Author: Antonian Lara

RF VICE PRIME MINISTER PROMISED TO RETURN ARMENIAN APRICOTS TO RUSSIA

arminfo
2007-07-12 11:03:00

The first vice Prime Minister of RF Sergey Ivanov indicated necessity
of organizing a ferry transportation of apricots from Armenia to
Russia through the Georgian Poti port and the Russian "Caucasus". "We
have promised and we should redeem the promise" , S. Ivanov said at
yesterday’s session of the Naval Board.

During the April visit to Armenia, S. Ivanov discussed solution of
the transport problem with RA President Robert Kocharyan and Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsyan as to increase the goods turnover between
the two countries.

The matter concerned assurance of summer transportation of 10,000
tons of the Armenian apricots to Russia. As Ivanov said, " it is very
important to organize an uninterrupted delivery of apricots within
July". "We understand seasonality and importance of assuring the
export of apricots, which are in great demand in the Russian market",
Ivanov told the Armenian interlocutors.

They also agreed to pay more attention to assurance of security of
the railway ferry between the Russian "Caucasus" and the Georgian
"Poti" ports, by which cargo is conveyed from Armenia and back. Serzh
Sargsyan thinks that Russia and Armenia should work over improvement
of the motor-container ferry carriages as well, as there are freights
in Armenia which are not subject to railway transportation, the
ITAR-TASS reports.

ATTEMPTS TO DISTORT STABILITY
Vardan Grigoryan

Hayots Ashkharh
11 July 07

A day before the meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
with Minsk group co-Presidents, Mathew Braise over again gave emphasis
to the serious progress recorded in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
during the last three years and appealed to fix the results obtained.

Such appeal must meet welcome, should the United States and the
international community try to be sincere in their evaluations of
the skid recently noticed in the negotiation process and should they
not make attempts to distort the fragile stability established in
the region.

It is well known that during the previous years Armenia’s attitude
towards the negotiation process has been extremely serious. Armenian
party has always made certain concessions, expecting synonymous steps
from the other party.

But the recent strange announcements made by the representatives of
European authoritative structures under the pressure of the United
States, principally contradict the contents of the interim agreement,
on the negotiation table by the efforts of OSCE Minsk group.

If before the end of the elections Terry Davis and Goran Lenmarker
promise to support the principle of the so-called "territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan", beforehand announcing illegal the results
of NKR presidential elections, is it startling that their OSCE Minks
group partners don’t manage to bring about a decisive turning point
in the negotiation process on the regulation of Karabakh issue?

After all they give beforetime predeterminations regarding the results
of the negotiations, this means Azerbaijan doesn’t have any desire
to make mutual concessions.

Moreover seeing that the leaders of the European structures take
the principle of their non-existent territorial integrity seriously,
recently Azerbaijan has started to make favorable bases to establish
bridges of dialogue with "Armenian community in Karabakh".

But what about the trilateral format established by OSCE Minsk
group. The meaning and political significance of the latter is
devaluated simply because, the international community intends to drive
Armenia to a corner by making predetermining announcements. In such
circumstances of an evident distortion of stability it is impossible
to record progress in the negotiations. And Azerbaijan, inspired of
the announcements made by the West can think that it has the right
to recover its non-existent "territorial integrity" by force.

Anyway, lots of things will be apparent after the clarification of the
results of the council between America and Azerbaijan that took place
yesterday in Washington. The council is evaluated in Azerbaijan as an
attempt to give pro-western direction to their policy. It is quite
understandable that the pro-Azerbaijani announcements made by Terry
Davis, Goran Lenmarker and others were aimed at providing success for
such an attempt. It is also understandable why they persistently try
to clarify the goal of Armenia – NATO relations.

In both cases they are trying to push the regulation of Karabakh
conflict in the plane of the competition between the super-powers in
South Caucasus and to win one of the conflicting parties over. In
this respect Armenia has already uttered its word and Azerbaijan’s
response will become known during the coming days.

Eventually, either international community will return to the former
tactics of requiring the conflicting parties to keep "equal distance",
which is a decisive condition for continuing and recording success
in the negotiation process, or they will intensify and realize their
latest announcements about showing unilateral support to Azerbaijan.

THEY CALL BAKO SAHAKYAN TO WITHDRAW HIS CANDIDACY

A1+
[12:35 pm] 10 July, 2007

"The Social Democratic Hnchakyan Party" has disseminated an
announcement on the eve of 19 July presidential elections in
Nagorno-Karabakh. The party is very much concerned about the processes
around the presidential elections in Karabakh.

"Recently, information is circulating in the media that one of the
presidential candidates in the NKR, namely Bako Sahakyan, is drug
addicted. This information was disseminated by a political analyst
Igor Muradyan, whose opinion should be taken into consideration
and appropriate conclusions should be made on them. In case Bako
Sahakyan is elected, the Azerbaijani authorities will use this in
various international institutes and Karabakh will be observed as
a transit passageway for narcotics. According to our sources, Bako
Sahakyan does not have even a 10-year registration in Karabakh",
says the announcement.

"The Social Democratic Hnchakyan Party" appeals to Bako Sahakyan and
offers him to withdraw his candidacy for the sake of Nagorno-Karabakh.

ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN TAKE 9TH PLACE IN TEAM STRUGGLE IN FIRST SPORTS GAMES OF MEMBER COUNTRIES OF BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION

Noyan Tapan
Jul 10, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian delegation, which took
part in the first sports games of the member countries of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization returned to its native country
from the city of Trabzon in Turkey on July 9. Yeghish Davtian, the
Head of the delegation, informed a Noyan Tapan correspondent that
about 2 thousand and 5 hundred sportsmen from 11 countries, including
38 from Armenia, took part in these sports games. The latters took
part in 5 out of 11 kinds of sport included in the program of these
games. The Armenian representative team took 9th place in the team
struggle with the calculation of medals: everybody was awarded with
medals, except football players. As for the delegates of Russia,
Turkey, and the Ukraine, they took first three places.

The next games will take place in the city of Constantsa in Romania
in 2010.

BAKO SAAKYAN ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 9 2007

STEPANAKERT, July 9. /ARKA/. Bako Saakyan, one of five presidential
candidates in Nagorno Karabakh and former national security chief,
attaches importance to agriculture development.

"One of my election program’s top-priority focuses is Nagorno-Karabakh
rural areas development. The program implementation will promote key
problems solution", he said as met residents of Matruni province’s
villages Sunday as part of his election campaign.

ARKA News Agency correspondent reports from Stepanakert that Saakyan
put special emphasis on agriculture industry.

He also stressed the necessity of solving the problems rural areas’
residents face.

The presidential candidate answered the questions people put to him
during the meeting. Construction of roads and schools, installation
of facilities conveying gas and water to rural population were among
the issues under discussion at the meeting.

The Nagorno-Karabakh presidential elections are scheduled for July 19.

Presidential candidates started campaigning on June 20. Voting date
is set for July 19, 2007.

Bako Saakyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Security chief; Masis
Mailyan, deputy foreign minister; MP Armen Abgaryan; Vanya Avanesyan,
professor at Artsakh State University, and Hrant Melkumyan, Karabakh
Communist Party leader, compete for presidency.

AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ARMENIANS SHOULD BE RETURNED: PACE HEAD

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 9 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend A.Gasimova / The Council of Europe
supports its position on the conflicts in South Caucasus region,
including Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Council of Europe’s position
on Nagorno-Karabakh is that Azerbaijani territories occupied by the
Armenians should be returned, said the PACE President, Rene van der
Linden, on 9 July in Baku.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus appeared in
1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven Districts of the country surrounding
it. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been
under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia,
France and USA) are presently holding peaceful negotiations.

According to Linden, PACE cannot force the sides to come to an
agreement, they should do it themselves. "The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
must be settled peacefully, but not through war," he said.

According to him, peaceful settlement is primarily important for
Armenia who has closed its borders with two countries, Azerbaijan
and Turkey.

Rene van der Linden has been in Baku since 7 July. After meeting at
the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan on 9 July, he briefed the media
that discussions were held on Azerbaijan’s obligations undertaken
before the Council of Europe, as well as foreign-political topic and
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Rene van der Linden’s visit to the region
ends on 9 July.

EUROPEAN COURT RECEIVES OVER 800 COMPLAINTS ON AZERBAIJAN, JUDGE SAYS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 9 2007

There are more than 800 complaints regarding Azerbaijan in European
Court of Human Rights at present, judge of European Court Khanlar
Hajiyev told journalists, APA reports.

He said Armenian citizens initiated the part of these complaints
against Azerbaijan, and citizens of our country initiated other
appeals.

Mr.Hajiyev said that the complaints are connected with various issues.

"European Court for Human Rights is working intensively. The
prolongation is due to the large number of appeals. Next complaints
regarding Azerbaijan will be probably examined after summer vacation,"
the judge said.

The judge also stated that European Court of Human Rights adopted the
forth decision regarding our country a week ago. It is reinstating
of our citizen Tariverdiyev.

"Though the court decision on reinstating dates back to 2001, this
decision has not been fulfilled. This is a serious shortfall for
states that defend the rule of law. The decisions of the court should
be undoubtedly carried out," he said.

Mr.Hajiyev also stated that there are other complaints in European
Court regarding Azerbaijan.

International Film Festival plays a great part in European film
propagandizing, representative of French Embassy to Armenia thinks

arminfo
2007-07-06 15:04:00

International Film Festival plays a great part in European film
propagandizing, the
French Embassy advisor on culture and cooperation Annie Monnerie said
at the press-conference, Friday.

She particularly mentioned the fact that despite the leading positions
of the "Dream Factory" in the world cinema industry, the steering
committee is opening the doors just for the European films. "I am sure
that the special programme of the Golden Apricot "Festival in festival"
where modern French movies will be presented, will allow Armenian
spectators feel deeply development of our cinema", – Monnerie said. She
also added that totally 10 French films will be demonstrated at the
festival.

For her part, representative of the German Embassy to Armenia Melanie
Moltman expressed hope that the programme "Europe-2006", which will
present German and English films, will raise spectators’ interest in
the European cinema in general. "Unfortunately, if compared with the
American films, German films are not so much popular. For this reason
our participation in the Golden Apricot is of great significance for
us. I hope, this will promote much popularization of German cinema in
Armenia", – she said.

CASE IN MURDER OF ARMENIAN DIASPORA HEAD SUBMITTED TO MURMANSK COURT

arminfo
2007-07-06 15:02:00

Murmansk Prosecutor’s Office Department for Investigation of
Particularly Important Cases submitted the criminal case against Dmitry
Chemarov to the regional couirt. Chemarov is charged with murder of
Arthur Haroutunyan, businessman, head of local Armenian Community.

D. Chemarov is charged with several articles of the Criminal Code of
Russia (lucrative killing; infringement on life of law-enforcement
officers; illegal acquisition, keeping and wearing of weapons;
manufacture of false documents). Haroutyunyan was killed in Murmansk
on November 16 2006. Investigation showed that Chemarov committed the
murder to safeguard his business against takeover by Haroutunyan’s
commercial structures. Chemarov is engaged in felling and wood
processing. The detainee used suppressor. When escaping, he fired at
a police officer who was catching him up and than to another policeman
who stood in his way to the car. The policemen were not injured.

Libération, France
3 juillet 2007 mardi

La Turquie juge les assassins de Hrant Dink

par DURAN Ragip

Le procès a débuté hier, mais l’entourage du journaliste dénonce une
enquête tronquée.

Istanbul de notre correspondant "Nous sommes tous témoins et nous
voulons la justice", clame la banderole déployée devant le tribunal
par quelque deux mille manifestants pour la plupart vêtus de noir.
Certains portent des pancartes "Nous sommes tous Hrant Dink, nous
sommes tous Arméniens". Le directeur d’Agos, ("le sillage") principal
hebdomadaire arménien de Turquie, avait été abattu par balles le 19
janvier. Sa mort avait bouleversé le pays et plus de 100 000
personnes avaient défilé pour les funérailles de cet intellectuel qui
depuis des années menait bataille pour inciter ses concitoyens turcs
à affronter la question du génocide arménien de 1915. Huis clos. Le
procès des assassins s’est ouvert hier devant la cour d’assises de
Besiktas, sur la côte européenne du Bosphore.

Ils sont dix-huit sur le banc des accusés, dont Ogün Samast, 17 ans,
originaire de Trabzon (nord), chômeur proche des milieux
ultranationalistes, accusé d’être l’auteur matériel du crime. Il
avait reconnu les faits deux jours après son arrestation. Mais hier
dès le début de l’audience, qui se déroule à huis clos en raison de
son ge, il a revendiqué son "droit au silence". Il risque jusqu’à
vingt-quatre ans de prison. A ses côtés Yasin Hayal, 26?ans, et Erhan
Tuncel, 28 ans, les deux dirigeants du groupuscule et présumés
maîtres d’ uvre du complot, encourent la prison à vie. Le premier
avait été déjà été condamné pour un attentat contre un McDonald’s en
2004. Le second, considéré comme "le cerveau" de la bande, était
aussi un informateur de police qui par deux fois en 2006 avait averti
les forces de sécurité du projet. Mais aucune mesure n’avait été
prise par les autorités de Trabzon, grand port de la mer Noire et
bastion nationaliste. "Les documents de police montrent bien que
l’assassinat était préparé depuis au moins un an et que les services
de renseignements étaient au courant de tous ces préparatifs",
accusent les avocats et la famille de Dink, qui depuis des mois
dénoncent "les évidentes carences" d’une enquête tronquée sous la
pression de "certains milieux officiels". "Il y a des hommes
politiques, des militaires actifs ou en retraite qui sont directement
ou indirectement impliqués dans cet assassinat", accuse Fethiye
Çetin, vieille amie de Dink et avocate engagée depuis des années dans
les batailles pour les droits de l’homme. Ainsi, une dizaine de
gendarmes et de policiers, qui avaient posé fièrement devant les
caméras avec l’assassin présumé qui tenait un drapeau turc, ont
seulement été mutés. Mis en cause par les dépositions des accusés, un
dirigeant de Trabzon d’un parti ultranationaliste a juste été
interrogé. Tout comme un colonel en retraite dont le nom avait été
cité dans les procès-verbaux. "Dissimulation". "Les investigations
sur les forces de sécurité en activité à Trabzon où le meurtre a été
planifié, à Istanbul où il a été exécuté et à Ankara où les
renseignements sont rassemblés n’ont pas été incluses dans le dossier
de l’instruction, alors que leurs liens avec les suspects, le
non-accomplissement de leur devoir, leur dissimulation de preuve et
même leur apologie du crime ont été clairement établis", s’indigne
Fethiye Çetin. "Ces enquêtes sont restées séparées alors qu’il faut
les unir pour voir l’ensemble de l’affaire", renchérit Ayse Onal,
collègue de Dink, affirmant que "des gens ont appelé au moins 30 fois
sur le portable de l’assassin présumé, et [ils] n’ont été ni arrêtés
ni même interrogés". Pour Human Rights Watch, l’organisation de
défense des droits de l’homme, "ce procès représente un test crucial
de l’indépendance de la justice turque".