Month: August 2008

NO PROGRESS EXPECTED IN KARABAKH PROCESS UNLESS RUSSIA DECLINES, BAKU SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.08.2008 15:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ No progress should be expected from today’s meeting
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in Moscow,
an Azeri political scientist said.

"Practice has shown that such meetings do not bring the positions
closer. The point is that Russian doesn’t want resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. This meeting is Kremlin’s attempt to look
like a successful mediator," Vafa Guluzade said.

"It was Russia that got Armenia to occupy 20 percent of Azerbaijani
territory. Now, it tries to paint Armenia as an aggressor and organizes
meetings between Armenian and Azeri Ministers. Neither Karabakh
nor any other conflict in CIS, will not be resolved unless Russia –
with its imperial manners – declines," Guluzade said, 1news.az reports.

Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov met today in Moscow on
initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA NEEDS SECURE LAND TRANSIT TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.08.2008 15:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia doesn’t need a span of former Georgian SSR,
because it’s strategically useless, says an article titled "Western
Transcaucasia: goals and ways to achieve them".

However, according to the author, Russia can’t put up with
transformation of its neighbors’ territory into a multipurpose
anti-Russian platform. "It includes bases of separatists, laboratory
of velvet resolutions, GUAM and home for NATO forces. Georgia has even
left behind the Baltic States known for their Russophobia," he says.

"Russia needs a secure, cheap and quality rest for its citizens in
local resorts and delivery of agricultural production in compliance
with Russian standards. It needs a land transit to Armenia, its only
ally in the Transcaucasia, surrounded by hostile Azerbaijan, neutral
Iran, NATO Turkey and NATO-aspired Georgia.

Some U.S. officials offer to resolve the Karabakh problem though
exchange of territories between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the latter
being isolated from Iran. An air-bridge a-la Berlin is impossible,
since Russia’s transport aviation is weak. We should never forget
about the 102nd base located in Armenia, which was reproached for
‘not sufficient pro-Russian position’. However, living in permanent
threat of blockade, our ally is holding on! No one knows how patient
it can be. Furthermore, in case of U.S. aggression against Iran the
issue of Iranian Azerbaijan will emerge and Armenia will one day
face a united 20-million Azerbaijan," says the article published by
Military-Industrial Courier (Voyenno-Promyshlenniy Kuryer).

GEORGIAN OMBUDSMAN TO LEAVE FOR JAVAKHK TO STUDY THE SITUATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.08.2008 16:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia’s Ombudsman Sozar Subari and Georgian
President’s advisor on integration issues Tamar Kintsurashvili will
pay a visit to Samtskhe Javakheti, particularly to Akhalkalaki,
to meet with representatives of the local authorities and NGOs.

The officials will also familiarize themselves with the situation in
the region, the Armenian population of which seeks help from Armenia’s
Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan.

Mr Harutyunyan’s press office said the Ombudsman is deeply concerned
over the tensions in Javakheti, specifically the murder of two
Armenian policemen.

Meanwhile a source in the regional administration said that the recent
developments have nothing to do with politics. "It’s not the first
time when some forces attempt to attach a political coloring to any
incident in the region," it said, Novosti Georgia reports.

On July 20, three days after the explosion near the house belonging
to Akhalkalaki police chief Samvel Petrosyan, Georgian special forces
and police rushed into the house belonging to United Javakhk leader,
Vahagn Chakhalyan, and arrested his and his family members – his
parents and brother.

Another United Javakhk member, Aram Batoyan, is also kept in custody.

Policemen Arthur Berujanyan and Armen Gabrielyan were killed. Local
police chiefs said the latter committed suicide.

EVEN WORSE INDEX

A1+
[12:55 pm] 01 August, 2008

Life in the Regional Center Ijevan, Tavush Region is rather
active. There are many shops and food stores in the city. Besides
the city is under construction, but the economic activity is not
reflected in the community budget.

The City Council considered the writ of execution of the second
quarter of community budget. Private income of AMD 54.152.000 had been
scheduled for the second quarter, while the factual writ of execution
stated only AMD 16.833.000, i.e. only 31.1% of the predetermined
sum. This index is even worse than those of some border villages.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT BANNED

A1+
[02:30 pm] 01 August, 2008

Once again public transport is banned to take people from the regions
to the capital. In the morning the bus-stops of Abovyan were crowded,
but there was no transport to serve the people. Even taxis could
hardly be met.

The reason for the "emergency" state is the opposition rally, "against"
which the authorities have banned the public transport for a day.

"Every time we face one and the same situation. I have to go to the
tax inspectorate to hand in the monthly account. I am going to be
fined in case it is late. And I have no extra money for taking a taxi
to Yerevan," complained Silva. "The authorities can achieve nothing by
closing the roads. The problem should be given a fundamental solution,"
advised Gnel.

Reminder: the rally organized by the All Armenian Movement will take
place in the Matenadaran square at 7 p.m., today. It will be followed
by a march.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMEN TO MEET IN MOSCOW

Panorama.am
18:40 31/07/2008

The Co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group Mattew Bryza (USA), Bernard
Fassier (France), and Yuri Merzliakov (Russia) dealing with the NKR
conflict has had a meeting in Moscow, reported APA agency referring
to the French co-chairman.

According to the source it was a meeting-discussion. The results of
the recent visit of the co-chairmen to regional countries have been
discussed, as well as a few question connected with the meeting of
the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Remind that on 1 August Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan will have a
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mamediarov. OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen will be present at the meeting, but the Foreign
Ministers will have a vis-a-vis meeting.

ARMAVIA PASSENGERS GET FREE OF CHARGE VOUCHERS

Panorama.am
19:53 31/07/2008

VivaCell Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (NYSE: MBT) announces that since
July 3 passengers of Armavia flights can receive VivaCell prepaid
cards free of charge, reported the press service of VivaCell.

In the framework of a joint innovative promotional action of Armenia’s
leading mobile operator VivaCell and Armavia air company, henceforth,
special vouchers will be distributed to all passengers on Armavia
flights to Armenia, during the flights. These can be redeemed against
VivaCell ALO prepaid cards, either with Menk or Barbar tariff plan,
at one of VivaCell Service Centers, at anytime.

Persons aged 18 or above can receive the card upon presenting their
passport. As for all other coming flights, passengers can get an
Alo prepaid card free of charge, from the Airport free zone arrival
VivaCell Service Center.

AZERBAIJAN VIOLATED ARMISTICE AGREEMENT

Panorama.am
21:00 31/07/2008

In these days Azerbaijani military forces started some activities in
the front line of NKR, in the result of which armistice agreement has
been violated, reported the press service of the NKR Defense Ministry.

According to the source at night of July 28 and 29 and during the
day the military officers from the opposite side started shooting
disorderly. Armenian side took appropriate measures and the shooting
calmed down. Defense Ministry has not victims.

THE PROBLEMS OF THE FORMATION OF THE SYSTEM IN OCTOBER ARE PRESENTED

Panorama.am
14:24 01/08/2008

Hranush Hakobyan, the chairman of State Committee of Diaspora Affair
of MFA had a meeting with S. Ken Yamashita, the senior assistant of
European and Eurasian office of USA international development agency
and Robin Phillips, the chairman of Armenian office of the Agency.

According to press and international service of MFA, the main theme of
the meeting is possible cooperation between the ministry of Diaspora
and Armenian office of USA international developing agency.

H8anush Hakobyan presented the problems concerning the formation
of the new ministry and their solutions. She also presented the
functions of the ministry and its authorizations. Both sides turned
to the realization of Ministry`s projects and the fastening of
homeland-Diaspora relations.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY TO MAKE PART OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Noyan Tapan

Au gust 1, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Admitting the topicality of solution of
short-term and current political problems of declaration on creation
of the Armenian National Congress, the Conservative Party, at the
July 31 sitting of its Central Board, unanimously made a decision to
join the Armenian National Congress.

"The current illegitimate government in its essence is not able
to fulfil such priorities, as, we hope, we will manage to fulfil
together with our colleagues from the Armenian National Congress,"
the same day’s statement of the Conservative Party read.