Month: October 2005

SARGSYAN AWARDED MEDALS TO PEACEKEEPERS, WHO TOOK PART IN HUMANITARIAN MISSION IN IRAQ

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 22:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 11 Secretary of the National Security Council
at the President of Armenia, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan awarded
Andranik Ozanyan, Vazgen Sargsyan medals, diplomas and memorable
gifts to first group of Armenian peacekeepers, who took part in the
humanitarian mission in Iraq.

Addressing the servicemen, the Armenian MOD head expressed gratitude
for successful fulfillment of the military mission, which was a hard
one in his words. “You promoted enhancement of our country’s authority
in the world.

Working for integration into Europe, we cannot stay indifferent towards
international community’s problems, just like the community cannot be
indifferent towards ours. Thus we have a mission in Kosovo and Iraq,”
he remarked.

In a conversation with journalists S. Sargsyan appreciated the
professionalism of the Armenian peacekeepers. “Undoubtedly, being
in another country our soldier defends the security of our lands. We
protect their security, acting for the sake of their interests, while
they do the same for the sake of ours. We should not forget that
the cease-fire in Nagorno Karabakh is secured not only by our army,
but also owing to our allied states,” he emphasized. S. Sargsyan also
informed that the Armenian MOD “to all appearance will address the NA
requesting to consider expediency of sending third and fourth shifts
of Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq.”

It should be noted that representatives of Armenia serve in Iraq as
part of the Polish peacekeeping division. The US Government covers the
expenses of dislocation, rear, communication, technical and medical
equipment of the Armenian humanitarian contingent. The first shift of
Armenian peacekeepers was sent in Iraq January 18. The first rotation
of the contingent took place six months after that. To continue the
mission Armenian Parliament’s agreement is necessary. The Armenian
contingent includes medical officers, sappers and drivers. Armenia
does not have military tasks and limits itself to the humanitarian
component of the peacekeeping mission in Iraq, reported IA Regnum.

REPORTS ON MURDER OF AZERI SOLDIER BAKU MEDIA CANARD

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The reports on an Azeri servicemen being killed
in a skirmish at the contact line of the Armed Forces of the NKR
and Azerbaijan are false. This was stated by NKR Defense Ministry
Spokesperson Senor Hasratyan in a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. It should be reminded that October 10 Azeri media spread a
statement by Ilgar Verdiyev, a representative of Azerbaijan’s MOD, that
” October 9 a 19-year-old Azeri servicemen was killed in a skirmish
at the contact line of the Armed Forces of the NKR and Azerbaijan.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE ADVERTISMENT IS NOT ONLY FOR LISTENING BUT FOR REWARD

Panorama
17:02 11/10/05

“Radio Van” came back from the “Sibirian Decibal” international
festival of audio advertisement with 90 % of total prizes.

An interesting fact, one of the members of jury was Gor Grigoryan,
i.e. Egor Glumov from “Radio Van”. But during the press-conference
Egor Glumov claimed that he didn’t participate in the “Radio Van’s”
advertisements’ voting.

253 works from 30 cities were presented during the festival. “Radio
Van” was the only representative from Armenia.

After so many prizes, the director of the radio station Shushanik
Arevshatyan said that they would never participate in such festivals
as according to the decision of the National Committee of Radio and
TV they cannot make advertisements in Russian. /Panorama.am/

RAMIL SAFAROV: ANAR ALIYEV DID NOT SPEND THE LAST NIGHT IN THE ROOM WITH ME
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily #183
12/10/2005

Trial in Budapest

Nazeli Vardanian, lawyer of murdered Gurgen Margarian, and Hayk
Demoyan, historian of the Armenian armed forces, told about the
September 15 court session at the Budapest court yesterday.

The lawyer said that the Armenian side’s plea to view the case
as a genocidal act and not as a homicide met the Azeri lawyer’s
objection. The court remained silent. “We tried to make one more plea
though we had no hope that anyone can be charged with such a crime
in present-day Europe”, Vardanian said.

The court disclosed that the Latvian serviceman will not take part
in the sessions any more; his whereabouts are unknown. The court
proceeded from his previous affidavit that basically coincided with
that of Hayk Manucharian.

The latter was exposed to psychological pressure during the session,
in particular, he was asked several times if Safarov “was insane
at that moment”. “I think it’s clear to the court that there is no
contradiction in Hayk Manucharian’s words, there is no doubt also as
to his and Safarov’s sanity”, the lawyer said.

Hayk Demoyan added that Safarov was so deeply moved that his speech
at the session turned into a curious thing. To reject that the crime
was planned he said: “Anar Aliyev did not spend the last night in
the room with me” but the judge retorted saying: “To plan murder
with him you did not need necessarily sleep with him”. The defendant
refused to answer any question as soon as asked about buying an axe
for the murder.

Anar Aliyev did not take part in this session either. The Azeris
promised to the angry judge to bring him to the next session. The
Armenian side made a plea to recognize him as an accomplice that
was also turned down. The forensic experts stated at the end of the
session that Safarov was completely healthy and committed the crime
in his right mind. The second expert pointed out to Safarov’s stories
and dreams considering him partially guilty. Inconsistencies in the
two conclusions of the experts made the judge plea for the third
one. “The first expert simply bore down the second one.

The second expert claimed that Ramil Safarov used Xenex, a medicine
against nervous shock, during army service in Turkey. The first expert
rebuffed that lie at once claiming that there was no such medicine
at that time. Though the second expert tried hard to find ways of
justifying Safarov, his diffidence was obvious”, Demoyan said.

Nazeli Vardanian is sure that the court could easily accept the first
expert’s conclusion and reach a verdict but it chose a third medical
examination that would compare the previous ones. “If there is no
pressure from the Azeri side, I think that inconsistencies will show
up and we’ll hear the last medical conclusion in December”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ICG PROPOSES DECIDING KARABAKH STATUS LATER

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 23:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A compromise peace in Nagorno Karabakh looks
possible, but significant stumbling blocks remain, says Nagorno
Karabakh: A Plan for Peace, the latest report from the International
Crisis Group (ICG). The report examines the causes of the conflict,
analyses the negotiation process led by the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and identifies the necessary
elements of an achievable peace plan. “The two sides appear close to
agreeing on key principles of a peace deal”, says Sabine Freizer,
Director of Crisis Group’s Caucasus Project. It should be noted
that major elements of the proposed settlement package include:
leaving the core issue of Nagorno Karabakh’s status open for later
resolution; withdrawal of Armenia-backed Nagorno Karabakh forces
from the occupied districts of Azerbaijan surrounding the entity;
deployment of international peacekeepers; return of displaced persons;
and re-opening of trade and communication links. Nagorno Karabakh’s
status should ultimately be determined by an internationally sanctioned
referendum with the exclusive participation of Karabakh Armenians
and Azeris, but only after the above measures have been implemented,
the report says. Until then, Nagorno Karabakh would remain part of
Azerbaijan, though in practical terms it would be self-governing and
enjoy an internationally acknowledged interim status.

Eleven years after the 1994 cease-fire, burgeoning defense budgets,
increasing cease-fire violations, and continuing demonization
by each side of the other side are ominous signs that time for a
peace agreement is running out, the document says. “So far, despite
progress in the negotiations, the resumption of war remains as
likely as peace”, says Alain Deletroz, International Crisis Group
Vice President for Europe.

OSCE MONITORING OF CONTACT LINE BETWEEN KARABAKH AND AZERI ARMED FORCES REGISTERED NO EXCESS

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 23:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On October 11, in compliance with a agreement
achieved with the NKR authorities beforehand, the OSCE mission held a
planned monitoring of the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces’
contact-line in the Agdam direction, in the area of the settlement of
Yusifjanly, reported the Press Service of the NKR MFA. At the positions
of the NKR Defense Army, the monitoring mission was led by Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (PR of CiO), Ambassador
Andrzej Kasprzyk (Poland). The group comprised Field Assistants of
the PR of the OSCE CiO Olexandr Samarsky (Ukraine) and Harry Eronen
(Finland) and head of the OSCE High Level Planning Group Colonel Tomaso
Strgar (Slovenia). The monitoring passed in compliance with the planned
schedule, no violations of the cease-fire regime were registered. From
the Karabakh party, representatives of the NKR Ministries of Foreign
Affairs and Defense accompanied the OSCE monitoring mission.

ARMENIA NOT TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 23:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will not provide humanitarian assistance to
Pakistan due to the destructive earthquake in that country, Armenian
Deputy FM Armen Bayburdyan stated. In his words, Pakistan has not
requested humanitarian assistance from Armenia. The Armenian Deputy
FM reminded that no diplomatic relations were established between
Yerevan and Islamabad, reported Mediamax.

BAKU CALL TO NKR CITIZENS TO TAKE PART IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN AZERBAIJAN “ABSURD”

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 23:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the National Assembly of Nagorno
Karabakh Ashot Gulyan called “absurd” the Azerbaijani Central
Electoral Commission call to NKR citizens to take part in the
parliamentary election in Azerbaijan. “It is clear that there will
be no participation,” the NKR Speaker said. As of the domestic
situation in Azerbaijan on the threshold of the election, he said it
“fully corresponds to our forecasts.” “We are sure the election will
be held with shortcomings, unsanctioned rallies, pressure upon the
opposition and dispersal of rally participants,” Gulyan stated. “I
think international observers will have an opportunity to assess the
electoral situation in Azerbaijan and compare it with that in Nagorno
Karabakh,” stated Ashot Gulyan. Under the conditions of absence of
confidence between the parties to conflict, when Azerbaijan prevents
contacts between representatives of the two peoples, reaching a
settlement of the issue is impossible, he said when commenting on the
Karabakh settlement. Karabakh party’s stand based on the NKR people’s
right for state independence is unchangeable, Gulyan said.

SARGSYAN: DISCUSSING OWN DOMESTIC ISSUES IN ANOTHER COUNTRY INSULTING

Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 22:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During his visit to the US Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan is not going to discuss issues referring to Armenia’s
home policy.

The Armenian MOD head stated it in a conversation with journalists
in Yerevan October 11. “I consider discussing own domestic issues in
another country insulting. Views may be exchanged, but there may be
no discussion,” Mr. Sargsyan said. In his words, the visit will be
held on the invitation of the American party, specifically Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. S.

Sargsyan informed the visit will not exceed 4-5 days thus not lasting
a week “as the press had reported.” In the Minister’s opinion, no
agreements or treaties will be signed in the US. “All corresponding
agreements between us are signed, and I do not think there will be
any new bills,” Sargsyan said.

As it was reported earlier, at the National Press Club in Washington S.

Sargsyan will make a statement, titled Armenia: Security and
Development Prospects in the South Caucasus. During his visit he will
meet with US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, National Security
Council top officials, as well as Armenian servicemen participating
in the Kansas National Guard exercises. The Armenian MOD head will
also visit the US Central Command base situated in Tampa, Florida,
reported IA Regnum.

ARMENIAN ENTERPRISES TRANSFERRED TO RUSSIA WILL BE ACTIVATED

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11. ARMINFO. ‘The Armenian enterprises transferred
to Russia in return for the country’s state debt will be activated.’
Armenian Presidential Security Council, Defense Minister of Armenia,
Co-Chairmen of the Armenian- Russian Intergovernmental Commission
for Economic Cooperation Serge Sargsyan told journalists, Tuesday.

He said Russian representatives of the Intergovernmental Commission for
Economic Cooperation have arrived in Armenia to take first hand view
of the problem. ‘I think, some progress is expected in the sphere,’
Serge Sargsyan said.

To note, to repay its $100 million debt to Russia, the Armenian
party transferred Hrazdan TPP, National Research Institution of
Mathematical Machines, NRI of Automatic Control Systems, “Mars” plant,
Institution of Materials Study. Factually, except Hrazdan TPP, none
of the enterprises has been activated during the last two years.