Month: October 2008

RA FM TO ATTEND OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2008 17:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 16th OSCE Ministerial Council will take place
on 4 and 5 December in Helsinki.

The event will be held at the invitation of the 2008
Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb.

The Ministerial Council is the central decision-making and governing
body of the OSCE. The meeting, held annually, provides the foreign
ministers of the 56 OSCE participating States an opportunity to review
and assess the Organization’s activities during the past year and
offer national viewpoints on security matters.

As RA MFA media relations division head Tigran Balayan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
will attend the event.

MIKHAIL POGREBINSKY: ANY CIVILIZED PERSON KNOWS THAT 1915 EVENTS CONSTITUTED GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2008 18:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Groups of influence which could lobby the interests
of the Armenian people in the Rada have not formed yet, a Ukrainian
political scientist said.

"Any civilized person knows that 1915 events constituted a genocide,"
Mikhail Pogrebinsky said.

The problem is that President Viktor Yushchenko discredited the theme
of Genocide among the Ukrainian public, according to him.

"It’s conditioned by the fact that the hunger of 1930ies when millions
of people died is used now to monger hostilities between Ukraine and
Russia. The incumbent authorities gamble on the memory of the victims
to play of their political games," he said.

At the same time he supposes that the level of the Armenian-Ukrainian
relations is not sufficient.

"Ukraine’s foreign policy problems have emerged because of
the leadership’s ambitious plans and servility to the United
States. Armenia is beyond Ukraine’s schemes, that is why it has been
not paid proper attention so far," Pogrebinsky said, Analitika.at.ua
reports.

GEORGIA, RUSSIA HOLDING TALKS IN GENEVA

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2008 18:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgian and Russian officials are in Geneva for
key talks on the recent conflict over Georgia’s breakaway region of
South Ossetia.

The talks – which are being mediated by the UN, the EU and the OSCE –
are aimed at encouraging stability and security in the Caucasus. But
they are unlikely to provide a solution to the dispute, diplomats say.

Last week, Russian troops left their self-imposed buffer zones around
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in accordance with a French-brokered
ceasefire deal. But Moscow has said it plans to keep nearly 8,000
soldiers in the two rebel regions.

Georgia – which has cut off its diplomatic ties with Russia – says
the two regions are integral parts of its territory, demanding an
immediate pullout of the Russian troops.

Diplomats described the day’s events in Geneva as "proximity talks",
with representatives of the various international organisations
shuttling between Georgian and Russian officials.

On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in Geneva:
"The international discussion that shall take place tomorrow is a
beginning. This should not be seen as the end. "It may take time,
so we need to have some patience," he added.

Alexander Stubb, the current chairman of the Organisation for Security
and Co-operation in Europe, said: "We know that this is a long process,
we’re taking it slowly, step by step."

Another major sticking point is the format of the talks
themselves. Russia has been pressing for the inclusion of
representatives from Abkhazia and South Ossetia in any discussions,
but Georgia strongly opposes to the move. Representatives from the
two regions are in Geneva, but their role is unclear.

Diplomats in Geneva are so nervous that they would not confirm who
was sitting in the meeting room, BBC reports.

GUAM FUTILITY IS CONDITIONED BY LACK OF ECONOMIC FOUNDATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.10.2008 18:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ukraine’s benefit from GUAM is vague, a Ukrainian
political scientist said.

"During Leonid Kuchma’s presidency, GUAM was represented as an economic
structure. However, in 2000, our country rejected the idea of formation
of peacekeeping contingent, thus expressing unwillingness to make
the organization political and anti-Russian," Mikhail Pogrebinsky said.

"The situation changed with the shift of power. The Ukrainian
diplomacy started viewing GUAM as a restraint of Russian interest
in the Caucasus and Black Sea countries as well as in Central
Asia. However, GUAM is mostly a U.S. project and its futility is
conditioned by lack of economic foundation, the Caspian oil," he said,
Analitika.at.ua reports.

A CROSS-STONE IN MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ERECTED IN THE TOWN OF NIKOPOL, UKRAINE

ARMENPRESS
Oct 15, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Cross-stone dedicated to the
memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide opened October 11
in the central park of the town Nikopol, Dnepropetrovsk province,
Ukraine. The cross-stone has been erected on the initiative of the
Armenian community in Nikopol.

Press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress that
the consecration ceremony of the cross-stone has been done by the
priest of Dnepropetrovsk church Ter Hamazasp and the priest of the
Russian church in Nikopol Roman Katsnovetski.

Mayor of Nikopol Sergey Starunin, who was present at the ceremony,
noted in his speech that the genocide against Armenians is a crime
against humanity and erection of the cross-stone also has a preventive
character not to allow suchlike tragedies.

He also noted that the small Armenian community in Nikopol enjoys the
love and respect of the authorities of the town and the society and
actively participates in the social life of the town contributing to
its development. The park, where the cross-stone has been erected,
is decided to be named "Armenian".

Armenian Ambassador and authorized minister Jivan Movsisian, who
took part in the opening ceremony of the cross-stone, in his speech
thanked the authorities of the town for supporting the initiative of
the community.

He also thanked the authorities of the country for their care towards
the Armenian community and noted that the Armenian community is an
important factor in the development and consolidation of relationship
between Ukraine and Armenia.

Representatives of town’s official, social, cultural, scientific and
other ethnic minorities, Union of Armenians in Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk
provincial Armenian community spoke during the opening ceremony. The
event was covered by provincial and local media.

30,649 CARS IMPORTED TO ARMENIA DURING NINE MONTHS OF 2008

ARMENPRESS
Oct 15, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: About 30,649 cars have been imported
to Armenia during the nine months of this year of which 6,229 of
Russian production. The number of imported cars to Armenia increases
from year to year.

An official from the government-affiliated state incomes committee
press service told Armenpress that in the same span of the last year
25,103 cars were exported of which 5,059 Russian.

The price of 7,321 cars imported during the nine months of this
year reached 5,000 USD, 12,228 – 5,000-10,000 thousand USD, 4,127
10,000-15,000 thousand USD, 4,922 15,000-30,000 thousand USD and
1,981 more than 30,000 USD.

In 2006 26,152 and in 2007 34,672 cars were imported to Armenia.

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF BELARUS HANDS HIS CREDENTIALS

ARMENPRESS
Oct 15, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Newly appointed ambassador of Belarus
to Armenia Stepan Sukhorenko handed today his credentials to the
President of Armenia Serzh Sargsian.

Press service of the Armenian president told Armenpress that Serzh
Sargsyan congratulated the diplomat on the appointment and underscored
the high level of political dialogue between the two countries,
effective work in the international institutions and the positive
dynamics of economic cooperation.

According to the president, in the formation of relations, Armenia and
Belarus take into consideration also the facts that the two countries
are a part of the same security system and both of them are members
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization which gives special
importance to their relations.

Ambassador S. Sukhorenko said that he came to Armenia with great
positive emotions and considers the consolidation of bilateral
relations his main task.

He noted that he is going to pay special importance to the usage of
the existing economic potential. "Belarus is a reliable and stable
partner for Armenia," the diplomat pointed out.

The Armenian president assured that the ambassador can expect the
support of the Armenian side in his initiatives

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN DISCUSSES PRIORITIES OF ACTIVITY DURING ARMENIA’S CHAIRMANSHIP IN CSTO

ARMENPRESS
Oct 15, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 15, ARMENPRESS: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
received today Secretary General of the CSTO Nikolay Bordyuzha.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
the sides discussed the priorities of the activity of CSTO during
Armenia’s chairmanship of the organization, the expected different
events and the work connected with them. They also referred to the
work of the regulation bodies of the organization.

President Sargsyan once again pointed out Armenia’s determination in
the further development of CSTO.

"NO ONE SHOULD DOUBT THE CREDULOUSNESS OF OUR INFORMATION"

A1+
[06:14 pm] 15 October, 2008

On October 15 the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia
made a statement on the incident that was provoked on the eve at the
intersection of Mashtots and Tumanyan Streets. Representatives of the
Ombudsman’s Office were on the site when the police tried to prevent
the opposition activists from informing Yerevan citizens about an
October 17 rally. According to the RoA Ombudsman’s Office, there
were some fifty people at the intersection of Mashtots and Tumanyan
Streets. They intended to march through the capital and inform
our fellow citizens about the rally, knowing that no permission is
required for it. However, the police hindered the march. Moreover,
marchers later informed that the policemen seized their megaphone
and forced the off the place.

Nevertheless, some time later the police allowed the march but without
a megaphone, which is incompliant with the Armenian legislation. As
a result, the street became crowded, and people demanded that the
policemen stop hindering them. About 50 policemen pushed people
towards Northern Avenue, and in the presence of the representatives
of Ombudsman’s Office seized the other megaphone of the participants.

"The abovementioned information was immediately put down by the
representatives of the Ombudsman, which means there is no doubt about
its credulousness. Therefore, we urge the police to act in accordance
with the RoA Constitution and legislation and not to restrict the
constitutional rights of the RoA citizens," holds the statement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PERMISSIVENESS REIGNS IN POLICE STATIONS

A1+
[07:28 pm] 15 October, 2008

"I urge everyone to attend the opposition’s October 17 rally," former
deputy Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangiryan said today in the Court
of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash districts.

By the way the police escort accompanying Jhangiryan were on the
alert and saw Jhangiryan out immediately after his announcement.

Before Jhangiryan’s speech the Court heard three officers of the
criminal investigation department witnessing the detention of
Jhangiryan brothers by the Police sixth department on February 23.

"Do you know the defendant?" asked the Judge. "I am not a defendant. Do
you enjoy using the word? I am just put on trial. You can simply give
my name as you have done before," said indignant Jhangiryan.

The Judge seemed to have taken the remark for granted and did not
mention the word till the end of the trial.

One of the witnesses, Vardan Gevorgyan, told the presentees that on
February 23 by the order of deputy head of Yerevan’s Police department
Karen Babakekhyan he had gone downstairs to meet detained Vardan
Jhangiryan. Later on, already in the room, Jhangiryan asked permission
to walk as he didn’t feel well. Only then Gevorgyan noticed the blood
on the chair and guessed that Jhangiryan was wounded in the leg.

Officer Andreas Aprimyan remembered a handcuffed man being taken
to the Police department on February 23. Later he learnt that the
man was Gagik Jhangiryan. He simply confessed to the permissiveness
reigning in the Armenian Police. In reply to Jhangiryan’s question
whether Aprimyan had participated in his detention, the latter said:
"I am not guilty of anything. Panic was spread on that day. People
were being taken to police stations every now and then. I simply
executed an order. You can inquire from my superiors."

"That’s enough. You are already speaking nonsense," said the Judge.

The next court sitting is due at 2:00 October 21.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress