Month: October 2008

NINE OF 12 PRESIDENTS OF CIS COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMIT IN BISHKEK

ARMENPRESS
Oct 9, 2008

BISHKEK, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS: The summit of the council of heads
of the CIS countries will take place October 10 in Bishkek with the
participation of nine of the 12 presidents of the CIS countries,
Kyrgyz foreign ministry reported.

Tomorrow Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Moldovan
President Vladimir Voronin, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev,
President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmonov, Turkmen President
Ghurbanghulu Berdimuhamedov, Uzbekistani President Islam Karimov,
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev will participate in the works of
the summit.

In connection with the presidential elections in Azerbaijan instead
of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of the country
Arthur Rasizade will participate in the session.

Georgia which has declared of quitting its membership to CIS will
not send an official delegation to Bishkek.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported that stemming from the political
situation in the country Victor Yushchenko will not participate in
the session as well.

MINISTER OF DIASPORA VISITED ALEPPO

AZG Armenian Daily
10/10/2008

Armenia-Diaspora

Armenian Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian paid a working visit
to Aleppo October 4-7 to participate in the 85th general meeting of
the Armenian General Benevolent Union.

Delegations from 17 countries were present at the 85th general meeting.

In the framework of the visit, Hranush Hakobian met both the officials
of Aleppo and the representatives of the Armenian community.

At the General Consulate of Armenia to Aleppo the Minister met
with the leaders of the Armenian traditional political parties and
representatives of cultural-educational institutions.

Armenia-Diaspora cooperation was the main topic of discussions.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM OF AMERICA RECEIVED DONATION

AZG Armenian Daily
10/10/2008

Armenian Genocide

The library of the Armenian Genocide Museum of America has recently
received a donation of exceptional collection of books and printed
materials about the Armenian Genocide.

The collection that consists of several thousand rare and out-of-print
books and documents will be given to the Museum at its opening ceremony
in 2010.

The collection embraces various valuable units, i.e. maps, photos
and other historical evidences acquired from different archives as
a result of researches and studies.

The donors want to remain unknown.

"THEY HOPE THAT TER-PETROSYAN WILL FREE THEM…"

A1+
[04:21 pm] 09 October, 2008

The Armenian People’s Party condemns the persecution of French Armenian
liberation fighter Sargis Hatspanian. "This goes to show that the
police still abide by the commands of head of the investigative
department Andranik Mirzoian aimed at the Marz prosecutors. They
continue to follow-up on the opposition activists, organize secret
hearings of their conversations, gather data from their friends
and relatives," told A1+ member of the APP political council Ruzan
Khachatrian.

She said that proof of that was when the police surrounded
Sargis Hatspanian’s house seven months ago when he just arrived
to Yerevan. "That means that the authorities have followed-up
on Hatspanian for the past seven months. After all this, how
can they talk about the PACE resolutions and the Human Rights
Commissioner? International organizations must be scared of the
Armenian authorities."

Ruzan Khachatrian is amazed to hear some people claim that some
political prisoners have been released. "No political prisoner has been
released to date because the courts have not released any one of them."

Khachatrian knows for a fact that the authorities are not planning on
doing anything and believes that they are doing that simply to get
in the public eye. Khachatryan also believes that the people expect
immediate steps from the opposition, just to get rid of this regime.

"The only hope of the people is for Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the
national movement members to free them from these authorities."

"THAT ROAD LEADS TO THE MOSQUES"

A1+
[07:17 pm] 09 October, 2008

After the rejection of Judge of the general jurisdiction court of
the Kentron and Nork-Marash district communities Gayane Karakhanian,
Gagik Avetisian continued the trial of member of the "Republic"
party political council member Smbat Ayvazian. The defendant’s
side made a series of arbitrations right at the beginning of the
session. First, attorney Lusine Sahakian mediated the judge not to
continue the session, but rather restart it because the judge had
been changed. The judge denied the arbitration due to the fact that
he did not see any reason to start an investigation and that he was
doing that for the benefit of Ayvazyan, that is, to continue the
trial for a reasonable period.

"If the court were objective, the session would start with the arrest
on the morning of February 24. It is clear that the reasonable period
for the court sessions is the period for us to give the power back to
the people," stated Smbat Ayvazian. "The case has been in court for
four months, but actually the case is not in progress. You are simply
keeping me in jail knowing very well that you can’t reach a verdict."

The defendant’s side mediated to release Smbat Ayvazian taking into
account the fact that the court doesn’t have permission to keep
anybody in jail for nearly seven months.

"We are arbitrating the court to release Smbat Ayvazian. His arrest
was legally unsubstantiated," said attorney Yervand Varosian.

The court postponed discussion of the arbitration until the defendant
testified. But Ayvazian refused to testify. "My testimony is ready,
but now is not the right time." That was when the judge announced
that Ayvazian had to testify in front of the jury and not the
journalists. "I have no expectations from the court. I feel much
freer in my cell than in the courtroom," said Ayvazian.

Afterwards, the defendants arbitrated to investigate citizens Artak
Sisakian and Vardan Kirakosian, who had been with Ayvazian on the
day of the event. The court will declare its verdict on October 13
at 12:30 p.m.

Before leaving, Smbat Ayvazian said: "There will be a state overturn
in December. This criminal regime is trying to prolong its illegitimate
power at the cost of Karabagh. We will somehow forgive them for keeping
us in prison, but I can assure you that we will not forgive them for
their policy on Karabagh. I wish to warn them that that road is leading
them straight to the mosques and that means betraying the nation."

IS TIGRAN SARGSIAN UNSERIOUS?

A1+
[07:42 pm] 09 October, 2008

"For years, Tigran Sargsian announced that Armenia’s bank is
well-developed and has integrated into the international banking
market. Now, Sargsian is not serious when he announces that the
world economic crisis will not affect Armenia. Only an unserious
person could say something like that," says former prime minister,
economist Hrant Bagratian.

During a press conference held today at the National Press Club,
Hrant Bagratian did not exclude that the economic crisis is milder in
Armenia due to Armenia’s isolation. "However, no matter how isolated
Armenia is, we are also a part of the world and it would be better
if we felt those economic ups-and-downs. The oligarchies had to feel
those ups-and-downs first and not the people."

Will the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border endanger Armenia’s
economic development? In response to that Hrant Bagratian said: "We
will experience a small, brief shock. If we really set our minds to
creating, after three years the Turks will be the ones complaining
about the opening of the border."

Hrant Bagratian briefly touched upon Tigran Sargsian’s intention to
create an international pan-Armenian bank. "He is creating a new job
for himself."

Bagratian also touched upon the state budget and said: "In 1995,
the budget had a 3-4% deficit; thirteen years later that deficit has
gone down by two percent. Do you call that development?"

ONLY TO EXPRESS CONCERN

A1+
[08:02 pm] 09 October, 2008

Will the OSCE help to reveal the murder cases in the army? "The
OSCE can’t conduct an investigation. That is a problem for the local
authorities, especially the prosecutor general and the police to solve
and it doesn’t fit in our mandate," told "A1+" Head of the OSCE office
in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos. He noted that in such cases,
if the issue at hand fits in the OSCE mandate, they can raise the
issue in corresponding state structures, clarify the situation and
express concern if necessary.

Let us remind that early this week the OSCE and the RA Ombudsman’s
office signed a contract with the purpose of setting order in the
armed forces.

"The contract foresees professional aid, which will help to analyze
the cases of order in the army, clarify the current issues and find
out whether or not they correspond to international standards, as
well as observe the complaints and appeals connected with the rules
and regulations of the army," said Sergey Kapinos.

Let us mention that during last week’s parliamentary session NA
"Heritage" faction deputy Anahit Bakhshian had made a proposal to
form a temporary committee on the investigation of the murder cases of
the soldiers upon the request of the parents of the deceased soldiers.

"We also talked to the president of the NA standing human rights
committee, but Zaruhi Postanjyan must address us in written form,"
told "A1+" Anahit Bakhshian.

NEGLIGENCE?

A1+
[08:26 pm] 09 October, 2008

French citizen, participant of the Artsakh war Sargis Hatspanian
wants to know why nobody told him that there was a mistake in his
Armenian passport when he left for Europe on August 21 and when he
returned to Yerevan on October 7.

RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunian told "A1+" that this was a result of
negligence on the part of the corresponding bodies. Hatspanian had an
RA temporary residency status, which Robert Kocharyan had considered
no longer valid on March 10.

"He went to France, came back to Armenia, but without a visa and the
residency status had already been considered no longer valid. So,
he entered Armenia illegally. The authorities have the right to exile
him, but there is another problem. He can’t be exiled if he has two
minor children with a legal status," said Armen Harutyunian. The chief
police officer of the Kentron district community told Harutyunian
that if Hatspanian doesn’t open his door, the police will appeal to
the court to let them enter.

Since Hatspanian is a citizen of France, "A1+" tried to get
information from the French Embassy of Armenia, but French Consul
in Armenia Jak Sharoti informed through one of the workers of the
embassy’s press service that it would be better to ask the Armenian
authorities. According to the French Embassy worker, the Armenian
authorities have more information regarding the issue.

Let us remind that the police want to exile Sargis Hatspanian from
Armenia and that is why Hatspanian’s house has been surrounded
by police officers since last night. Sargis Hatspanian, who went
underground after the events of March 1, says that the authorities
want to exile him from Armenia for his political views.

FOREIGN MINISTRY OF RUSSIA: "NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT NEEDS PATIENCE"

Panorama.am
18:06 09/10/2008

During the presidential elections in Azerbaijan the negotiations on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be stopped but with the perspectives to
be continued and Russian side is ready to take part in the negotiating
process, announced Andrey Nesterenko, the representative of Foreign
Ministry of Russia.

"To me there is no escalation in the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, although negotiations are being implemented with all the
interested sides. Russia has serious participation in this process,"
said Mr. Nesterenko. According to him, the international practice
has proved that patience is needed in this part of the conflict.

Remind that the Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov has announced
that "2-3 questions remained unsolved in Nagorno Karabakh conflict
and the key point is Lachin corridor".

"As a side of negotiations we feel that the solution is realistic,"
he said.

ARMENIA TO LOSE POSITIONS

Panorama.am
18:07 09/10/2008

In 134 countries of the world Armenia occupied 97th horizontal by
the index of competitiveness losing its positions by 4 horizontals,
said Manuk Yergnyan, the head of "Economy and values" research center
when presenting the annual report of World Economic Forum. According to
him in the indexes of Armenia no serious changes gave been registered.

According to this index of competitiveness Moldova is on 95th
horizontal from the CIS countries, Tajikistan is 116,

Azerbaijan has also lost its positions and currently is in the 69th
horizontal (in previous year 66). The index of Georgia has remained
unchangeable – 90th horizontal.

Considering the labour market effectiveness, Armenia is in better
positions, occupying 45th horizontal.

Mr. Yergnyan said that the data of World Finance Market and the
political conditions in Armenia are not considered in the assessment.