Month: November 2006

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 10, 2006 Friday
RUSSIAN ARMY WILL LEAVE GEORGIA IN 2006
General of the Army Alexander Baranov, Caucasus Military District
Commander, says that units of the Russian army will leave Georgia
this year. The initial plans stood for their withdrawal in 2008.
On Russian defense minister’s order, plans of rapid withdrawal have
been run by official Tbilisi. All units, command structures, and
military hardware will leave Georgia for Armenia and Russia over the
next two months. Four railroad echelons will be used in evacuation.
Two will go to Russia and two to the 102nd Russian Military Base in
Armenia.
Most servicemen volunteered for continuation of service in the
Caucasus, Moscow, and Volga-Urals military districts. Some will
retire. Eighty certificates for apartments have been set aside for
them, and 56 flats will be bought for retired officers in Stavropol,
Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody in the Caucasus, and other cities. The
command promises that not a single officer or warrant officer will
retire without an apartment to live in.
Source: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, November 6, 2006, EV
Translated by A. Ignatkin

International Freedom of Expression eXpress IFEX, Canada
Nov 11 2006
CAPSULE REPORT: EU report could help promote press freedom, says RSF

Français: RAPPORT CAPSULE: Un rapport de l’UE pourrait faire avancer
la liberté d’expression, selon RSF
Country/Topic: Turkey
Date: 10 November 2006
Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Person(s):
Target(s):
Type(s) of violation(s):
Urgency: Bulletin
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 9 November 2006 RSF press release:
EU criticises Turkish penal code article under which 65 people have
been prosecuted
The latest European Commission report on Turkey’s progress in its
negotiations to join the EU, together with recent comments by Prime
Minister Erdogan, have revived hopes of amendments to the parts of
the Turkish penal code that most violate freedom of expression.
Reporters Without Borders today welcomed a report on EU enlargement
which the European Commission issued yesterday, saying it could help
to promote press freedom in Turkey. While conditioning further
membership talks on Turkey’s respecting all of its commitments on
Cyprus, the report clearly says in point 11 that “significant further
efforts are needed, in particular on freedom of expression.”
Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, which penalises “humiliating
Turkish identity, the republic, and the organs and institutions of
the state,” is specifically mentioned in the report. The conclusions
say: “freedom of expression in line with European standards is not
yet guaranteed by the present legal framework (. . .). Article 301
and other provisions of the Turkish penal code that restrict freedom
of expression need to be brought in line with the European Convention
of Human Rights (ECHR).”
Reporters Without Borders said: “We can only endorse these
conclusions, as Article 301 allows the law to be used to control the
activity of the media. The proof is in the fact that 65 people,
including many journalists and writers, have been prosecuted in
Turkey since it took effect on 1 June 2005. Turkey’s laws must meet
European standards as regards basic freedoms such as freedom of
expression.”
The trials of several intellectuals – novelists Orhan Pamuk and Elif
Shafak, the journalist of Armenian origin Hrant Dink, and five
columnists with the leading dailies “Milliyet” and “Radikal” (Erol
Katircioglu, Murat Belge, Haluk Sahin, Hasan Cemal and Smet Berkan) –
gave rise to scenes of violence between their supporters and
supporters of the ultra-nationalist lawyers’ union that brought the
complaints against Pamuk and Shafak.
Not only do the Turkish courts interpret Article 301 in the most
draconian manner, but they also fail to apply Section 4 of the
article, which stipulates that “expression of thought in the form of
criticism cannot be penalised.”
The Turkish government and society are split on this issue. Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party has not
heeded the criticism and warnings coming from press freedom groups
and civil society for the past two years.
But Erdogan finally took a position on the issue in the run-up to the
publication of the EU report and after the protests around Shafak’s
trial and the awarding of the Nobel prize for literature to Pamuk. He
met with representatives of trade unions and medical associations,
including the Revolutionary Confederation of Workers Unions (Disk)
and the Turkish Confederation of Employers Unions (Tisk), on 5
November in Istanbul to discuss the possibility of amending Article
301.
After the meeting, he said he was ready to receive proposals designed
to make the article more concrete “if problems exist due to the fact
that it is abstract.” He added that, “we will look at options in line
with the spirit of the reforms in the Article 301 framework.”
This pleased EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn of Finland. He
said he was “satisfied by Erdogan’s personal commitment to freedom of
expression and to his country’s participation in the EU,” adding
that, “we are waiting for this intention to be supported by concrete
steps and for concrete decisions to be taken.”
Several journalists who have been convicted under Article 301 say
they will appeal the decision to the European Court of Human Rights
on the grounds that it violates Article 10 of the Convention. Among
the journalists are Dink, publisher of the Armenian weekly “Agos”,
who was given a suspended sentence of six months in prison on 7
October 2005 for a series of articles entitled “Armenian Identity”,
as well as Burak Bekdil, a columnist for the English-language
“Turkish Daily News”, who received a 20-month suspended sentence –
upheld by the highest appeal court in October 2005 – for a column
dealing with the lack of confidence of Turkish citizens in their
judicial system.
Meanwhile, lawyer Eren Keskin, former president of the Istanbul
branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD), faces prison for
refusing to pay a fine of about 3,300 euros for comments she made in
Cologne in 2002, implicating Turkish security forces in a number of
rape cases in the mainly-Kurdish area of southeast Anatolia.
“I will not pay this fine to buy my freedom,” she has been quoted as
saying.
Article 301, entitled “Humiliation of Turkish identity, the republic,
and the organs and institutions of the state”, makes “humiliating the
government and judicial organs of the state or the police or military
structures” punishable by six months to three years in prison.
MORE INFORMATION:
For further information, contact Elsa Vidal at RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 67, fax: +33 1 45 23
11 51, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 11 2006
POLAND UPHOLDS AZERBAIJAN’S INTEGRATION TO EURO-ATLANTIC STRUCTURES
[November 11, 2006, 11:14:29]
On November 10, the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan
Khalaf Khalafov received the delegation led by Speaker of the Senate
of Poland Bogdan Borusevich, the press-service of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs said.
In meeting, Mr. Khalafov noted that between Azerbaijan and Poland
there are traditionally friendly relations and this country assists
Azerbaijan for integration in European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
The Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister noted importance of strengthening
of partnership in sphere of policy of the European Neighborhood and
power safety.
In turn, head of the Senate of Poland has noted successes of
Azerbaijan for last years and has stated that his country acts as the
supporter of expansion of the European Union and NATO. As he said,
Poland is interested in close cooperation of Azerbaijan with the
above-stated structures.
The Polish guest noted that the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh
conflict should be solved in the frame of territorial integrity and
inviolability of borders.
In meeting, also discussed were questions on cooperation in combat
against international terrorism, international and regional
situation, and other issues mutual interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 11 2006
About 52,000 cars imported to Yerevan over last five years

Source: Trend
Author: Trend

11.11.2006

(ARKA) – Over the last five years 52,000 cars were imported to
Yerevan, the press service of the Yerevan municipality reported.
According to it, the number of motor vehicles in Yerevan grows
annually by 12,000.
“Each year 20,000 motor vehicles enter the Armenian capital. The
number of taxis has grown.
Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan said that the growth of construction
volume, as well as absence of bypass roads cause additional problems
for road traffic.
The Yerevan mayor pointed out the necessity in a working group for
implementation of urgent scheduled activities aimed at improving the
situation with road traffic.
In the near 10 days, the relevant document will be signed. Zakharyan
pointed out that the issue of purpose use of bus stops is still
urgent. He added that the police will take measures to improve this
situation, reports Trend.
The mayor also reported that funds will be allocated for repair works
on two intersections and construction of several pedestrian subways.
About AMD 600mln are allocated for modernization and automation of
traffic lights. Zakharyan also reported that the municipality holds
negotiations with World Bank over funding the reforms in the
transport sector. ($1 – AMD 380.69).

Thursday, November 09, 2006
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PROJECTIONS
**************************
Ask a poet and he will tell you we are a nation of poets.
Ask another who doesn’t much care for poetry and he will tell you we are a nation of vodanavorjis (versifiers).
Others will tell you we are a nation of speechifiers and sermonizers who can deliver more empty verbiage in five minutes than an entire contingent of Southern televangelists in a week.
A merchant will tell you we are a nation of merchants.
A pragmatist will dismiss mystics, beginning with Naregatsi (assuming he has heard of him) as worthless daydreamers.
A commissar will tell you in no uncertain terms that intellectuals are, in his humble opinion, no better than mental masturbators.
Ask me and I will tell you we are not even a nation but a collection of tribes divided by bosses (who believe to an ideology), bishops (god), and benefactors (capital). But whatever we are, we are first and foremost men of faith, even when what we believe in is unbelief. Which means we know what’s good for others better than they know themselves.
Ask me what I believe in and I will tell you I believe in the freedom to question the validity of all belief systems.
#
Friday, November 10, 2006
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REQUIEM FOR A DISSIDENT
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NOVAYA GAZETA (the Russian paper for which Anna Politkovskaya worked): “As long as NOVAYA GAZETA exists, her assassins will not have a good night’s sleep.”
*
Mikhail Gorbachev in LA REPUBBLICA (Italy): “It is clear that they wanted to silence her. It is an assault on the free press and on all those who struggle for democracy in our country.”
*
THE TIMES (Great Britain): “She was a fearless critic of President Putin and the atrocities committed by Russians in Chechnya. One of these reasons cost her life.”
*
CORRIERE DELLA SERA (Italy): “Europe and the United States protest, Putin is silent.”
*
EL MUNDO (Spain): “The name of Anna Politkovskaya is added to the list of assassinated journalists who defended freedom.”
#
Saturday, November 11, 2006
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DIKRAN THE GREAT AND OTHER RASCALS
**********************************************************************
Perennial victims of empires, we brag about the fact that under Dikran the Great we too had an empire. We brag even when we have nothing to brag about. The Roman Empire, like so many other empires around us, bit the dust, we like to brag, but we Armenians continue to live and prosper. What unspeakable nonsense! What verbal manure! What trashy propaganda! If half of the world today speaks dialects of Latin, can we really say the Roman Empire has ceased to exist? The Ottoman Empire lasted much longer than the Roman Empire. Are the Turks justified in asserting superiority over the Romans?
*
What does it take to be an empire, beside greed and a bloodthirsty disposition? In all civilized and semi-civilized countries today there are laws that say you can’t just walk into your neighbor’s home and say, “Henceforth your property is no longer yours but mine. Disagree with me and you die!” And yet, this is exactly what empires do. Consider one of the most civilized empires in the history of mankind, the Athenian Empire. Greeks today brag about their culture as we brag about Dikran the Great. And yet, they condemned Socrates to death. As for Plato and Aristotle: they were so afraid they might meet the same fate that they spent a number of years in self-imposed exile. The Athenian Empire was based on military might, which meant war and taxation. When a city-state refused to pay its share of taxes, it was punished by ruthless massacres of civilians.
*
According to our chauvinists, we are a peace loving people, hence our status as perennial underdogs and victims. What does it take to be an underdog? According to Hegel, fear of death, that is to say, cowardice.
*
We like to brag not only about Dikran the Great, but also our millionaires. What does it take to be a capitalist? Exploitation. Our benefactors may not brag about their wealth but they love to make headlines in our papers and see their portraits hanging in vestibules of community centers, schools, and churches.
*
We brag about Dikran the Great because we can’t brag about Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, or Suleiman the Magnificent. But I suggest we and the rest of the world have nothing to brag about, and whenever a tribe, nation, or empire brags, it lies.
#

PanARMENIAN.Net
Thomas Adams: U.S. Government to Continue Assisting
Armenia in Democracy Development
09.11.2006 18:52 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
received co-chair of the working group on the Armenian-American
cooperation, Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia
Thomas Adams, reported the RA MFA press office. The parties discussed
bilateral relations and the programs to be implemented. In this
context special attention was paid to the projects implemented jointly
with the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Mr Adams assured that the
United State will keep on rendering assistance to Armenia in the
development of democracy and stressed the importance of holding free
and just elections. The interlocutors also referred to the regional
issues, specifically the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and
voiced hope that the meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs will record
progress in the issue.

PanARMENIAN.Net
UN Issues Annual Human Development Report
10.11.2006 12:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia ranks 80 among 177 countries
of the world in the UN annual human development report
issued since 1990. The rating of the countries is
determined by the lifetime, level of education and the
national gross product. Norway keeps the leading
position during 6 years. The U.S. ranks 8. Azerbaijan
holds the 99th position while Georgia is the 97th.
Russia ranks 65. Turkey and Iran are 92 and 96
respectively. Niger is at the bottom of the list,
reports RFE/RL.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Turkey Fulfilled One of EU Conditions
10.11.2006 14:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish parliament adopted a
law, which broadens property rights of the non-Muslim
communities of the country. Thus, Ankara has fulfilled
one of the EU conditions on national minorities rights
protection. The new law to be signed by the President
will allow the Greek, Armenian and Jew communities to
claim for the property expropriated by the Turkish
government in 1974, reports Mediamax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
AZERI ANALYST CALLS FOR SETTING CENTER TO DEFINE
BAKU’S AMERICAN POLICY

BAKU, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: In an interview to
Azerbaijani Trend news agency Vafa Guluzade, a former
advisor to the late Azerbaijani president Heydar
Aliyev on foreign policy issues, said diplomats in
Baku should establish a special center to deal with
and define the policy that Azerbaijan must assume in
its relations with Washington after Democrats won
elections to Congress and Senate.
He said Azerbaijan must be represented by such
people who will be able to talk to Nancy Pelosi, a new
speaker of the Congress is known as a longtime
supporter of Armenian-American issues.
Guluzade recalled that once the official Baku used
to enjoy good relations with the White House when it
was controlled by Democrats that was reflected in
signing the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and some other oil
project’s.
“I have tried many times to explain that no
Armenian state exists in fact. What is called the
Republic of Armenia is just part of Russia which is
keen to make Azerbaijan its colony and Moscow is using
Armenians as a means to attain its objective,”
Guluzade claimed in his interview.
Guluzade said though Nancy Pelosi is tending to
defend the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh the U.S.
administration did not recognize the Armenian
genocide. He said relations of Baku and Washington
will be firm.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
ANTI-TRUST BODY QUESTIONS STATISTICS OF MACARONI
IMPORTERS AND PRODUCERS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: A state anti-trust
body has questioned the statistics of some local
companies dealing with production and import of
macaroni. The state commission on protection of
economic competition said yesterday it did not believe
that every Armenian consumed last year only 1.8 kg of
macaroni products, as claimed by these companies.
The chairman of the commission, Ashot Shahnazarian,
said according to figures, registered several years
ago, each Armenian consumed at least 5 kg of only
domestically made macaroni let alone the imported
ones. Shahnazarian said the commission will ask the
state customs service to give its explanations.
According to this statistic, 32 percent of all
imported macaronis came last year from Italy, Russia
accounted for 54 percent and other countries for 14
percent. Overall 3,316 tons of macaroni were brought
from other countries and 2,781 tons were produced
locally. The biggest seller of macaroni was a joint
Armenian-American company called AAFPC which accounted
for 30 percent of sales of all imported and home-made
macaroni.