Author: Badalian Vardan

COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VISITS YEREVAN TO ADVOCATE HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION AFTER POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE

arminfo
2008-03-11 12:17:00

ArmInfo. In the aftermath of the post-election violence in Armenia,
the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg,
will carry out a three-day visit in Yerevan to meet with the highest
national authorities in order to favour an effective protection of
fundamental human rights.

ArmInfo. Armenian Police put the parliamentarians Sasun Mikaelyan
and Khachatur Sukiasyan and the editor of Haykakan Zhamanak daily
Nikol Pashinyan on the wanted list. Police urge citizens having any
information on the above persons to contact them by the following
phone numbers: 52- 02-02, 53-02-02, 56-02-02 or to apply to police
office. Police press-service reports the wanted persons are accused of
organizing and holding public meetings violating the legal order, as
well as of illegal purchasing and keeping of weapons and ammunition,
violence actions to power representatives and mass clashes on March
1 in Yerevan.

MOLDOVA GOING TO QUIT GUAM?

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.03.2008 14:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Joining GUAM, Moldova expected economic
benefits. Unification, as a counterbalance in political games, is
unpromising, Moldova’s President Vladimir Voronin told Kommersant
daily.

"Membership in any organization should be efficient.

Absence of benefit generates absence of interest, which, for its part,
makes membership a burden. The future of GUAM is rather vague while
Moldova is the country to serve as a counterbalance," Mr Voronin
emphasized.

He reminded that construction of Odessa-Brody oil pipeline of in
focus at GUAM summits. "But I was surprised to see that the route
of the pipe bypasses Moldova. Furthermore, the idea of forming a
peacekeeping contingent is too odd. In response to my question "why do
we need it", I was told: "we all have conflicts on our territories." I
do not understand why we should form our own contingent if there are
internationally recognized peacekeeping forces. Thanks God, the idea
went broke owing to our refusal to sign the document," he said.

TWO SOLDIERS KILLED IN EXCHANGE OF FIRE ON KARABAKH FRONT LINE

Day.Az
March 10 2008
Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani army soldier and an Armenian soldier were killed in
an exchange of fire on the Nagornyy Karabakh front line on 9 March,
the Baku-based website Day.az has reported quoting the Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry press service.

Private Ramin Ismayilov was killed in the cease-fire violation in
Fuzuli District, another Azerbaijani private Ulvi Ismayilov was
wounded in the shooting, the report said. An Armenian soldier was
killed with retaliatory fire, the website added.

CONDITIONS OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN YEREVAN MELLOWED A LITTLE

arminfo
2008-03-10 12:53:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has mellowed a little
conditions of the state of emergency in Yerevan introduced on 1 March.

As press-secretary of the president Viktor Sogomonyan told
journalists today, stemming from the fact that no breaking of the
state of emergency regime has been fixed Yerevan since 1 March and
for returning of the country and population to ordinary life Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree according to which points
6 and 7 of the decree on state of emergency have lost their force.

To recall, according to above mentioned points, activity of the
parties and other public organizations which hinder liquidation of
the reasons of the state of emergency introduction.

Viktor Sogomonyan added that at present in the president’s
administration they are working with specialists to find other legal
solution of the point regarding mass media activity so that to mellow
the established level of limits.

Panorama.am

15:30 08/03/2008

POLICE CHIEF MET JOHN PRESCOTT

The RA police Chief General Hayk Harutyunyan received
John Prescott, the Chairman of the PACE Ad-hoc
Committee to Observe the Presidential elections in
Armenia.

According to the police press and public relations
department, the head of the police presented all the
circumstances and detailed information about the
organized disorder in 1-2 March and assured that the
legal bodies carried out everything to prevent the
incidents. He added that the aggressive electoral
campaign conducted by Levon Ter-Petrosyan had the
impacts on the social life.

Note that John Prescott thanked for presenting in
detailed and objective information, and asked to
transfer his condolence to the family of murdered
police officer in the day of March 1 disorder. He said
that their mission has already reconfirmed the report
of the description of the elections, and added that
unfortunately some political forces get use of what
suits to them. Prescott signified that the decision
which should be made by the Constitutional Court is
also very important.

Source: Panorama.am

LEVON ARONIAN SHARES 3-4th PLACES WITH 7 POINTS BEFORE FINAL TOUR OF
LINARES TOURNAMENT

LINARES, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN. One tour still remains until the end of
the International Chess Super Tournament, which is being held in the
city of Linares, Spain. The games of the penultimate, 13th tour were
held on March 6. Levon Aronian drew the game with Magnus Carlsen
(Norway).

Viswanathan Anand (India) is at the top of the tournament table with 8
points. Magnus Carlsen follows him with 7.5 points. Levon Aronian and
Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) share the 3-4th places with 7 points each.
Peter Leko (Hungary) is the competitor of L. Aronian in the last 14th
tour.

Verdict of Constitutional Court on claims by presidential candidates to
be passed on Mar 8

2008-03-07 19:09:00

ArmInfo. The verdict of the Constitutional Court of Armenia on the
claims by presidential candidates Levon Ter-Petrossyan and Tigran
Karapetyan will be passed on Mar 8, reports the press service of the CC.

To remind, the hearings were started on Mar 4. Today, the judges
recessed for deliberations. The law says that the verdict should be
passed no later than Mar 8 midnight.

KARABAKH CONFLICT NOT TO BE SOLVED THROUGH WAR – ARMENIAN LEADER

Mediamax
March 4 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 4 March: Armenian prime minister and president-elect Serzh
Sargsyan stated in Yerevan today that he rulesout the possibility of
resolution of the Karabakh conflict by means of a war.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a briefing in Yerevan, Serzh
Sargsyan stated: "I am optimistic and I amconfident that the problem
will be solved exclusively peacefully".

At that, the prime minister stated that today on the contact line
of the Nagornyy Karabakh and Azerbaijan armedforces a skirmish took
place, as a result of which the Azerbaijani side managed for a short
period of time to occupy oneof the Armenian positions.

However, Serzh Sargsyan stated, at present the given position is
returned under the control of the Armenian forces,and the enemy
retreated, leaving many dead.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTRY: ARMENIAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP APPEALED TO AZERBAIJAN AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO STOP CLASHES

Azeri Press Agency
March 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA."Clashes in the frontline on March
4 and Azerbaijani Army heroically fitting shows that enemy cannot
prevail over our army. Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ battle readiness is
at high level.

Many Armenian soldiers were killed and wounded and it caused the
new clashes in the country," Lieutenant Colonel Eldar Sabiroghlu,
Press Secretary of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense said APA reports.

He stated that Armenia was engaged in giving disinformation at present.

"Armenia is trying to divert the attention of its citizens and the
world community from the internal and domestic unrest and bloody
actions in Yerevan. But they have not achieved any result," he said.

Sabiroglu noted that one of the aims of Armenians in the violation
of cease-fire was to blame Azerbaijan for this issue again.

"But international community is aware of last trick of Armenians.

Hypocritical mask of Armenians was torn. Whole world knows that
Armenia is an aggressor," he said.

Sabiroglu added that Armenian Mass Media provided false information
to cover up real number of Armenia’s losses.

"This is not first time. They are engaged in concealing real losses
every time. The enemy should previously count losses before attacking,
because attackers have many losses," he said.

Sabiroglu stressed that Armenian military leadership appealed to
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry and international organizations to
stop clashes.

ARMENIA PRESIDENT ORDERS 20-DAY STATE OF EMERGENCY IN YEREVAN

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 1, 2008 Saturday
Russia

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has ordered a 20-day state of
emergency in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, with effect from Saturday,
his office told Interfax.

Meetings, rallies, demonstrations, processions, strikes and any
activities that are conducive to them are banned for this period.

Political parties and nongovernmental organizations are prohibited
from engaging in any activities that are considered to be potential
obstacles to surmounting the crisis.

The media are permitted to publish only official information on the
current situation.

Dissemination of leaflets and all other forms of political propaganda
and agitation are banned.