 268 kilometers of the
Council of Europe's political space along its border with Armenia.
`The same can be said also about the World Trade Organization. Turkey
openly declares that it is impossible for it to respect the WTO's
principles of open trade in relations with Armenia, even though both
are members. It is absolutely unclear why Turkey should respect EU
values if it becomes a member of the Union.'
Official Yerevan has welcomed the resolution of the European
Parliament adopted on December 15, on the eve of the EU summit,
calling on the leaders of Europe to begin negotiations with
Turkey. This was prompted by the presence of the two Armenian points
as conditions for Ankara in the text of the resolution.
`These two provisions - the Genocide of Armenians and the lifting of
the blockade from the border, are certain to find a place in the
process of further development of the issue,' Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated on December 15. `I cannot say how they
will be voiced at the summit, but they will be demanded in a long term
in one way or another.'
On December 17, the Armenian points were not voiced, and negotiations
were conducted basically around of the problem of Turkey's recognition
of Cyprus. Nevertheless, political analysts believe that they will
find reflection in the debates sooner or later, especially as the EU's
negotiations with Turkey are opening in the year of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
----------------
Kiev-Yerevan Connections: Armenia-Ukraine relations and Yuschenko's
`third time' success
By Suren Musayelyan and Suren Deheryan
ArmeniaNow reporters
Viktor Yuschenko was sworn in as President of Ukraine last Sunday
after winning in the `third round' of presidential elections. During
the hotly disputed election process in Ukraine that took more than two
months, Armenia expressed its position twice. First official Yerevan,
following Russia, responded very quickly congratulating pro-Russian
Viktor Yanukovich when he was pronounced winner by the Central
Election Commission of Ukraine. Russia and Armenia became the only
members of the Council of Europe to have accepted Yanukovich's
victory. But the second time around it congratulated Yuschenko, with
some delay, and again only after Russia. According to a number of
Armenian analysts, similar political changes may reflect on Ukraine's
ties with Armenia. Armenian Center for National and International
Studies political analyst Stepan Safaryan thinks that the hasty
congratulations of Armenian authorities to Yanukovich and then to
Yuschenko will not be reflected in any actions on the diplomatic
level. But he adds:
`Ukraine's attitude towards our administration will change in a
certain way, especially as it concerns GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Moldova). In any case, there will arise a division between
Armenia and Ukraine because of different geopolitical approaches.'
As for the economic component of relations between the two countries,
Safaryan believes they will develop quite successfully in the
foreseeable future. `At present Ukrainian products are not competitive
on the European market and until Ukraine enters the European Union,
Ukrainian goods will be marketed in the territories of CIS countries.'
According to the data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia,
among CIS countries Ukraine is the second largest exporter of goods to
Armenia after Russia and by the volume of trade is Armenia's third
largest partner after Russia and Georgia.
According to the State Customs Department of Armenia, in 2003 Armenia
exported goods worth about $7 million to Ukraine, while in 2004 the
export increased to more than $10 millions. And according to the data
of the State Committee of Statistics of Ukraine, since 2000 the
commodity circulation between Ukraine and Armenia has increased
fivefold, reaching about $75 million in 2004 - up by $15.3 million
over 2003.
Ukraine mainly exports building materials, chemical products,
foodstuffs, and recently the structure of trade improved with the
delivery of Ukrainian buses for the Yerevan transport system.
According to Samvel Hovakimyan, executive director of the RA Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, despite the increased commodity circulation
between the two countries, Armenia's share still remains insignificant
in Ukrainian foreign trade.
`Armenia should be interested in developing closer economic ties with
Ukraine. However, our political vector has not yet been formed and
remains on the level of `wishes',' Hovakimyan said.
According to him, one of the reasons is that Armenia's resources are
extremely limited. `From that point of view we cannot be compared and
therefore depend on the situation,' he said. `We have problems of
blockade that directly impact our economic development.'
Hovakimyan says the Chamber is working in the direction of integrating
small and medium-sized enterprises of Armenia into the Ukrainian
economic system, such as textile industry and leather production.
According to Ukraine Ambassador to Armenia, Vladimir Tyaglo,
Armenian-Ukrainian economic ties are based on the Agreement on
Economic Cooperation for 2001-2010 signed by the presidents of the two
countries. He says that the contractual-legal base between the two
states consists of 64 agreements, of which 54 are currently in effect.
--------------------
Unsure of Security: Controversy continues as Social Security card goes
into effect
By Mariam Badalyan
Editorial Assistant
A month after Armenia's first Social Security cards have gone into
use, many citizens continue to resist them. Starting January 1, no
government-involved transactions were to take place with citizens who
do not have a card, including old-age, disability and unemployment
wages.
The card is now necessary for payment of wages, opening a bank
account, licensing, etc. The government assures the new system will
help to handle an effective and efficient social protection system by
eliminating possible fraud and improving the record keeping of social
data. It will also help to conduct an effective reform of the pension
system.
Hasmik Khachatryan, public relations officer of the Ministry of Labor
and Social Issues, assures that more people started to realize the
importance of the new system. Currently, 2.420 million people have
applied for the cards, and 1.650 million have been issued.
Khachatryan says every detail has been considered in order to minimize
the complications of the application process.
Citizens may apply for their social security cards in any social
services unit throughout the republic irrespective of his or her
registration place or whether he has a registration or not.
But while a majority of citizens have accepted the Social Security
card as a fact of life, others continue to maintain that it is an
intrusion of their privacy, a means of government control. Some even
say it is the `mark of the beast' of biblical apocalyptic prophesy.
Hranush Kharatyan, head of the Governmental Department for National
Minorities and Religious Issues, joins the protest of hundreds of
people who believe that imposition of the cards is a violation of
religious rights.
`On the other hand, if a person refuses to take a passport for the
same reasons, can we say that his or her constitutional rights have
been breached?' Kharatyan says.
Nevertheless, she thinks there are a few ambiguous statements and
inconsistencies in the law that should be eliminated. In particular,
she recalls that Article 5 of the law states the aim of a Social
Security card, amongst others, to be insurance of personal data
confidentiality, which she believes to be illogical. Besides, she
points out that it is not clear from the law whether the same personal
data are referred to in Articles 5 and 7.
A well know Armenian bard says no one will make him and his wife have
cards. `I will be forced to temporarily leave my country for a place
where there are no such cards. They demean my dignity and religious
feelings,' says folk musician Ruben Hakhverdyan.
----------------
Protecting Preservation: Youth groups concerned about capital construction
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
A group of young people is concerned that modern construction is
detrimental to old landmarks, and are taking action against the
destruction.
Non-governmental youth organizations, unions and other structures, as
well as students and individuals have united around an
initiative. United they hope to struggle against the last years
large-scale construction works in the capital, as a result of which
old cultural monuments, residential buildings and streets of public
value are being destroyed.
`The bloom of reconstruction in the center of Yerevan during the last
years is accompanied with the process of destroying national
historical-cultural heritage, buildings of outstanding Armenians,
urban complexes and the historical environment,' reads the open letter
the young people have planned to address to the President, the
Prime-Minister, NA Speaker and the Mayor of Yerevan. `The young
Armenians express their strong concern and ask for your direct and
immediate mediation for preventing the situation and sustaining
all-human values of our capital.'
`We have collected signatures; all those people under 30 who are not
indifferent of the fate of our capital and history have taken part in
it,' says Lilit Vardanyan, a young architect participating in the
initiative. `There are some people who agree with our initiative, but
don't sign the letter because they work in state bodies and are afraid
of having problems in their workplace.'
The initiators say, although they had decided to collect 1000
signatures before, taken into account the number of those willing to
support them, they have decided to wait for a while to send the letter
to the mentioned addresses.
--------------------------------
Teaching Teachers: Junior Achievement initiative strengthens knowledge
of legal rights.
By Arpi Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
If one tries to ask passers-by whether they are aware of their rights
of citizens, the answer will be almost the same: `What rights are you
talking about? We are not aware of anything.' Moreover they will
wonder if, for instance, they are told they have the right to demand
any information from any state structure regarding their security.
`In civilized countries awareness of human rights is an utmost
priority. But our people are unaware of the laws, we do not know our
rights, or the responsibilities as well. Even we - the specialists -
are unaware of many rights because of the lack of minimal legal
knowledge,' says Vanadzor Pedagogical Institute professor Anna
Grigoryan.
According to the plan affirmed by the RA Ministry of Education and
Science since September 2001 `Human Rights', `Civic Education', `State
and Law' have become compulsory subjects in the school program. The
initiator was Junior Achievement which, since October 2000 had
undertaken a responsible task: to achieve the inclusion of `Civic
Education' into the school program.
`As far as Armenia is a newly independent state, there was a need for
legal training. To create a democratic state a legal consciousness is
necessary that the teachers should spread. And the teachers need
education first of all', says Gayane Vardanyan, program coordinator of
JA.
As a result, achievements exceeded expectations. Three subjects on law
formed a part of the school program.
Junior Achievement international organization was founded in the USA
in the beginning of the 20th century. It was established in Armenia 12
years ago.
Initially the organization aimed at helping teachers learn applied
economics. But throughout time the programs grew and reached to law.
In cooperation with the Academy for Educational Development the
Armenia-based JA organized the first courses of `Civic Education' for
Armenian teachers' re-qualification in January 1998.
Up to now more than 3000 teachers of civic education have been trained
in the USA. In 2004 Junior Achievement initiated also
re-qualification courses for professors in Yerevan.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Art of Tax: New law makes movement of artifacts easier
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
Visitors to Armenia who have endured stringent `art' export
regulations should be relieved to know that, since late December, the
law has been changed in favor of more liberal movement.
Until now, practically anything leaving the country that had been hand
crafted - whether a vernisage amateur's work, or the masterpiece of an
honored artist - was subject to being certified (and taxed) before it
could be taken outside Armenia.
Whether a silver spoon or, sometimes, even a musician's own instrument
had to be presented for inspection, with documents and photographs.
`The previous law adopted in 1994 restricted rights even in terms of
private property with some of its provisions,' says, Shoghik Asoyan,
director of the Agency for Preserving Cultural Values under the
Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues.
But according to the new law, works of fine art not older than 50
years can be freely exported except for 12 great Armenian artists
Martiros Saryan, Sergey Parajanov, Minas, Yervand Kochar, Garzou,
Hakob Kojoyan, Vahram Gayfejyan, Harutiun Kalents, Aleksandr
Bajbeuk-Melikyan, Vahan Hatsagortsyan, Artsrun Berberyan, Nazaret
Kuyumjyan.
Previously, mass-produced souvenirs and artifacts were allowed to
export without certificates, if they were not older than 50
years. Now, the term has been extended to 75.
`For us, of course it is a big thing to have escaped from waiting for
hours in the Agency for Preserving Cultural Values to get permission
for exporting;' says one of the artists affected by the law, Robert
Elibekyan. `People of arts should be free. If he does not take out his
works how will he show his art to the world?' But President of the
Union of Artists Karen Aghamyan believes the law is both good and bad.
`Definitely, artists will be free of wasting of time, but smugglers
will get big opportunities to take out values of big importance for
Armenian art. If the market is liberalized, it is uncontrollable.'
Aghamyan says it now becomes easier to pass off an old artwork as a
new one. `There is threat that anything can get into the stream. We
are going to address to the government to send some of the experts
group to work in turn in the airport customs,' says Asoyan. `Officers
cannot identify common works, for, instance, from an unsigned work by
Saryan.'
----------------
High Marks for HyeSanta: Donations ($9,270) lead to establishment of
year-round foundation
By Suren Musayelyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
Nearly doubling the total of its 2003 campaign, ArmeniaNow's HyeSanta
charity project has concluded its holiday drive with $9,270 to
distribute to needy families featured in its December 24 and December
31 issues. (In 2003, the first HyeSanta, readers contributed about
$5,000.)
Last week, ArmeniaNow journalists began the careful but happy task of
distributing items - ranging from medicines to blankets and
mattresses, to livestock, to computers - to 13 families.
HyeSanta Project Coordinator Armine Petrosyan says each case was
evaluated on its own circumstances and the families were assisted in
the best possible way. But she emphasized that the goal of the action
is to provide people with lasting help rather than give them cash.
`Assistance given to these people has made a difference in their
lives. This would be impossible without the generosity of our
readers,' Petrosyan said.
According to Petrosyan, the aid given to people solves their most
vital problems, and is received with gratitude.
`But the idea of the project is to provide aid that will have a
continuous nature. For example, buying a cow that will give milk and
offsprings,' she said.
The purchase of sheep, cows and chickens is being voluntarily assisted
by the Tufenkian Foundation, which itself maintains a program that
encourages villagers to become self-sustained through livestock
production.
Tufenkian Foundation veterinary specialist Zorik Pambukhchyan says he
helps the project with great enthusiasm.
`I support any project that supports villagers and rural communities,
especially this one that targets vulnerable families in villages,' he
said. `I am happy to be part of this project to help with advice.'
Readers from North America, from England, from Ukraine and,
significantly, from within Armenia responded to HyeSanta
2004. Locally, many were brought in by video documentaries of the
project, produced and shown by Shoghakat Television.
(Armenian Public Television H1 had promised to show the programs, but
withdrew an hour before airtime, saying it didn't want to upset its
viewers with stories about needy people during holidays.)
`The results are satisfying, but they could be incomparably better had
H1 kept its promise,' Petrosyan said.
According to Petrosyan, from the outset the project met with a very
friendly attitude from everyone. She says that the project would have
been impossible without the support of various organizations and
individuals, including:
The Karabakh Representation in Armenia, the Emergency Situations
Department of Karabakh, the Armenia office of World Council of
Churches and its head Karen Nazaryan, Shoghakat TV, `Orran' benevolent
NGO, the Club, Shoghakat's Tigran Paskevichyan and his friends, and
musicians Vahan Artsruni, Hasmik Harutyunyan, Lilit Pipoyan, Lusine
Azaryan, Armen Movsisyan, who held a concert in support of the
project.