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RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR SOCHI ON SEPTEMBER 2

Noyan Tapan
Sep 1, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan will
leave for Sochi on a working visit on September 2, where he will meet
with RF President Dmitry Medvedev. According to the report provided
to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office, issues related
to further development of Armenian-Russian strategic partnership,
Armenia’s assuming chairmanship in CSTO soon, as well as regional
and international issues will be discussed during the meeting.

GIBRAHAYER E-MAGAZINE INITIATES AN ONLINE GAME-COMPETITION FOR ITS SUBSCRIBERS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 1, 2008

NICOSIA, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Gibrahayer
e-magazine will be launching an Educational online Trivia Game in which
the subscribers of the magazine can take part. In the framework of
the game the e-magazine will provide an educational forum on important
historical and political happenings of Armenian reality. A team across
Armenia and the Diaspora has already started working on the project
and the Game will be officially launched this autumn.

More than 100 major prizes have been donated.

STEPAN SAFARIAN AFFIRMS THAT ARFD TRIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S RETURN TO BIG POLITICS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 2, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Gagik Minasian, a
member of the Board of the Republican Party of Armenia, the relative
peace has been broken in the South Caucasus after August 8, and the
instability that emerged as a result of it in the region can last
very long. As he stated at the September 2 dispute, the uncertainty
will go on until the issue of Georgia’s membership to NATO becomes
clear. The RPA figure also said that the humanitarian crisis in the
region and the prospect of warming of Armenian-Turkish relations make
realistic the opening of the Kars-Gyumri railway.

Stepan Safarian, a member of the Board of the Zharangutiun (Heritage)
party, affirmed that Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s possible visit
to Armenia shoult not yet make RA authorities hope that the contacts
between the two countries will improve. "We welcome Serzh Sargsyan’s
invitation to A. Gul as a precedent, as an attempt. However, if I
were the RA authorities, I would not have much hopes connected with
Turkish President’s visit," A. Safarian said.

Touching upon the rally of ARFD to take place in the evening the same
day, the Zharangutiun representative said that though the rally is
dedicated to the Artsakh independence day, nevertheless, A. Gul’s
visit will be touched upon during the rally.

According to S. Safarian, lately it is obvious that former President
Robert Kocharian strives for returning to big politics, and ARFD
tries to contribute to it. "Armenian-Turkish relations were frozen
under R. Kocharian and S. Sargsyan has changed serious accents
in the RA foreign policy, and it contradicts ARFD’s principles,"
S. Safarian said.

PRESIDENT OF FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF ARMENIA: I EXPECT ONLY VICTORY IN UPCOMING MATCH AGAINST TURKEY

arminfo
2008-09-02 16:25:00

ArmInfo. ‘I am a maximalist by nature and I expect only victory in
6 September match of Armenia vs Turkey – 2010 FIFA World Cup draw’,
President of Football Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan said
at a press conference Tuesday.

He said all the players of the Armenian team except four have already
arrived in Yerevan and are in top form and ready to fight. ‘In case
of success, players will get a solid prize’, FFA president said. He
ruled out any political motives of the upcoming match and categorically
banned any political propaganda on tribunes.

R. Hayrapetyan said FFA provided FIFA quota for Turkish and however
Turkey has not made any relevant application so far except application
for 15 VIP-seats and 115 tickets. Alongside with local media 100
journalists from Turkey and 150 journalists from other states will
cover the match. FFA President urged the fans of Armenian team to
arrive at the Hrazdan Stadium at least 30 minutes before the match
to avoid jam and crowd. ‘Hrazdan Stadium has 55,000 seats and police
will be just unable to prevent jams of dozens of thousands of people
arrive at the stadium 10 minutes before the match’, Hayrapetyan said.

RUSSIA SHRUGS OFF EU ‘PUNISHMENT’
Jessica Le Masurier

Sky News
Sept 2 2008
UK

As the Russian Prime Minister struck a macho pose with a Siberian
tiger, the EU looked rather toothless after its emergency "what to
do about Russia" summit.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev (right) and Tajik counterpart
Imomali Rakhmon inspect troops in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Could the European Union’s so-called "punishment", the postponement
of EU-Russia partnership talks, actually play in Russia’s favour?

Russian affairs expert Alexander Rahr told Sky News Online the move
may have suited Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. He said: "Medvedev
wants to avoid an outdated partnership deal with the EU as he would
like a more strategic approach.

"Russia doesn’t want to be pressed into obeying EU rules. It wants
to stall the talks. The EU has played into Russia’s hands."

The European Union re-emphasised its support for Georgia on Monday
and criticised Russia’s continuing military presence there. There
was, however, no real condemnation of Russia’s behaviour – just a
vague statement about potentially postponing EU-Russia partnership
negotiations if Russia does not withdraw its troops from Georgia
within the next three months.

Meanwhile, both Russia and Georgia took the opportunity to whip up
more patriotic fervour over the Caucasus crisis.

Georgians held anti-Russian protests to coincide with the summit in
Brussels while the Russian media branded the talks a failure.

In the Georgian capital Tbilisi, protesters formed a human
chain. President Mikhail Saakashvili claimed a million people had
gathered there as he rallied the crowds.

He said: "The whole of Europe, the whole world is with us. Georgia
will never stop resisting, Georgia will never surrender."

More protests were held across Georgia as well as in London and
Athens. Demonstrators waved red and white national flags and chanted
"Georgia! Georgia!".

Russian newspapers claimed Moscow had got the upper hand after the
EU said although it would freeze talks on a partnership deal with
Russia it would not impose economic sanctions.

The Russia daily Kommersant called it a "victory for Russian
diplomacy". Russian newspapers led with sarcastic headlines like;
"Europe can keep sucking our oil and gas". The government newspaper
Rossiiskaya Gazeta said the outcome was no surprise: "The mutual
dependency between Russia and the EU leaves no alternative to
developing close bilateral relations. This was once again confirmed
at the EU summit in Brussels."

It appears the EU is keen to negotiate rather than row with
Russia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to lead an EU delegation
to Moscow and Tbilisi next week.

Tensions in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region
between Armenia and Azerbaijan are all to be factored into an EU
Caucasus "stability pact". But critics say the EU is already too
stretched in Iraq and Afghanistan to channel enough money into a
serious plan for stabilising the Caucasus.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had some advice for the West
on how to deal with the crisis. He picked up the Russian tiger theme
again, implying, in his Shere Khan-esque voice, that it might just
be best to let Russia remove the Georgian President.

He said: "If instead of choosing their national interests and the
interests of the Georgian people, the United States and its allies
choose the Saakashvili regime, this will be a mistake of truly
historic proportions."

ORHAN PAMUK HAS PUBLISHED HIS NEW NOVEL

Panorama.am
19:48 01/09/2008

Winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature Orhan Pamuk has published
another book called "The Museum of Innocence". The novel containing
592 pages, tells about the love of a rich man towards the sunset of
modern Istanbul.

The author is working at the English version of the book at the moment
and german-speaking readers will have the novel in September.

Pamuk had to leave his apartement in Istanbul because of eternal
threats from Turkish society and government and went to live in
the USA.

Note that Pamuks’ books admitting Armenian Genocide and representing
the facts of Qurdish people’s massacre were burnt in the streets
of Istanbul. Moreover, Turkish government had opened a court trial
against Pamuk accusing him of "hurting Turkish peoples’ feelings".

By the way, Orhan Pamuks’ books have been translated in more than
40 languages.

GUL: "IN MY FIRST YEAR AS PRESIDENT, I HAVE LIVED UP TO THE OATH OF OFFICE"

Turkish Press
Aug 29 2008

In an interview with news channel NTV, President Abdullah Gul yesterday
evaluated his first year in office. Stressing that the president must
keep an equal distance from all parties and ensure harmony among
constitutional institutions, Gul said that during his first year,
he had lived up to the presidential oath and kept the promises he
gave ahead of his election. "I`m aware of my duties and position as
president," he explained. "Impartiality is very important for me,
and I believe that I maintained my impartiality during my first
year in office. I included all citizens and opened the Presidential
Palace`s doors to everyone." On rising tension in the Caucasus in
the wake of Russian-Georgian conflict and Moscow`s recognition of the
breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Gul said that Turkey
would continue to help efforts to restore stability and peace to the
region, as indifference is not an option. Asked whether he accept an
invitation from the Armenian president to visit Yerevan to see World
Cup qualifying match between the Turkish and Armenian national teams,
Gul said hadn`t made a decision yet. "We need to concentrate our
energy in the international area," he added. "I believe that over the
next few years, Turkey will become the most dependable country in the
region." On the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "Turkey maintains its stance
regarding the Cyprus issue and supports a comprehensive solution." On
discussion over a possible new constitution, Gul said, "Nearly all
political parties have expressed the need for a new constitution,
but the most important thing on this issue is to reach a broad-based
consensus." /Turkiye-Sabah/

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.

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.