Month: September 2008

TURKISH-ARMENIAN FOOTBALL DIPLOMACYTURKISH PRESIDENT ABDULLAH GUL’S VISIT TO ARMENIA THIS WEEKEND SIGNALS THAT TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE COOLING
Stephen Kinzer

guardian.co.uk
Wednesday September 03 2008

The announcement this week that President Abdullah Gul of Turkey will
visit Armenia on Saturday suggests that the long and highly emotional
estrangement between these two neighbours might finally be ending.

That would be a spectacular breakthrough for both countries. Turkey
is assuming a new and promising role as a peacemaker in the Middle
East and the Caucasus, but cannot be fully effective as long as it is
feuding with a neighbour. Armenia is wretchedly poor and isolated,
and could begin to reconnect with the wider world through a new
partnership with Turkey.

There have never been high-level negotiations between these
two countries, so Gul’s visit can safely be described as
historic. Officially he is going to attend a football match between
Turkish and Armenian teams. He has let it be known, however, that
he intends to do some serious negotiating with his host, President
Serge Sarkisian.

"I met him in Kazahkstan," Gul told me in Istanbul last month. "I
told him, ‘We are the sons of this land, you see, and we have to
solve our problems, not with hostile feelings – we should not feed
hostile feelings.’ I saw him reasonable."

Turkey was among the first countries to recognise Armenia after
it became independent in 1990, but closed its land border three
years later after Armenian fighters seized the Nagorno-Karabakh
region of Azerbaijan. Gul is likely to discuss ways to resolve this
long-festering dispute.

Turkey is paying great attention to regional security issues these
days, and the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia has riveted
its attention. In its wake, Turkey has proposed that all countries in
the region join in a new Caucasian Stability and Cooperation Pact. Such
a pact, however, would not be credible without Armenia’s participation.

Turkey’s rise to regional-power status has been possible only because
it has dramatically improved its relations with its neighbours. Armenia
is the sole exception. For more than a decade, Turkey has sought to
isolate Armenia by keeping it out of regional groupings and cutting
it out of oil pipeline plans. Strategists in Ankara have concluded
that this policy is no longer viable. They now appear willing to
seek compromise.

Whether the two leaders can make substantial progress this weekend is
not the only uncertainty surrounding Gul’s trip. Armenian nationalists,
who match their Turkish counterparts in fanaticism, are outraged by
the prospect of his visit. Some may try to disrupt the match or set
off protests inside the stadium. Turkey’s ruling party has denied
permission for a group of its leading members to attend the match,
citing security concerns.

Youth groups from the two countries, though, are planning to stage
pro-peace demonstrations in and around the stadium. In Yerevan, the
effort is being led by young radio announcers, one of whom told a
Turkish newspaper that the time had come "to start dialogue and share
our pain". That led a Turkish group called Young Civilians to organise
a 50-member delegation that plans to wave peace banners at the stadium.

"We do not need official ideologies any more," the group said in
a statement. "There, in that stadium, we will stand shoulder to
shoulder."

Some of Turkey’s powerful military commanders are said to be troubled
by the idea of better Turkish-Armenian relations. So are some in the
Armenian disapora, who want Turkey to admit the role that Ottoman
leaders played in organising the massacre of Armenians in 1915. Within
Armenia, however, most people are focused on their own troubles. A poll
last year found that only 4% of Armenians think that what Turkey says
or does not say about the massacre 93 years ago should matter today.

The authorities in Yerevan had to rein in the diaspora this summer.

Armenian-Americans, who have powerful influence in Washington,
had managed for months to block the US Senate’s approval of a new
ambassador to Armenia because the nominee refused to describe the
killings of 1915 as genocide.

Armenian leaders, however, decided they needed an American ambassador
in Yerevan, and arranged for their friends in Washington to call off
their campaign and allow the new ambassador to be confirmed.

By agreeing to begin top-level discussions, Turkey and Armenia
are seeking to break the awful grip that history has on their
relationship. They are realising that better relations would have
dramatically positive effects on both sides of their long-sealed
border – and perhaps far beyond.

GOOD RELATIONS OF A NUMBER OF BANKS WITH SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES INFRINGE ON THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF THEIR CLIENTS

arminfo
2008-09-03 21:28:00

ArmInfo. The good relations of a number of banks with some insurance
companies infringe on the freedom of choice of their clients, the
chairman of the State Committee on Protection of Economic Competition
Ashot Shahnazaryan said today.

The Committee has started administrative proceedings on the basis
of a written application of the chairman of the Central Bank of
Armenia Artur Javadyan, who says that when granting mortgage or car
loans some banks advise their clients to apply to specific partner
insurance companies.

The Committee says that the clients of ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank,
Areximbank, Byblos Bank and Armbusinessbank are served exclusively
by INGO Armenia insurance company, the clients of Cascade Bank,
Ardshininvestbank and Artsakhbank – by RASKO, Prometey Bank – by Nairi
Insurance. In some cases the banks are direct or indirect founders of
their partner insurance companies. Particularly, Armeconombank holds
20% stake in Sil Insurance, Cascade Capital Holding (Cascade Bank)
– 65% stake in Cascade Insurance with 96% of its clients insuring
their property in that company.

The Committee has ruled that the actions of the above-mentioned nine
banks infringe on fair competition and has warned them. The Committee
has instructed the CB to take measures to ensure equal conditions
for all financial market participants and to inform clients that they
are free to choose whatever insurance company they like.

PUTRID SPOTS TAKEN FOR INJURIES
Anna Amiryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Sep 2008
Armenia

Interview with the Director of the Center of Expertise of Health
Ministry Shota Vardanyan.

"Mr. Vardanyan your clarifications given during the last session
of the NA Temporary Committee Investigating March 1-2 developments
gave grounds to various contradicting commentaries by different Mass
Media. Particularly it was mentioned that the number of the injured
given by you don’t coincide with the data of the police."

"Before speaking about the data possessed by the police I would like
to touch upon the issue of the number of victims. We had 10 cases of
victims, from which 8 died on March 1-2 and 2 died in the hospital
40 days later.

That is to say 8 people died on March 1-2 and passed the post mortem
examination after two days and two of the victims – Tigran Abgaryan
and Samvel Harutyunyan suffered for more than a month.

Tigran Abgaryan -the second serviceman who became the victim of March
1-2 developments (Hamlet Tadevosyan was the next one), died on April
11 and 8.00 p.m. and next day passed the post mortem examination.

As for civilian Samvel Harutyunyan, he also died on April 11 and passed
post mortem examination on April 13. The photos clearly show that
they have been injured by blunt tools. He was taken to the hospital
on March 1, 10.10 p.m., in the state of unconsciousness. Which means
we didn’t see him immediately, he has been shifted to our center from
the 3rd clinics.

He suffered a very serious brain injury, which is clearly shown in the
photo. By the way we have submitted all the photos to the temporary
committee. But they have taken the putrid spots for injuries."

"According to the member of the committee A. Shahbazyan S.

Harutyunyan’s parents’ state that before death he has been beaten
severely."

"There have been no signs of being beaten. It is a post-death process.

When someone dies putrid spots appear. After the surgery our doctors
managed to keep him alive for a long period of time."

"There have been mutual accusations of using guns during March
1-2 developments, what can you say in this regard? Do the injuries
received by the policemen prove that the demonstrators have really
used guns? Is it possible to clarify by examination what type of guns
have been used?"

"During the previous months the 87 policemen were under stationary
medical care, and 111 policemen have been investigated, the total
number of the investigated policemen made up 198, from which only 21
have not been injured. You have got the exact day and time of their
medical investigation.

Some of them have been investigated when they were in the hospital,
the other came later.

We can also give20exact information about the citizens who passed
forensic investigation in our center. 14 of those citizens were under
investigation in ambulatory circumstances and 2 citizens were in normal
health state. Six citizens received serious gun injuries. As regards
the policemen who passed medical investigation – one of them received
serious gun injuries the other 25 were injured by a blast. Only 7
citizens received blast injuries of serious and average gravity."

"Let’s return to the type of the guns. Does the Scientific Medical
center of forensic examination have the possibility to identify the
type of the guns?"

"We have taken the photos of the bullets and handed them over to the
law enforcers. It is very difficult to say exactly what type of guns
has been used. And we are not competent. We can only say that we have
found a certain metallic bullet of this or that color and we give it
for investigation.

After all there are certain departments in the Ministry of Justice
that can identify the type of the guns."

"One clarification! Can you identify the injuries received by
"hedgehogs?"

"Of course no. It is not possible to exactly say that this or that
injury was received by "hedgehogs". But if there are speculations
in this regard you can bring certain specialists who can prove 100%
that some injuries were received by "he dgehogs." Though we have
certain cases that clearly show that."

To be continued
From: Baghdasarian

DASHNAKTSUTYUN DEMANDS RECOGNITION OF ARTSAKH’S INDEPENDENCE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Sep 2008
Armenia

Yesterday was the 17th anniversary of the independence of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh. On this occasion ARF Dashnaktsutyun party held
a demonstration yesterday.

NA Deputy Speaker Hrayr Karapetyan in his speech considered it symbolic
that the anniversary of Artsakh’s independence is solemnly celebrated
in Yerevan as well. "Artsakh is the symbol of the struggle of all
Armenians and the victory of the first refuge of Armenian Cause. The
world recognizes the nations’ right to sovereignty. Today Artsakh
issue has ripened in terms of the international recognition of NKR’s
independence.

But unfortunately the superpowers use double standard politics in
the nations’ right to sovereignty. Today we demand from the world to
recognize NKR’s independence, the right to independence of Artsakh
Armenian’s."

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN POLITICS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Sep 2008
Armenia

In the press conference held yesterday, L. Ter-Petrosyan made several
interesting statements.

Who will be LTP’s legal successor, i.e. the leader of the
"opposition"? Stepan Demirtchyan or David Shahnazaryan? The speaker
was very displeased to answer this question. "There is no point in
speaking about the names of individuals today. Individuals do not
matter to me. It so happened that I am at the head of the movement at
present. For me, the important thing is to strengthen the movement and
make it a permanent political factor in Armenia. As to the leader,
it is always possible to find one. And that leader will be the most
deserving person. Make no doubt about it!"

How is the ex-President going to achieve the realization of the
principal slogan of the upcoming demonstration, i.e. the resignation
of Serge Sargsyan? "I wouldn’t like to make it a simple and primitive
matter.

What is known as a principal slogan is nothing more than a slogan
which implies large-scale work on a horizontal level and in different
directions.

The essence of our activity consists in strengthening the movement,
i.e. bringing the congress into existence, and that will spontaneously
lead to a shift of power; that’s true. It will lead to the resignation
of Serge Sargsyan.

It’s not that we demanded his resignation, and he resigned. No one
ever resigns from his post in that way. Serge Sargsyan should, at
some moment, see that he is not accepted by an organized group of
society vs. some uncertain mass of people, and that he cannot rule
this country any more," the leader-congressman replied.

To what extent is the leader’s innermost desire realistic? "I
strive for that. Whether or not I will manage to do that is known
to God only. I am a modest person, and I have never overestimated
my potentials. I have only set a task, an objective. If I achieve
its realization, that will be good; if not, that will not be the end
of the world. There are also some people who think that we will not
reach our aim under any circumstances," the speaker said, returning
to the harsh reality.

And, forgetting about the bitter experience of 1996, he became
sincerely astonished: can one stick to the throne so persistently? "The
so-called power, the practice of sticking to power is characteristic
to the criminal authorities only. Authorities which are honest never
stick to power."

The authorities, in his opinion, "are facing a problem in terms of
communicating with society and being acceptable to that society"
and not him or the "pan-national movement.

To be honest, we are facing a problem too. If the situation has come
to dead end, it is true for both parties.=2 076 of our friends are
now in prison, and the international community tolerates that. As to
how long they will remain tolerant I don’t know it, but there is not
yet anyone standing on their way."

One of the journalists tried to figure out whether the speaker
considered Robert Kocharyan as a potential rival on the way of his
further progress.

"What if I say I didn’t understand the question? I haven’t been engaged
in politics for 10 years. I was engaged in scholarly activity during
the past 10 years and wasn’t the rival of anyone in all that period.

That’s all.

To be a political rival means to run for election. I don’t know what
Robert Kocharyan is doing now. He is not engaged in politics. When
he starts his political activity again, and I continue my political
activity too, we’ll become rivals. It’s quite possible that we may
become allies at some moment. Everything is possible in politics,"
Mr. Ter-Petrosyan said, trying to sound sharp-witted.

And in order not to be "misunderstood", he added, "This was a joke,
but such strange things are really possible in politics." And the
evidence is the ex-President’s second advent and the incredibly high
result he attained in the elections.

With regard to the rumors on Robert Kocharyan’s return, the
ex-President said "I am very sorry, and I don’t=2 0want you to think
that I avoid giving an answer, but these are gossips. And I am not in
the habit of interpreting gossips and making judgments about them. When
he returns to politics, we’ll talk about it," the founding-chairman
said, changing the subject of the conversation.

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NKR WAS REOPENED

Azat Artsakh Daily
03 Sep 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On September 1, 2008 the official website of the President of the
Nagorno Karabagh Republic was reopened. Please, visit us on the
following address:

ALEXANDER ISKANDARIAN: WORLD DEALS WITH A NEW SOUTH CAUCASUS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 3, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The most important change in the
region of South Caucasus after the five-day war is the formation of
a new subject, South Ossetia. Alexander Iskandarian, the Director
of the Caucasian Media Institute, stated at the September 3 round
table dedicated to prospects of development of political processes
in the region.

In his words, earlier South Ossetia could not be named a subject
in the sense other non-recognized states in the South Caucasus are
named. The latter, as A. Iskandarian classed it, was the weakest
link among the non-recognized South Caucasian states and differed
with presence of mixed Georgian-Ossetian population. And now, after
forcing Georgian population out of the territory of South Ossetia as
a result of military operations, the situation has changed.

The second important change that happened in the region, in the
political scientist’s opinion, is Georgia’s weakening. "At present
the image of Georgia is the image of a different country and it is
obvious that Georgia is not going to solve the Abkhazian and South
Ossetian problems through a war in the coming years."

The third important change, in Iskandarian’s opinion, is "frightened
Azerbaijan," the evidence of which is official Baku’s reaction to the
events in Georgia. "The situation formed in Azerbaijan rather looks
like panic. The evidence of it is both the first statements and the
statement of the Foreign Ministry that was followed by long silence."

In conclusion A. Iskandarian said that today the world deals with a
new South Caucasus, which has radically changed.

CBA RAISES INTEREST RATE OF REFINANCING BY 0.25% TO 7.75%

Noyan Tapan

Se p 3, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. At the September 2 sitting,
the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Board made a decision to raise
the interest rate of refinancing by 0.25% and to fix it at 7.75%,
NT was informed by the PR Service of the CBA.

PRESIDENTS MEET IN SOCHI

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
03 Sep 2008
Armenia

By the invitation of the RF President Dmitry Medvedev, President
Serge Sargsyan yesterday left for Sochi.

Welcoming the Armenian President, the Russian leader noted that the
meetings between the two countries’ Presidents are held at regular
intervals, "Last time we communicated with each other during your
visit to Moscow.

The visit was meaningful, and the dialogue continues at present."

The Russian President presented his considerations on the urgent
international issues and foreign policy. He pointed out that the
member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will
elaborate their attitudes with regard to the developments in South
Ossetia during the summit to be held in Moscow at the end of the week.

In his speech, President Serge Sargsyan particularly mentioned that
"the working meetings between the Armenian and Russian Presidents
in Sochi have become a good tradition. This is a good opportunity
for discussing issues concerning both bilateral and multilateral
cooperation in a peaceful atmosphere. Besides, Armenia is to take
over the CSTO chairmanship in a few days."

"Rubezh 2008" military trainings for headquarter commanders and the
session of the CSTO Defense Ministers were organized in Armenia quite
recently, and the session of the Secretaries of the Security Council
is to take place20tomorrow.

I would like to discuss economic issues, the questions concerning
the further strengthening and extension of our relationship within
the frameworks of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and of
course, the current situation in the South Caucasus. This is our first
meeting after the developments in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia.

I would like once again to express my condolences to a number of people
for the death of the Russian citizens and peacekeepers. I am sorry
that the events developed in this way, and I do want the aftermaths
of the humanitarian disaster to be eliminated speedily. By the way,
it is already two weeks that schoolchildren from South Ossetia are
expected to arrive in Armenia. We want to make all the possible
efforts for eliminating the aftermaths."

During the tête-a-tête, the Presidents of the two countries
expressed satisfaction with the high level of the mutual cooperation
and political dialogue between the two strategic allies -something
which derives from the interests of the two brother nations.

During their meeting, Presidents Serge Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev
touched upon the situation in the South Caucasus. Both parties
expressed conviction that the restoration of peace and stability in the
region derives from the interests of all the countries. The Presidents
emphasized that such development of events is an additional proof
that the military settlement of the conflicts in the South Caucasus
has no prospects, and it leads to unpredictable consequences.

Presidents Serge Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev also discussed issues
concerning the prospects of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation
in security and technical military spheres within the frameworks of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization. President Serge Sargsyan
pointed out that the Republic of Armenia, which is soon going to take
over the chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization,
desires to use that time period for the purpose of increasing the
effectiveness of the organization’s work still further.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed questions regarding
the process of the settlement of the Nagrno Karabakh conflict. Dmitry
Medvedev reiterated his attitude with regard to the settlement of the
conflict exclusively through negotiations and expressed his support
to the ongoing negotiation process within the frameworks of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

During their meeting, Presidents Serge Sargsyan and Dmitry Medvedev
also had a discussion over a broad framework of issues concerning
economic cooperation. The Presidents expressed satisfaction with the
volumes of the good circulation between the two countries and the
recent years’ growth of the Russian investments in the economy of
Armenia. During the meeting, the Presidents also discussed questions
concerning the prospects of the implementation of the joint regional
programs in the spheres of energy and transport.

The discussions between the two countries’ Presidents continued during
the lunch; thereafter, Serge Sargsyan returned to Armenia.

P.S. We believe it was not absolutely accidental that the meeting
between the Armenian and Russian Presidents took place on September 2,
the day of the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

PRESS SERVICE OF THE PRESIDENT

–Boundary_(ID_bDI/KLnuLRgISTsTwG4Lqg)- –

WORLD CONGRESS OF AZERBAIJANI YOUTH CALLS ON TURKISH PRESIDENT NOT TO VISIT ARMENIA

Trend News Agency
Sept 3 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 September/ TrendNews, I. Alizade/ The World
Congress of Azerbaijani Youth calls on Turkish President Abdullah Gul
not to visit Armenia and continue to take principal position. "We
protest against Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia
and believe that the Turkish government should refrain from this move
which has been adopted under the influence of a number of states and
Armenian lobby as well," the statement released by the issued by the
World Congress of Azerbaijani Youth said.

The Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan invited Turkish President Gul
to Yerevan to take part in a football match of Turkish and Armenian
teams to be held on 6 September.

The Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian communities are observing
closely whether invitation of Armenian President will be accepted or
turned down.

There are no any diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey
with Armenia-Turkey border being closed since 1993 at the initiative
of official Ankara. Ankara calls on Armenia to give up the policy of
recognition of "Armenian genocide" allegedly committed during Ottoman
Empire on the international level, to recognize Turkey’s borders and
free occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

The Congress says Gul’s visit will affect millions of Azerbaijanis
who lost their relatives during war in Karabakh and. "The visit
will seriously affect our relations which have been maintained and
developed for years".

The statement said the aim of visit of Gul who is going to negotiate
with Armenians.