Author: Andres-Papazian

ORANGE ARMENIA MODERNIZES NETWORK TO PROVIDE HD VOICE QUALITY SERVICES
By Rahul Arora, TMCnet Contributor

TMCnet

Dec 9 2010

Orange Armenia, 100 percent subsidiary of France Telecom (News –
Alert), announced the successful modernization of its network,
providing high definition (HD) voice services on the whole network
across Armenia, and delivering up to 14.4 megabits per second (Mbps)
data speeds in main cities.Nokia Siemens Networks supplied core and
access network, providing innovations such as HD voice and High Speed
Packet Access (HSPA).

“It is our endeavor to introduce innovative, high quality broadband
services. We are proud to be the first in Armenia to make available
these innovations to our customers,” said Bruno Duthoit, CEO of Orange
(News – Alert) Armenia, in a press release. “In partnership with Nokia
Siemens (News – Alert) Networks, we are aiming to set a new benchmark
on quality of voice and data services to deliver an unprecedented
experience for our subscribers now and in the future.”

Orange Armenia became only the second service provider in the world
and first in America to provide HD voice services using the Wideband
AMR technology. The company achieved the feat in July this year.

Orange is also the first operator in Armenia to offer full solution
of 14.4 Mbps services with upgraded network, available modems and
commercial offer.

“Competition in Armenia’s telecom market has intensified with the entry
of Orange Armenia and consumers are already reaping its benefits,”
added Frederic Castano, customer team head at Nokia Siemens Networks
(News – Alert), in statement. “We are committed to supporting
the operator in rolling out advanced services at lower cost of
ownership. At the same time, we are ensuring that Orange Armenia’s
network is equipped to handle growth to provide a consistent high
quality experience to its users and gets ready for the next generation
mobile broadband services.”

After doing so well together, Nokia Siemens Network and Orange Armenia
are considering implementing next steps of innovative services in
the framework of the strong partnership.

Rahul Arora is a TMCnet contributor. He has worked as an editor and
freelance writer for several reputed organizations in India. To read
more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT CRACKS DOWN ON VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN GOVERNMENT CIRCLES
by Marianna Grigoryan

EurasiaNet
Dec 9 2010
NY

The recent resignation of Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglarian, followed by
the dismissal of Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian, both apparently in
connection with the beatings of lower-ranking government officials,
is fueling hope among civil society activists that the Armenian
government is no longer letting top officials act with impunity.

Beglarian’s resignation on December 8, an unprecedented event in
Armenian domestic politics, was reportedly connected with the mayor’s
alleged beating of a presidential office employee. The presidential
aide supposedly incurred Beglarian’s displeasure during a performance
in Yerevan given by opera tenor Placido Domingo.

Beglarian was unable to attend the December 3 concert and sit next to
President Serzh Sargsyan; consequently, the mayor’s wife and a friend
were asked not to occupy their seats next to Sargsyan. According to
Armenian government protocol, only senior officials can sit next to
the president during public events.

Over the weekend, media reports surfaced that, in response to
the request that his wife to change her seat, Mayor Beglarian
accosted a representative of the presidential protocol office after
the concert and assaulted him. The pro-opposition daily Haykakan
Zhamanak (“Armenian Times”) reported that Beglarian had been given
a December 6 deadline to either apologize to the employee and the
entire presidential protocol office, or to resign his post as mayor.

In comments to EurasiaNet.org, presidential aide Armen Arzumanian
confirmed that the Haykakan Zhamanak story is “generally true.”

“The president of the Republic of Armenia has repeatedly voiced his
steadfast stance against such actions,” said Arzumanian. “Such behavior
is unacceptable and intolerable, especially when a state official is
concerned.” Other presidential administration representatives cited an
October 2008 speech to parliament in which Sargsyan asserted that no
individual would escape punishment for using force to solve problems.

Whether or not criminal charges have been filed against Beglarian
is unknown.

Beglarian, 46, is a member of the governing Republican Party of
Armenia’s Executive Council and, even prior to the early December
incident, had a reputation as a tough customer. His 2009 election as
Yerevan mayor was based on the results of a City Council vote, and
marked the first time the chief executive of the Armenian capital city
had not been appointed by the president. At the time, the Republican
Party hailed Beglarian’s election, in which he defeated ex-President
Levon Ter-Petrosian, as “a step forward on the road to democracy.”

Under Armenian election law, a special election must be held within
a month to select a new Yerevan mayor.

Already, the names of likely successors are being hotly debated.

Deputy Mayor Taron Margarian, son of the late Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, is expected to be the government’s candidate. Republican
Party spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov said that the governing party
will convene soon to endorse a candidate for the race.

Following on the heels of Beglarian’s resignation, Sargsyan issued
a decree late on December 8 that dismissed Justice Minister Gevorg
Danielian for “improper performance of his official duties.”

Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said on December 9 that Danielian,
another leading member of the governing party, had been dismissed for
failing to “publicly punish” the head of the Service for Mandatory
Execution of Judicial Acts, a ministry agency, Mihran Poghosian, for
an alleged assault on an agency employee, RFE/RL reported. Various
media outlets have alleged that Poghosian himself was responsible
for the attack, but no official comment has been made.

“The justice minister did not follow the rules. I think this is
unacceptable; I believe that the behavior of officials, especially
toward their subordinates, is critical,” Sarkisian told a cabinet
meeting.

Many Armenians lauded the president’s stance. “For many years,
the authorities have gained victory [at the polls] by brute force
and [election] falsifications, by involving criminal bosses; now
it’s time they realize what force means,” said Svetlana Minasian,
a 37-year-old mathematician.

Some Yerevan residents, such as Eduard Avanesian, a 55-year-old
construction worker, did not believe Beglarian’s post-concert behavior
was wrong. If a government employee offended the mayor’s wife,
Beglarian was justified in acting the way he did, Avanesian suggested.

“Still, I don’t know whether this will change anything in our life
or not,” he added, in reference to Beglarian’s resignation.

Editor’s note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based
in Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

RANGE OF ISSUES IN FOCUS AT EU ARMENIA HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE

ENPI Info Centre
Dec 9 2010

The human rights situation in Armenia was discussed at the second
round of the EU-Armenia dialogue on Human Rights on 7 December 2010.

According to a European Council press release, issues discussed
included national human rights legislation, the judicial system,
freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression and the
media, elections, freedom of religion, the rights of prisoners and
the fight against torture and cruel and degrading treatment.

Cooperation between Armenia and EU in international fora, particularly
within the United Nations, OSCE, and Council of Europe for the
promotion of human rights, was also examined.

The meeting was held in an open, frank and constructive atmosphere,
the press release said. It was a follow-up to last year’s Human
Rights Dialogue.

Earlier, in a press release issued after the EU Armenia Cooperation
Council, the EU had “welcomed the establishment of a dedicated
human rights dialogue between the EU and Armenia, underlining that
fundamental freedoms, as well as freedom of expression and freedom
of the media, are essential elements in the bilateral relationship.”

From: A. Papazian

KARABAKH’S INVOLVEMENT IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS TO BE POSITIVE ELEMENT, MAKAROV SAYS

news.am
Dec 9 2010
Armenia

The involvement of Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiation process will
be a positive element for Karabakh, Alexander Makarov, Director of the
Armenian branch, CIS Institute, told journalists December 9, commenting
on expedience of Karabakh’s participation in the negotiation process.

“If we are talking about the present format of the negotiation
process, the conflicting parties are Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is
always more desirable for a country directly related to the conflict,
to participate in the talks. Best of all this country can present
its interests.” Makarov stressed.

However, according to him, Karabakh will not become a party to the
negotiations in the near future, as the latter is not invited to
the negotiating table. Besides, Azerbaijan is unwilling to negotiate
with Karabakh. Azerbaijan’s position lies in, not negotiating with
an unrecognized state, he noted.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH POLITICIAN: NEW GAME BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND TURKISH FOOTBALL NATIONAL TEAMS?

news.am
Dec 9 2010
Armenia

Leader of Turkish “Nationalist Movement” party Devlet Bahceli answered
the reporters’ questions at a press conference.

Commenting on Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s statement that Ankara
will soon take new steps to normalize Armenia-Turkey relations,
Bahceli said: “Our stance on Armenia-Turkey relations is clear. There
is no point in placing the issue on the public agenda again. Is a
new game expected between Armenian and Turkish football teams?” the
politician stressed.

As NEWS.am reported previously, Bahceli had repeatedly spoken against
the Armenia-Turkey rapprochement without a breakthrough in the Karabakh
peace process, stressing it will offend Azerbaijan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PARTICIPATES IN INTESTATE COUNCIL OF EURASEC

news.am
Dec 9 2010
Armenia

On December 9 in the course of his working visit to Moscow Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the 29 session of Intestate
Council of EurAsEC.

The leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,
as well as heads of observer states participated in the meeting, RA
presidential press service informed NEWS.am. Armenia has a status of
an observer since 2003.

President Sargsyan also plans to participate in the meeting of
Collective Security Council of the CSTO and Council of CIS Heads of
States to be held on December 10.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN VOTE TO RECOGNIZE KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE FAILS

Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 9 2010
Turkey

The Armenian opposition criticized the government on Thursday after
a parliamentary vote to recognize the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh as
an independent state was scuttled by the governing coalition.

“The ruling coalition is wrong to refuse to even consider in parliament
the recognition of Karabakh’s independence,” said Larisa Alaverdian
of the opposition Heritage party.

The vote failed because parties making up the governing coalition
abstained, leaving too few lawmakers participating to make the
vote valid.

Thirteen opposition lawmakers from the Heritage party and the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Dashnaktsutyun, voted in favor
of recognition.

Armenia gives significant financial and military support to Armenian
separatists who have controlled Karabakh since winning a war with
neighboring Azerbaijan in the early 1990s.

But it has stopped short of recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh as an
independent state, which would escalate tensions with Azerbaijan.

Tensions over Karabakh have mounted this year amid stalled negotiations
over the status of the region, with the number of deadly shootings
along the ceasefire line on the rise for months.

Edward Sharmazanov, a spokesman for the Republican Party, part of
the governing coalition, said it was not “an appropriate time” for
such a move while peace talks were continuing.

“The negotiation process on a Karabakh settlement would reach a
deadlock if the opposition’s draft law was approved,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Armenian President Serge Sarkisian said his
country would recognize Karabakh as independent “if Azerbaijan resorts
to military aggression” to seize back control over the territory.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly threatened to use force if peace negotiations
fail to deliver results.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN EXHIBITIONS IN KOREA

news.am
Dec 9 2010
Armenia

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received Ambassador of South
Korea to Armenia Li Yun-ho.

The sides discussed joint economic, cultural, education and IT
projects.

The Armenian Premier welcomed a Korean company’s participation in the
construction of a new power unit at the Yerevan hydro-power plant
(HPP). He also thanked the Korean side for technical assistance,
as well as for support to the Korean language center at Yerevan
Linguistic University.

Premier Sargsyan also pointed out Armenia has been invited to
participate in the “Buy Korea – 2011” and “Seoul Food Show”
exhibitions.

From: A. Papazian

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT TWEETS ON KARABAKH, EDUCATION

news.az
Dec 9 2010
Azerbaijan

Ilham Aliyev has posted messages on his Twitter account about Karabakh,
education and the legal status of the Caspian Sea in recent weeks.

The president tweeted about the Karabakh conflict on 8 November,
the day of the funeral of Azerbaijani officers Mubariz Ibrahimov and
Farid Ahamadov, who were killed in clashes with Armenian forces along
the contact line separating Armenian and Azerbaijani troops.

“We do not want a war. Who would want a war? But we will never accept
this situation either…,” the president said in one Twitter posting.

“We can never condone the second Armenian state to be created in our
native land – in Nagorno-Karabakh,” the president said in another
tweet.

Education has been an important theme. On 27 November Ilham Aliyev
noted in one post: “I hope that most of our students studying abroad
will return to their Motherland and use their knowledge for its
development.”

“Each year, hundreds of our youngsters are sent to the world’s leading
universities & study there thanks to the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan,”
another tweet said.

“Our commitment to national values plays an exceptional role in forming
young generation & ensuring sustainable and independent Azerbaijan.”

The Caspian Sea was another topic around the time of the summit of
the leaders of Caspian coastal states in Baku on 18 November.

“The Caspian Sea, which unites us, is a sea of friendship and
cooperation. It is a sea of peace, welfare & stability and it should
remain so,” the president tweeted after the summit.

On road building and infrastructure projects, he said: “However, more
work is needed to be carried out on rural roads, interurban roads,
highways, and road junctions in future.”

The president’s Twitter account in English and Azerbaijani was opened
in July.

Ilham Aliyev now has 1,172 followers on his English-language Twitter
account and 669 on his Azerbaijani account.

He has posted 193 tweets in English and 160 in Azerbaijani.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA RENTS BUILDING IN CENTER OF MOSCOW FOR 1 RUBLE PER YEAR

news.am
Dec 9 2010
Armenia

The Armenian Government has leased a building in the All-Russian
Exhibition Center for 50 years (1 ruble per year).

It is Armenia pavilion that was opened in 2003 during Armenian
President’s visit to Russia.

The building has been used since 2002 and a new treaty is signed
each year. The building was reconstructed by the Armenian “Armimport”
company.

From: A. Papazian