Author: Babajanian Karo

KARABAKH TELECOM DOUBLES NIGHT INTERNET SPEED FOR EXTRA FEE

Friday 2 March 2012 | 15:25 CET

Operator Karabakh Telecom, working in Mountainous Karabakh repu^_blic,
is offering double-speed internet services at night for subscribers
to its Comfort Unlimited tariffs, on payment of an extra monthly
fee. The night-time speed applies from midnight until 09:00 hrs. The
additional cost varies from AMD 500 to AMD 1,500, depending on the
speed. The operator has also reduced the local telephony rate at
night for subscribers of its prepaid ‘At Night’ tariff from AMD 33
to AMD 15 per minute. This rate applies from midnight until 07:00 hrs.

JAVAKHK ARMENIAN ADDRESS APPEAL TO RUSSIA

The strained relations between Georgia and Russia have directly
affected visa-free regime between the two countries.

However, Georgia has recently introduced visa-free travel for Russians,
with President Mikhail Saakashvili signing an order that allows
Russian citizens to enter the country without visa.

The news was immediately welcomed by ordinary inhabitants of both
countries.

Russia-based Javakhk Armenian Compatriotic Union has addressed an
appeal to the Russian Federation asking the country’s authorities to
lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens.

“We believe that it will facilitate human, economic and humanitarian
contacts between people in Georgia and Russia and open perspectives
for healthy economic collaboration.The most important is that the
abolition of visas for Georgian citizens can restore the age-old
fraternal friendship between the Russian and Georgian peoples,”
said the Union.

On February 28, Saakashvili suggested “abolishing visas for citizens
of Russia on a unilateral basis”.

“Let every citizen of the Russian Federation know that he can come to
Georgia without visa to do business, spend vacations on our resorts,
visit relatives and friends, etc.,” he said.

The visa regime between Russia and Georgia was imposed in 2000 by
the Russian government. Georgia followed suit. In 2004, Georgia
unilaterally simplified visa requirements for Russian citizens and
started issuing 1-3 month visas to them upon arrival in Georgia.

In October 2010, Russian citizens who lived in the North Caucasus were
allowed to enter Georgia through the Kazbegi checkpoint and stay in
the country for 90 days.

The new rules were applied to the residents of North Ossetia, Dagestan,
Ingushetia, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachayevo-Cherkessia,
Adygeya, and other republics in the North Caucasus neighbouring
on Georgia.

G. MINASYAN: AZERBAIJAN IGNORES PRINCIPLE OF EXCLUDING FORCE, THREAT

Panorama.am
02/03/2012

“OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are highly recommended to carry out
punitive measures against the party which isn’t committed to preserve
and implement agreements,” RPA Member of Parliament Gagik Minasyan
told Panorama.am regarding Azerbaijan’s Parliament Deputy Speaker
Ziyafat Askerov’s statement.

Azerbaijani senior statesman called the OSCE Minsk group to take
certain measures for the resolution of NK conflict.

“However, agreements reached during president’s meetings are abandoned
by Azerbaijan, particularly the initiative to develop investigation
mechanisms for incidents occurring on the contact line.”

Another question seems disturbing: why Azerbaijan doesn’t agree with
the mediating states that urge to withdraw snipers from the front
line. Aren’t they certain measures? G. Minasyan wonders.

“Why Azerbaijan ignores a pivotal principle of excluding force or
threat? The co-chairs are called on to take serious punitive measures,”
MP said.

Le Figaro , France
29 fevr 2012

Le Conseil constitutionnel au secours de la liberté d’expression

Par Ivan Rioufol le 29 février 2012 12h11 |

Ce blog, consacré à la défense de la liberté d’expression, salue la
décision du Conseil constitutionnel de censurer, mardi, la loi
pénalisant la négation du génocide arménien au nom de cette même
liberté d’expression. Les Sages ont jugé “qu’en réprimant la
contestation de l’existence et de la qualification juridique de crimes
qu’il aurait lui-même reconnus et qualifiés comme tels, le législateur
a porté une atteinte inconstitutionnelle à l’exercice de la liberté
d’expression et de communication”. Le Conseil s’est appuyé sur
l’article XI de la Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen de
1789 qui stipule que “la liberté de communication des pensées et des
opinions est un des droits les plus précieux de l’homme”. Je comprends
la déception des Arméniens, victimes d’un génocide turc en 1915. Mais
j’ai toujours pensé qu’il ne revenait ni aux parlementaires ni aux
juges d’écrire l’histoire et de sanctionner ses contestations. C’est
pour cette raison que je me suis toujours opposé également à la loi
Gayssot qui réprime la négation de la Shoah. Le Conseil
constitutionnel semble vouloir mettre un terme à cette pratique et
c’est heureux
.
La France souffre de ne plus pouvoir parler librement. Il est anormal
qu’au pays de Voltaire des opinions jugées politiquement incorrectes
puissent être parfois punissables pénalement au même titre que des
actes. Les Sages, en rappelant la Déclaration des droits de l’homme de
1789, invitent à s’interroger sur la légitimité des poursuites qui ont
pu être engagées ces dernières années contre ceux qui ont pu tenir ou
écrire des propos jugés répréhensibles par le nouvel arsenal des lois
liberticides (lois Pleven, Gayssot, Taubira, Lellouche, etc). Il est
d’ailleurs consternant d’observer la constante passivité des médias
devant la multiplication des entraves législatives à leur libre
expression. Le Conseil ira-t-il, s’il en est un jour saisi, jusqu’à
annuler ces textes qui violent l'”un des droits les plus précieux de
l’homme”? La position des Sages reste à préciser, notamment sur la
loi Gayssot qui s’appuie sur le jugement du tribunal de Nuremberg.
Mais cela faisait longtemps que la liberté n’avait pas été ainsi
promue…

Je participerai, ce mercredi, à C dans l’air, sur France 5
(17H50-19h), puis à On refait le Monde, sur RTL (19h15-20h)
Je participerai, jeudi, au Match des éditorialistes sur Itélé (12h15-12h30)
Je rappelle que je présenterai De l’urgence d’être réactionnaire,
vendredi soir, au Palais des congrès de La Baule.

maville.com , France
28 fevr 2012

Nathalie Goulet se félicite de la censure du conseil constitutionnel

Le sénateur de l’Orne et vice-présidente du groupe France-Turquie, se
félicite de la censure du Conseil Constitutionnel. Celui-ci a censuré
à 17 h la loi punissant la contestation du génocide arménien en 1915,
à l’origine d’une brouille entre Paris et Ankara. Nathalie Goulet se
réjouit de voir que « ce texte purement électoraliste est évacué de
notre arsenal législatif. C’est une défaite du Président de la
République qui n’a pas voulu suivre les avis des plus grands
spécialistes du droit et a souhaité instrumentaliser le Parlement.
C’est enfin l’honneur des parlementaires d’avoir résisté aux
pressions. Nos amis Turcs et Azerbaidjanais ont pu ainsi faire le
compte de leurs vrais amis ».

Curfew is announced in Azerbaijani Guba region: strained situation is continued

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced curfew in Guba town of
Azerbaijan. The decision is connected with the clashes which took
place there on March 1. Azerbaijani media inform about this.

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the police office in Guba
region (Northern part of the state) demanding release of persons
detained during the recent protest action against the head of local
executive power. The clashes were caused because of the announcement
of Rauf Habibov, governor of the region. He announced that `Guba
residents are sold and traitors and they sell and leave their lands
with 30 manats.’ The citizens claimed the governor must resign.
Protest participants burnt the administration building, broke the
windows. Angry crowd also burnt Habibov’s apartment. They warned if
200 activists would not set free they would burn other buildings of
the town as well.

According to Azerbaijani media Habibov is resigned and all cars which
enter to the region and leave it are checked because of the curfew.
Azerbaijani authorities are troubled because of the clashes in Guba
and are afraid that the revolutionary mood may be transferred to other
places of Azerbaijan as well.

02.03.12, 12:04

APA, Azerbaijan
March 3 2012

The European Azerbaijan Society concerned that EU applies double
standards towards South Caucasus conflict resolution

[ 03 Mar 2012 13:41 ]
Baku – APA. The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) responded to the
Council of the European Union’s conclusions on the South Caucasus
(3149th Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 27 February 2012).

TEAS told APA that on 27 February 2012, the Council of the EU adopted
25 conclusions that represent an updated framework for the future EU
relationship with the three countries in the South Caucasus region.
The EU explicitly welcomes the significant progress made by Azerbaijan
with regard to the framework of the Eastern Partnership, and the
intensified cooperation and importance on energy issues. The EU also
reiterates its ambition to support the peaceful settlement of
conflicts in the region, yet unfortunately chooses to underline the
principle of territorial integrity only with regard to Georgia. At no
point is Armenia reminded of its obligation to abide by four
unimplemented UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874, 884)
instructing Armenian forces to leave all the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan.

While TEAS welcomes the Council’s attention to the `principles of
international law’, to fully respect the principles of `sovereignty
and territorial integrity’ within `internationally recognised
borders’, (points 9, 18, 22) the Council must be equitable in its
support for the territorial integrity of both Georgia and Azerbaijan.
These principles have to apply to the whole region of the South
Caucasus, and not only to one particular country. This is the only way
to create and entrench sustainable stabilisation and conflict
resolution.

Furthermore, while the Council is acting appropriately in reiterating
its commitment to helping to improve the situation of the Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Georgia (around 128,000, according to
Amnesty International), around 875,000 Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees
remain displaced as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Both
international law and simple moral imperative dictate that they must
also be allowed to return to their homes. TEAS calls upon the Council
to reflect this in future conclusions.

TEAS is also concerned at the EU’s stated intention to pursue a policy
of `unconditional access for representatives of the EU to
Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions’ (point 25). Any visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh and the occupied adjacent Azerbaijani territories
should be made via Azerbaijan across the line of contact. EU
engagement in the peace process is to be welcomed, but normal
protocols must be observed and entry to the occupied territories must
be achieved through appropriate channels.

TEAS welcomes the fact that the Council:

– Emphasises the Azerbaijani progress made in the Association
Agreement process;
– Expresses its commitment to upgrading the trade and investment
provisions of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with
Azerbaijan, and its future WTO and FTA membership with the EU;
– Underlines the intensified co-operation with Azerbaijan in the
energy sector and explicitly declares that clear progress has been
made in this field by Azerbaijan regarding the Southern Corridor.
– Supports the Azerbaijani reform and modernisation efforts and
recognises the fact that Azerbaijan has progressed rapidly in
diversifying its economy (in particular with regard to e-governance)
and in increasing the transparency of public administration.

Municipality of Yerevan responds to scandal around Closed Market

arminfo
Saturday, March 3, 18:25

The Municipality of Yerevan has responded to the scandal around the
Closed Market. To recall, today a new alarm was received: a
construction company repairing the Yerevan closed market has begun to
demolish its dome-like arch.

The press service of the Municipality of Yerevan reported that the
situation was studied on the spot by the instruction of Yerevan Mayor
Taron Margaryan. It has been found out that the owner of the market
started replacing the wood cover of the roof without the relevant
permit. A protocol has been drafted under Article 154 of the Armenian
Law “On Administrative Violations”. The work is suspended, and the
territory is under strict control.

The Closed Market is included in the list of the historical monuments
of Yerevan. It was built in 1952 on the project of the national
architect of Armenia Grigory Aghababyan. Since then it has been
considered one of the city’s symbols. Earlier Mass Media reported
that the closed market was acquired by Armenian parliamentarian Samvel
Aleksanyan from Gagik Tsarukyan, Leader of Prosperous Armenia Party.
The market is to be transformed into a Yerevan City supermarket.

Moscow court found guilty Azerbaijani in killing Armenian teenager

NEWS.AM
March 03, 2012 | 00:35

The family of Armenian teenager Edward Margaryan killed in Moscow
intends to appeal to the Prosecutor’s Office to reconsider the
criminal case, as it was closed.

Mother of the teenager Alla Margaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that
she had received the court’s judgment. According to it, there is a
cause-effect relation between stressful situation caused by the
conflict provoked by Mamedov, and death of Margaryan from
cardiovascular collapse. On this regard, Mamedov’s parents had to pay
RUR 500,000.

Edward Makaryan was killed on Sept. 7, 2010. The Moscow law enforcers
claim Makaryan was killed as a result of a fight initiated by Mamedov,
Azerbaijani by nationality. Criminal case was closed against Mamedov.
Medical forensic expertise said that Edward Margaryan had chronic
diseases which resulted in his death.

New Doctrine of All-Armenian Movement

Igor Muradyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 11:04:23 – 03/03/2012

The rallies in Yerevan are a ritual where the absolute truth spread by
Levon Ter-Petrosyan is dominant. Unfortunately, in the past two
decades the Armenian voters have behaved as if no honest person has a
wish or ability to run in any of the elections. Hence, the election
campaigns are not objective and do not discuss specific political and
economic issues.

None of the subjects of the political scramble cares for and is aware
of the foreign political and economic issues. The opposition makes
endless remarks on the clans which disturb everything and always.
Nobody takes this seriously because the opposition is a clan itself
and behaves as a clan. It is a clan which gives birth to clones.

Nevertheless, the opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan is absolutely
loyal to his principles and the vision of political decisions. In the
latest rally he announced that the economic problems of Armenia are
the consequence of the Karabakh issue and the closed border with
Turkey. Hence, if Karabakh is returned to Azerbaijan, and the Turkish
border opens, the economic issues will be solved. This is already
beyond the border of adequacy. In fact, the media and authors did not
react. Either they do not take it seriously or they share this
opinion. Either they do not take it seriously or they share this
opinion. It is not accidental that the All-Armenian Movement and the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun hold joint micro-rallies.

Even economists supporting the opposition do not try to explain the
economic problems by these factors. In addition, there are signs that
the political leadership of Armenia is consistently pushing Levon’s
group to the parliament. Perhaps they think they can be the acceptable
parliamentary opposition. We will see who will be `acceptable’ and for
who.