Month: August 2008

PRESIDENT OF THE NKR SENT A CONGRATULATORY LETTER…

Azat Artsakh Daily
28 Aug 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On the same day President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako
Sahakyan sent a congratulatory letter also to the President of the
Republic of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity. The letter reads as follows:
"On behalf of the people and authorities of the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic I cordially congratulate You and the people of South Ossetia
on this momentous event, the recognition of state independence of
the Republic of South Ossetia.

For the people of South Ossetia the path to independence was thorny,
full of difficulties and hardships. However, the Republic has found
strength and come off with flying colors. Artsakh is genuinely joyed
with the recognition of South Ossetia’s independence. I congratulate
You and the people of fraternal South Ossetia once again. Let peace
be established in your country forever. I wish you prosperity and
wellbeing".

NKR WELCOMES ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA INDEPENDENCE RECOGNITION FACT

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
August 28, 2008

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic welcomes the fact of recognition of
independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It completely corresponds
to main principles of international law and self-determination of
nations, which are recorded in basic documents of the UNO, OSCE and
other international organizations.

We had repeatedly notified that attempts to use force, unlimited
increase of military potential and solution of problems to one’s
own advantage by means of weapon fraught with serious humanitarian
calamities.

We are confident that all sides interested in peace in this region
will draw appropriate conclusions from the events occurred in South
Caucasia recently and will undertake decisive attempts to settle
existing issues in exclusively peaceful way and to reestablish the
stability in the region,-such statement was extended by the NKR MFA.

BAKO SAHAKYAN SENT CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENTS OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA

NKR Government Information and Public Relations Department
August 28, 2008

Today, the President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako Sahakyan
has sent a congratulatory message to Presidents of Abkhazia and
Ossetia in view of recognition of these republics by Russia.

In the message addressed personally, to Sergei Bagapsh is, in
particular said: "On behalf of the people and authorities of
the Nagorno Karabagh Republic I cordially congratulate You and
the people of Abkhazia on this significant event, recognition
of state independence of the Republic of Abkhazia. The people of
Artsakh heard this news so long-awaited by your people with sincere
gladness. Overcoming various difficulties Abkhazia has achieved its
goal for which it was striving for many years with dignity.

I am confident that international recognition will give a new impetus
to the development and prosperity of the Republic of Abkhazia. I
congratulate You and the people of fraternal Abkhazia once again. I
wish you peace and prosperity."

On the same day President of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic Bako
Sahakyan sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Republic
of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity too. The letter reads as follows:
"On behalf of the people and authorities of the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic I cordially congratulate You and the people of South Ossetia
on this momentous event, the recognition of state independence of
the Republic of South Ossetia.

For the people of South Ossetia the path to independence was thorny,
full of difficulties and hardships. However, the Republic has found
strength and come off with flying colors. Artsakh is genuinely
delighted with recognition of South Ossetia ‘s independence.

I congratulate You and the people of fraternal South Ossetia once
again.

Let peace be established in Your country forever. I wish you prosperity
and wellbeing".

TIGRAN SARGSIAN: WE SHOULD UNITE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Noyan Tapan

Au g 28, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The railway bypassing the bridge
blasted in the Georgian town of Gori is already functioning, with
large amounts of goods being imported into Armenia, thanks to which
the tension of recent days will considerably decrease, the RA prime
minister Tigran Sargsian stated at the August 28 sitting of the
government.

He thanked the representatives of the private sector and the mass
media that have closely cooperated with the government in the
past three weeks and, as he put it, have displayed a highly civil
behavior. However, according to T. Sargsian, during this period some
mass media outlets, including foreign ones, tried to prove that there
are serious problems in Armenia, shocks are expected, prices will go
up, etc. The prime minister called these actions a provocation.

"Unfortunately, in this sutuation our opponenets also tried to get
political dividends by making comparisons with the past, saying that
the price of a liter of gasoline has increased to 1,000 drams and
the government is unable to govern in this situation," T. Sargsian
said. He considered this posture of the opposition as quite dangerous
for society. In his words, "the world is rapidly changing, serous
challenges are awaiting us, so Armenia’s political posture is important
and we should draw correct lessons from the existing situation."

According to the prime minister, although there have been military
operations for the past 3 weeks in neighboring Georgia, through whose
territory 70% of Armenia’s foreign trade is conducted, our society
has not experienced shocks and has ensured stability.

AS OF AUGUST 28, 9 PEOPLE HELD UNDER PRELIMINARY ARREST BY CRIMINAL CASE ON MARCH 1-2 EVENTS

Noyan Tapan

Au g 28, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. As of August 28, 9 accused persons
are under preliminary arrest by the criminal case investigated by
the RA Special Investigation Service in connection with the March
1-2 events in Yerevan.

Precautionary measures other than arrest have been chosen with respect
to another 8 accused persons.

According to the press service of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office,
87 criminal cases on 101 people have been sent to court. Out of
these cases, the court examination of 70 cases on 80 people has been
completed, while other cases are still being examined. 5 out of the
indicated 80 people have been aquitted, a case on a person was quashed
due to reconciliation with the accused person – under Article 183 od
the RA Criminal Procedure Code, fines have been imposed on 5 people,
35 people have been sentenced to imprisonment, and 34 persons have
been given suspended sentences and put on probation.

RUSSIA CLAIMS CHINA BACKING IN GEORGIA CONFLICT

Agence France Presse
Aug 28 2008

DUSHANBE (AFP) — China and four Central Asian nations signed a
statement Thursday supporting Russia’s role in the Caucasus but also
expressing "deep concern" over the Georgia conflict and calling for
a negotiated settlement.

In a joint statement, the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan said they "support the active
role of Russia in assisting peace and cooperation in the region."

The six in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) also "express
their deep concern over the recent tensions surrounding the South
Ossetia question and call for the sides to peacefully resolve existing
problems through dialogue."

Echoing language used in the West over the conflict, a portion of
the statement also said the summit members supported the principle of
"territorial integrity" of states.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the statement showed a "united
position" on the Georgia conflict, and Kremlin officials indicated
they were happy with its phrasing.

China’s foreign ministry reiterated, however, its concern over
Russia’s decision to recognise two breakaway Georgian provinces as
independent states, and experts were split on how to interpret the
Dushanbe statement.

Unequivocal Chinese support would be a diplomatic coup for Russia,
which has found itself largely isolated since its military move into
Georgia on August 8.

"It’s not resounding support for Russia," commented Macha Lipman of
the Carnegie Moscow Center, the Russian office of a US-based think
tank. "Every country took into account their interests."

Fyodor Lukyanov, a respected independent analyst who edits the magazine
Russia in Global Policy, differed.

"The SCO statement is a great victory by Russia, which has so far been
in a vacuum" over Georgia. "They openly demonstrated their support
for Russia in its standoff with Georgia."

Russia sent forces into Georgia in response to Tbilisi’s offensive to
retake South Ossetia, and hundreds of troops remain in what Moscow
is calling a "peacekeeping" mission but Georgia has denounced as an
occupation force.

Medvedev asserted that the summit had sent a clear message to the West,
which has sharply criticised Moscow.

"I hope it will serve as a serious signal to those who try to turn
black into white and justify this aggression," he said.

The SCO statement made no explicit mention of Russia’s decision
to recognise the rebel provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as
independent states.

Speaking before the statement was signed, Chinese foreign ministry
spokesman Qin Gang told reporters in Beijing: "China expresses concern
over the latest developments in the situation in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia.

"We are fully aware of the complicated history and reality of the
issues of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and given our consistent position
on such issues, we hope the relevant countries properly resolve the
issues through dialogue and consultation."

China, which is battling separatist claims on its own territory,
called for "dialogue and consultation".

The president of energy-rich Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev,
sounded a note more in favor of Moscow.

After the summit, Nazarbayev said he related "with understanding to
all the measures taken by Russia" when he held a one-on-one meeting
with Medvedev.

"I would very much like international opinion to move toward peace
and understanding, without constant announcements about the Cold War,"
he said.

Belarus, which is closely tied to Moscow, said Russia "had no moral"
choice but to recognise the independence of the two Georgian regions.

Russian news agencies later quoted the Belarussian ambassador to Moscow
as saying Belarus may "soon" recognise the two Georgian provinces.

A statement from the Belarus presidency called for another
Moscow-dominated regional grouping, the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO), to make a joint statement on the conflict at
its meeting on September 5.

The CSTO comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

In the face of Western criticism, the Kremlin has angrily argued
that Russia used military force only in response to a Georgian
attack against South Ossetia, where tens of thousands of Russian
citizens live.

RUSSIA WARNS AIRLINES AGAINST USING "DANGEROUS" AIRSPACE OVER GEORGIA

Itar-Tass
Aug 28 2008
Russia

Moscow, 28 August: Georgia’s airspace is currently especially dangerous
for civilian aircraft flights, the head of the Federal Air Traffic
Control Service [Rosaeronavigatsiya], Aleksandr Neradko, has said
today, as quoted by the press service of the Ministry of Transport.

For example, on 28 August 2008 the Belarusian airline company Belavia’s
B-737 plane on a regular BRU-1735 flight from Minsk to Tbilisi, which
was following the international route P11, on its approach to the
boundary between Russia’s and Georgia’s airspaces was unexpectedly
denied service in the previously agreed air corridor by Georgian air
traffic control bodies. The commander of the aircraft had to change
the route in order to complete the flight safely.

Earlier, on 25 August 2008, there was a similar incident with an Yak-42
plane of the Russian airline company Volgaaviaekspress on the VLG-303
flight from Volgograd to Yerevan through sections of international air
routes in the Georgian airspace. Despite the fact that the Georgian
side had approved the flight route through the border-crossing Gusli
corridor, Georgian air traffic control bodies refused to service the
said flight without explanation when the plane approached the area
of responsibility of the Georgian air traffic service. The Russian
aircraft’s crew had to change the route and use air routes bypassing
Georgia.

So far, the aviation authorities of Georgia have not provided
explanations for refusal to service civilian aircraft following the
established international air routes over its territory. The Georgian
side has not been responding to special requests from Russian air
traffic control bodies, Rosaeronavigatsiya stressed.

In connection with the incidents, the Federal Air Traffic
Control Service again strongly recommends that Russian airlines
not use Georgia’s airspace for their flights and use alternative
routes. Initially this recommendation was given to Russian airlines
on 8 August.

WRITE ON!: SIZE DOESN’T MATTER
By Sunny Frazier

Lemoore Advance, CA
Aug 28 2008

I’ll be blunt.

The Central Valley is considered an agricultural giant. However, many
consider this area a cultural wasteland. Some of those people with
negative impressions don’t live in Los Angeles or San Francisco. They
live right here.

For a writer who believes there is a wealth of possibilities to
write about in this region, the misconception hurts. William Saroyan
renamed Fresno "Ithaca" for "The Human Comedy." He brought Armenians
to literary attention with "My Name Is Aram." John Steinbeck mined
the Dust Bowl experience and a grim time in Valley history in "The
Grapes of Wrath," and walked away with a Pulitzer and Nobel Prize.

Another Valley-grown Pulitzer Prize winner is poet Philip Levine. He
taught for many years at California State University Fresno. Flying
under the radar is essayist Gerald Haslam. "The Other California:
The Great Central Valley In Life and Letters," is a collection about
growing up in Kern County. Sadly enough, when he did a book signing
in Fresno, I was one of the few people who attended.

Love him or hate him, Mark Arax created controversy with "The King of
California: J.G. Boswell and the Making of a Secret American Empire." I
was in college journalism with Mark and can only applaud his success,
regardless of his subject matter.

Is that enough proof that we don’t deserve the reputation for being
culturally deprived? Yet, if you look at the major newspaper, The
Fresno Bee, it would seem homegrown authors don’t exist. Canned reviews
of best selling authors show up in the Spotlight section, but little
is mentioned of local authors. We’re out there, and they don’t care.

The Kings County Library has given me the unique opportunity to help
put together a speaker program for 2008-2009. I’m contacting all of
the authors I’ve connected with over the years, and some I hope to
meet for the first time. I already know I have The Advance behind me
for publicity, and I hope the Sentinel shows an interest.

The first program I’ve set up is scheduled for Sept. 18. Virginia
Pilegard is the author of a children’s picture book series which
promotes geometry in a fun, unique way. I asked her as a tie-in with
the Olympics because her books are set in ancient China.

My dilemma is how to entice grade school teachers to show up on a
week night when there are papers to grade? How do I get the public
curious enough to want to hear about her trips to China for research?

If you build it, they will come. Why can’t Kings County be a Field
of Dreams? Nobody else is stepping up to the plate. We don’t need a
half-million unmotivated people to support a cultural crusade. Fresno
had its chance to get their literary on, and it turned its back. Maybe
it’s time for a small town to show what can be accomplished with
motivation and community support.

I have a reason to invest in this endeavor. I’m a writer. I write
about the Valley because it’s what I know and love. What writers really
want is an audience, a chance to show their stuff. The Write Stuff.

My artist-roommate, Che Gilson, is interested in explaining the
Japanese graphic novel craze to teens and their parents. I’ve lured
poet Lee Herrick, a Fresno City College teacher, to do a reading
in November. Two Mafia hitmen have written autobiographies and are
interested in speaking at West Hills and the library (don’t worry,
they’re out of witness protection). Screenwriter Michael Mehas,
a former Hanford boy, wants to talk about the movie "Alpha Dog" and
the novel he wrote based on the murder. Astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper
will assure you "You Were Born on a Rotten Day."

The list is long and I hope local interest will be high. These
programs are free. Educational. Fun. If culture is not your thing,
come for the cookies. But come.

Sunny Frazier is a resident of Lemoore and a writer of mystery
novels and short stories. To learn more, visit her Web site at

LUKOIL AND ROMPETROL SELL FUEL TO ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 28 2008
Azerbaijan

Tbilisi-APA. "Russia-Georgia war damaged not only Georgia, but on
neighbor Armenia too. Kremlin didn’t consider that Georgia will use
economic pressure cradles against its close partner", said The Georgian
Times in its article "LUKoil and Rompetrol save Armenia blockade".

"According to Russian sources, planes bombed the civilians took
off from Gumru military base. It means that Georgia has a reason to
blockade Armenia. Georgia once more proved its tolerance. Otherwise
Armenia’s condition will worsen, because we have economic pressure
cradles. Armenia uses petrol carried through Georgia. Wheat and other
foods are carried to Armenia via Georgian railways.

The newspaper writes that Armenian meets its need for petrol
in two directions. The first direction is to bring the petrol
from Bulgaria to Batumi port and the next one from Romania
to Poti port. "NefteXimBurgas" Company delivers the petrol to
"Gorpetrolservice" through "Lukoil Georgia". Strange to say, the main
purchaser of this petrol is the Defense Ministry of Armenia. The
second fuel route is Romania-Batumi one. This fuel is brought by
"Rompetrolgeorgia" and delivered to Armenia through "Flash" Company.

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE PA PRESIDENT GORAN LENNMARKER TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN, SEPTEMBER 1

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 28 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. Goran Lennmarker, special rapporteur
of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the situation in Georgia and South
Ossetia will visit Azerbaijan on September 1. APA reports quoting
Regnum that the visit will take place within the framework of his
travel to the South Caucasus. Following his visit to Azerbaijan,
Goran Lennmarker will visit Armenia and Georgia.

Goran Lennmarker will make report on the situation in Georgia at the
meeting of OSCE PA in Toronto on September 18-21.

Goran Lennmarker was appointed special rapporteur on the situation
in Georgia and South Ossetia on August 16. He is also the special
representative of OSCE PA President for Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Before Goran Lennmarker had been special rapporteur of OSCE PA for
Nagorno Karabakh and President of the Parliamentary Assembly for
two years.