NALBANDIAN MAINTAINS THE 7TH POSITION
armradio.am
17.03.2008 13:42
Argentinean Armenian tennis player David Nalbandian maintains the 7th
place in the latest list of best tennis players of the world issued
by the Professional Tennis Association today.
Roger Federrer tops the list with 6 630 points, Spanish Rafael Nadal
comes second with 5 980 points. Novak Jokovich is the third with 5
130 points.
Agence France Presse
March 14, 2008 Friday 7:30 PM GMT
UN calls for Armenia’s pullout from Nagorno-Karabakh
UNITED NATIONS
The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution demanding the
"immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of all Armenian
forces from all of Azerbaijan’s occupied lands but 100 countries
abstained.
Thirty-nine countries voted in favor of the resolution sponsored by
Azerbaijan while seven, including Russia, the United States and
France, cast no votes and another 100 abstained.
Russia, the United States and France are co-chairs of the Minsk
Group, which was created in 1992 by the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe to bring about a peaceful resolution of the
dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The three countries argued that as mediators they had to remain
neutral and could not support a "unilateral" resolution.
The resolution reaffirmed "continued respect and support for the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan" and again made
clear that "no state shall recognize as lawful the situation
resulting from the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, nor
render aid or assistance in maintaining this situation."
It further upheld the "inalienable right of the population expelled
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan to return to their homes
and stresses the necessity of creating appropriate conditions for
this return."
Azerbaijan’s UN envoy Agshin Mehdiyev accused Armenia of trying to
"solidify the results of (its) aggression and ethnic cleansing.
He expressed alarm at "the lack of clear proposals" from the Minsk
Group co-chairs regarding the "liberation of all the occupied
territories and the return of the Azerbaijani population to
Nagorno-Karabakh."
But his Armenian counterpart, Armen Martirosyan, dismissed the
resolution as "a wasted attempt to predetermine the outcome of peace
talks."
"The co-chairs (of the Minsk Group), the fair-minded and responsible
mediators in this conflict, have found this resolution does not help
the peace talks," he noted.
France’s UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said while his country, as
co-chair of the Minsk Group, voted against the text, it however was
in full agreement with the position expressed by Slovenia on behalf
of the 27-member European Union (EU).
The EU said in a statement that the "Minsk Group should retain the
lead in settling the Nagorno Karabakh conflict."
"The EU calls on the parties concerned to avoid any actions which
could lead to heightened tensions and which could undermine the
ongoing mediation efforts," it added.
Nagorno-Karabakh seceded from Azerbaijan in 1991, precipitating a
full-blown war between the former Soviet republic and its neighbor
Armenia.
The conflict claimed some 25,000 lives before ending with a ceasefire
in 1994. The territory’s status remains unsettled, despite years of
diplomatic talks.
TALVITIE CALLS FOR ARMENIAN DIALOGUE
Middle East Times
March 14 2008
Egypt
VIENNA, March 13 (UPI) — OSCE officials are calling on the
U.S. government to end the Armenian conflict with opposition leaders.
Special envoy of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe chairman-in-office, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, is calling
on Armenian government leaders to open discussions with opposition
leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Outgoing Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan imposed emergency law recently after violence broke out
between police and protesters who say President-elect Serge Sargsyan
rigged the recent election.
Talvitie recently traveled to the Armenia in an effort diffuse the
destabilized situation. Thursday he again called for the lifting of
the emergency rule, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe reported.
"The inauguration of the elected president is approaching," Talvitie
said in a statement. "In this situation, I think that the government
should get rid of its state of emergency and start a real political
dialogue with the opposition."
Riots in the capital city of Yerevan have led to several deaths.
Talvitie is calling for political dialogue and for a lift of the
state of emergency as soon as possible.
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT PLEDGES TO HONOUR ELECTION PLANKS
Public TV
March 13 2008
Armenia
In a pre-recorded interview, Armenian Prime Minister and
president-elect Serzh Sargsyan has answered some 2,000 questions
directed to him by the Internet over three days.
The interview was aired on the Armenian Public TV at 1740 gmt on 13
March. Sargsyan said he admits that the Armenian authorities have
their part of responsibility in the 1-2 March riots in terms that they
had to work harder to prevent the riots. But we now have to work to
offset the aftermath, he added.
Without further elaboration, Sargsyan said there will be some changes
in the cabinet but the changes will not touch everybody.
Sargsyan categorically denied allegations that he is a gambler and
frequently visits casinos. He also turned down rumours that he owns
many lucrative businesses and he is fabulously rich.
Answering a question if he is planning to sack any high-ranking law
enforcement officials, he said no person guilty of the 1 March events
will avoid punishment. He also stood by the people in his close circle
when answering a question if some of those individuals discredit him.
He said he will fulfil his election pledges to grant more freedoms
to Armenia’s citizens.
ARMENIAN LEADER RELAXES MEDIA RESTRICTIONS FROM 14 MARCH
Mediamax
March 13 2008
Armenia
Yerevan, 13 March: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree
today on mitigating the limitations of media activities in the period
of state of emergency effect.
As Mediamax was told in the press service of the President today,
according to the signed decree on making changes in the 1 March decree
on imposing a state of emergency, the edited variant of sub-point 4
of point 4 reads:
"It is banned for media outlets to publish or spread by any other
means obviously false information on state and internal political
issues, destabilizing information, urges to participate in unapproved
(illegal) events".
In accordance with the decree of the President, another point of the
decree on imposing a state of emergency is also considered having
lost its force:
"The ban for spreading leaflets and realization of political agitation
[campaigning] by other means without the permission of corresponding
state bodies".
The decree signed today by the President will come into force on 14
March 2008.
ARMENIAN LEADER REDUCES CURBS ON MEDIA
AP
13 March 08
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenia’s president is lifting media
restrictions imposed in a state of emergency declared after last
month’s disputed presidential election.
A ban on public meetings and strikes remains in place. Political
parties already have been allowed to resume activities.
President Robert Kocharian’s new decree, expected to take effect
Friday, allows independent media to report on domestic political
issues and lifts restrictions on party campaigning.
After the Feb. 19 vote, Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian was declared
winner over opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian, who claimed fraud
and led days of protests. The government declared a 20-day state of
emergency March 1 after clashes between protesters and police killed
eight people.
ELIN SULEYMANOV: "I HOPE ARMENIANS WILL SETTLE INTERNAL PROBLEMS WITHOUT UNDERMINING REGIONAL STABILITY"
Today
litics/43700.html
March 13 2008
Azerbaijan
The article "International Herald Tribune" reflects correct long-term
nature of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict under the title "Dark
days Armenia’s Democracy" on the situation in Armenia.
The due announcement was made by Azerbaijan’s consul general Elin
Suleymanov in his letter, released in the said US newspaper.
He noted that this conflict, along with other separatist conflicts
in Georgia and Moldova continues to hinder Europe’s development.
"Azerbaijani side would have preferred to avoid internal political
crisis in Armenia. Armenia tried to involve its neighbor into the
internal problem provoking armed confrontation in the Azerbaijani
lands. The choice of time arises suspicion that the aim was to hide
the events in Yerevan", Suleymanov.
He stressed hope that Armenians will settle internal political
differents without undermining regional stability.
PREMIER: INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL OF GAS FIELDS NEED TO BE EVALUATED IN ARMENIA
ARKA
March 13, 2008
YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Industrial potential of gas fields need to
be evaluated in Armenia, the country’s Prime-Minister Serge Sargsian
said at his meeting with students.
He said experts do not leave out the possibility of oil fields in
Armenia either, Sargsian said. But maybe they are much deeper than
expected in the beginning or exploratory works are not carried out at
the required level, Sargsian said. Yet, according to him, the fields
are not that promising.
Earlier, Armenia’s Minister of Energy Armen Movsisian said that
exploratory works are being carried out to establish oil and gas
fields. He also said that Backstairs Energy Irish company is conducting
geophysical research, prospecting seismology and other preparatory
works for oil fields in the center and south of the country.
For gas fields prospecting works are carried out by Canadian Transeuro
Energy in Armavir region of the country (south).
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO RELAX STATE OF EMERGENCY IN YEREVAN
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 12 2008
Russia
Armenian President Robert Kocharian has announced plans to relax the
state of emergency in Yerevan.
"I will sign a decree on Wednesday evening or tomorrow morning changing
the attitude to the state of emergency. The current state of emergency
says what we can do, the new decree will show what must not be done,"
Kocharian told the press on Wednesday.
These restrictions will be rather narrow and have to do only with
provocative actions and the spreading of false information, he said.
Kocharian also assured the press that the mass media would be allowed
to express opinions and assess events more freely.
The Armenian mass media only relay official information these days.
LAST BUT ONE SUNDAY OF LENT MARKED AS PALM SUNDAY FESTIVAL BY PEOPLE
Noyan Tapan
March 12, 2008
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Every year the last but one Sunday of
Lent is marked as Palm Sunday by the Armenian people: this year the
festival will be celebrated on March 16. According to the tradition,
young couples uproot newly sprouted willows in the midnight of
Saturday, then decorate the whole church with the branches of the
willow and put a great heap in the center of the church. While the
young decorate the church, it is gradually being filled with people:
girls, women and young people with festive appearance.
On the day of the Palm Sunday people change their winter clothes with
spring ones, young girls come to church with flowers on that day.
In a number of places of Armenia seven fragrant flowers and grasses
are put into water in that night, which, in conviction of people,
becomes more powerful during the night. The water, with which they
wash in the morning, is called "Yotnius". After all this the clergyman
comes, and the bells of the church ring. People surround the willows,
by lighting the candles brought by them fix them on the branches
and the ceremony of blessing the branches of the willows starts in
the midnight under the bright light of hundreds of candles. On that
day, for the first time during the whole Lent, they speak about
engagements. Impromptu engagements are taking place in the midnight.
At the end of the church service everybody is trying to take as many
blessed willow branches as possible. Coming out of the church with lit
candles, people hurry to cemetery, fix the candles on the gravestone
of the dead and take the blessed willow branches home. Power of
"charkhapan" and plenty is attributed to those branches and thus
they are used for numerous occasions during the year until the next
Palm Sunday.