Author: Badalian Vardan

EurasiaNet, NY
Feb. 25, 2008

Arrests of Ter-Petrosian Supporters Continue
By Marianna Grigoryan: 02/25/08

Post-election political tensions are simmering in Armenia with the
arrest of several political figures and government officials who have
declared their support for former President Levon Ter-Petrosian. The
government has presented the arrests as part of an attempt to crack
down on an armed uprising.

Final election results released by the Central Electoral Commission
on February 24 gave the presidency to Prime Minister Serzh Sarksian
with 52.8 percent of the vote. Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian
trailed in a distant second place with 21.5 percent.

The announcement, however, has so far done little to deter thousands
of opposition supporters from joining the round-the-clock protests
led by Ter-Petrosian in downtown Yerevan. Police have called on the
campaign to disband, but, so far, no force has been used to take down
tents set up in front of the Opera House or to block daily marches
past the prime minister?s office.

A pro-Sarkisian public rally is planned to take place on Tuesday in
Republic Square at the same time as Ter-Petrosian?s protest a few
hundred meters away. Public television has broadcast reports from the
regions showing voters who ?want to defend their [pro-Sarkisian]
votes.? The prospect has raised worries about possible clashes
between supporters of the two sides.

Those worries have been fed by a string of arrests following Deputy
Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangirian?s February 22 announcement that
he had joined the protest movement. [For details, see the Armenia:
Vote 2008 news archive].

Hours after shaking hands with Ter-Petrosian and addressing
demonstrators, Jhangirian, his brother, Vardan, and two other
individuals, according to police, were arrested under suspicion of
being illegally armed and intending to ?destabiliz[e] the situation
in the capital city.? On February 23, Jhangirian was removed from his
post for publicizing his political preferences, a move banned by law,
officials say.

Under a similar scenario, Hanrapetutiun (Republic) Party political
council member, and former Minister of State Revenues Smbat Aivazian
was arrested on February 24. New Times Party leader Aram Karapetian,
who voiced his support for Ter-Petrosian days before the election,
was also arrested under suspicion of making false accusations against
Prime Minister Sarkisian and President Robert Kocharian, a criminal
offense under Armenian law.

On February 24, bodyguards working for Ter-Petrosian supporter
Khachatur Sukiasian, a prominent businessman and parliamentarian,
were arrested after politce allegedly found guns, a bullet-proof
jacket, knife and wireless device, among other equipment, in three
cars belonging to Sukiasian.

The arrests continued on February 25, with the Special Investigative
Service?s detention of Petros Makeian, head of the Democratic
Homeland Party, a miniscule opposition party that also backs
Ter-Petrosian. The Prosecutor-General?s Office states that Makeian is
?suspected of obstructing the work of the [election] commission at
polling station 34/06,? in Gyumri, where Makeian worked as a proxy
for Ter-Petrosian.

The detentions roughly coincided with a February 23 meeting between
President Robert Kocharian and senior army and police officials. ?I
will never allow anyone ever to jeopardize [our] domestic political
stability. I am determined to take all measures to keep law and order
in the country,? Kocharian stated in comments broadcast by television
stations.

?These are measures by which they?re trying to put pressure on
people,? Hanrapetutiun Party political council member Suren
Sureniants commented to EurasiaNet. The party has since indicated
that Sureniants has been detained by police, according to the
pro-opposition A1 Plus website, although no further details have been
released. Police were not available for comment.

An attempt was reportedly also made to disarm Ter-Petrosian?s
bodyguards at the protest rally in front of the Opera on Monday
night, and to summon rally organizer and journalist Nikol Pashinian
to the police, Ter-Petrosian spokesperson Arman Musinian said. Police
could not be reached to verify these claims.

But while the opposition has cast the arrests as the start of a
political witch hunt, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia
maintains that the measures are intended to maintain law and order.

?There can be no discussion about political revenge or an atmosphere
of fear here,? commented Republican Party spokesperson Eduard
Sharmazanov. ?All this relates to the legal field. These are legal
issues that will be solved within the framework of the law. And as a
rule-of-law country we will encourage any such action. There were
elections that passed very well and any encroachment on our people is
condemnable.?

Meanwhile, some diplomats have taken a counter-tact to the
government?s position. On February 23, Deputy Foreign Minister Armen
Baiburdian, Armenia?s ambassador to Italy, Spain and Portugal Ruben
Shugarian, the ambassador to Kazakhstan Levon Khachatrian, and the
ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova Razmik Khumarian announced their
support for Ter-Petrosian.

In a statement, the group called on ?representatives of all
structures in charge of preserving peace and public order in the
country, to resist the temptation of solving problems with the use of
force.?

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, pointing out that law does
not allow diplomats to hold political allegiances, said that he
signed the orders to relieve the envoys and deputy foreign minister
>From their posts without penalty. He added that the five were either
relatives of former senior officials under Ter-Petrosian or had held
positions under the ex-president.

Independent political analyst Yervand Bozoian, however, notes that
the recent defections to the Ter-Petrosian movement suggest that
divisions exist within the government about the election results.

?It is difficult to predict what consequences this will have.
However, the cracks may become broader because of such switchovers
and lead to big problems,? Bozoian said

Ter-Petrosian has also claimed to have the support of two deputy
defense ministers, though the two have yet to second his claim in
public.

The ruling Republican Party, though, rejects Bozoian?s prognosis.
Such pledges of allegiance ?can be controlled,? noted party
spokesperson Sharmazanov.

But, he asserted, ?[t]he river Arax [in Armenia, Iran, Turkey and
Azerbaijan] will sooner change its bed than cracks will appear inside
the government.?

Editor’s Note: Marianna Grigoryan is a reporter for the
ArmeniaNow.com weekly in Yerevan.

Levon Ter-Petrossyan: Our movement has received international support

2008-02-23 19:02:00

ArmInfo. Our movement has already received international support,
presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrossyan said during the opposition
rally that is presently taking place at Liberty Square in Yerevan.

Ter-Petrossyan said that a number of liberal politicians of Lithuania
and Estonia, the Union of the Right Forces of Russia, the former prime
minister of Bulgaria Dimitrov, ex speaker of the parliament of Belarus
Shushkevich have expressed their support for him and his movement. He
said that the regime is presently solving two problems: to demobilize
the movement and to encourage its own supporters. or this purpose, they
are spreading rumors that the movement is planning some illegal
actions. "Don’t listen to them, they are provocateurs. Nobody abroad
believes Robert Kocharyan when he says that no more than 250 people are
rallying at Liberty Square. He is just trying to encourage his
supporters. Some of them are criminals, misled people or simply fools.
We don’t need criminals and fools but we are going to open the eyes of
the misled so they join us and they will. I urge you to call on your
relatives and friends working in government agencies to stop supporting
the anti- national regime,"
Ter-Petrossyan said.

He criticized the international observers for closing their eyes on the
monstrous crimes that were taking place during and after the election.
"As a politician, citizen and scientist, I can say that they don’t care
for democracy in Armenia," Ter-Petrossyan said.

He also criticized Robert Kocharyan: "He and Serzh Sargsyan have driven
a wedge among our intelligentsia, between our students and reactors,
between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh." Ter-Petrossyan praised Nagorno-
Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan for not allowing the regime to involve
Nagorno-Karabakh special forces and ordinary people in the current
processes, like they did in 2003 and 2004. "The authorities don’t need
honest people, they need immoral provocateurs and criminals. Any
dictatorship, any Stalinism is based on such people. There will be no
provocateurs and criminals when fair and legal government is proclaimed
in Armenia," Ter-Petrossyan said.

In conclusion, Ter-Petrossyan urged his supporters to stay in the
square till the end. "Any encroachment upon Liberty Square will mean an
encroachment upon our people and upon me as the first president of
Armenia and presidential candidate," Ter-Petrossyan said.

A visit to military unit

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
18-02-2008

On the occasion of 20th anniversary of Artsakh movement, on February
17th the NKR Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunian met with the host of
central subordination’s military unit of NKR DA. Welcoming the officers
and soldiers, the head of the government touched briefly upon the
national-political phenomena, which had laid obstacles in the path of
normal vital activity and progress of Artsakh people and had been the
cause, that the population stood up for national struggle, having the
main aim: to create a state unit of armenian people and conditions of
free development.
After the speech, A.Haroutyunian went round in military unit’s
buildings, got acquainted with soldiers’ conditions of life. He
expressed gratification, that the military unit eventually was getting
modernized and was growing stronger.
The Minister of Defence, general-lieutenant Movses Hakobian accompanied
the Prime Minister.

Armenian president watches action of the opposition as an attempt of
power capturing and pledges resolute and sharp action as a reply

2008-02-23 16:52:00

ArmInfo. Today Armenian president Robert Kocharyan held consultation
with leadership of National Security Service. As press-service of the
president informs, the domestic political situation created in the
country over the last days and its consequences were discussed.
Assessing the situation as an attempt of power capture, Robert
Kocharyan said that the answering actions will be resolute and sharp. ,
– he said. For his part, leaders of the NSC assured the president that
all subdivisions are ready to fulfill orders.

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Feb 19 2008

Turkish opposition leader slams government for weakening country

Serious problems were developing in the economy, with unemployment on
the rise and growth slowing, Baykal said.

Güncelleme: 18:33 TSÝ 19 Þubat 2008 Salý

– Turkey’s government had weakened one of the mail pillars of the
constitution and was now shaking the foundations on which the country
was built, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party said Tuesday.

Having rammed amendments to the constitution allowing for women to
wear the Islamic headscarf while attending university through the
parliament the government was now undermining the basis of the
Lausanne Treaty with its bill on minority foundations, said Deniz
Baykal, the chairman of Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Addressing a meeting of his party’s parliamentary deputies in Ankara,
Baykal said the government had focused the agenda of the country on
two issues, the lifting of the headscarf ban and the bill amending
the foundations’ law.

`This government is recklessly attacking both the constitution and
the Lausanne Treaty, this is no coincidence!’ said Baykal.

The Lausanne Treaty was signed between the Allied powers of World War
One and the newly founded Turkish Republic in 1923 and recognised the
boundaries of the new state and its rights and obligations towards
the Greek, Jewish and Armenian minorities living in its territory.

Baykal also queried why it was that the constitutional amendment on
lifting the headscarf ban at universities had been waiting to be
signed at the presidential palace for eight days.

He said it was significant that President Abdullah Gul felt the need
to give deep thought to this arrangement.

ARMENIAN OBSERVERS TO WATCH RUSSIAN POLL

ARMENPRESS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, ARMENPRESS: Two members of the Armenian
parliament will join CIS Inter-parliamentary mission to watch the
March 2 presidential election in the Russian Federation.

They are Eduard Sharmazanov from the Republican party and Ernest
Soghominian from the Prosperous Armenia. The first will be watching
the poll in Saint Petersburg and the second in Moscow.

Tatevik Ohanian, a press officer from the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC), said CEC has also received invitation from Russia to send poll
watchers, but did not confirm it yet due to presidential election
in Armenia.

"IRRESPECTIVE OF KOSOVO NKR IS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY"

Panorama.am
15:03 19/02/2008

"It is possible to prove scientifically that the independence of
Nagorno Karabakh is indisputable," said Tigran Torosyan, the president
of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia commenting on
the decleration of Kosovo’s independence.

He added that it is not the first time he has examined the two
cases. It is possible that the independence of Kosovo becomes one
more fact to recognize Karabakh.

"It is not obvious what will happen to Kosovo, but I’m sure that NKR
will be an independent country," said Torosyan.

Note that on 17 February Kosovo was declared as independent country,
and several courtiers supported them. Turkey also supported their
in dependence.

Source: Panorama.am

Armenia’s first President confident of victory

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.02.2008 14:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "According to the data I possess, the authorities are
marring the elections," Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan
said on February 19.

"Struggle up to the end supposes struggle until real results of the
presidential election are established," he said.

Asked how he is planning to struggle for his votes, Mr Ter-Petrosyan
said, "You will do it."

He advised journalists to attend polling stations during the day and
see "what the authorities are doing," IA Regnum reports.

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb 18 2008

Levon Ter-Petrosyan: "Armenia will have no chances for economic
development until the Karabakh conflict is resolved"

18 February 2008 [11:57] – Today.Az

The resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict lies in the necessity "to
demonstrate political will for the soonest resolution of the
problem".

The due announcement was made by Armenia’s first president Levon
Ter-Petrosyan at a press conference in Yerevan.

He considers that "the details and versions of the conflict
resolution are not important, only a political will is needed".

"This will never occur if Prime Minister Serj Sarkisyan is elected
the President of Armenia", Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted.

According to him, Armenia will have no chances for economic
development until the Karabakh conflict is resolved and it will not
be able to become a modern and worthy state.

"Armenia is be isolated both politically and economically. Itsoutlet
via Azerbaijan to Russia, Middle Asia and Far East and even to
Europe, as well as via Turkey to the Near East and Europe are
closed", the ex-president noted.

He said Armenia has become a country, which lacks prospects of
development and three elements may promote the way out of the
situation, including the soonest resolution of the Karabakh conflict,
opening of Armenia’s roads to the external world and normalization of
its direct neighbors, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Iran.

/Regnum/

URL:

Lragir, Armenia
Feb 18 2008

ALTERNATIVE COUNT OF VOTES

The Heritage Party told reporters on February 18 that on February 19,
the election day, an information center will open at the office of
the party which will release information on turnout and
irregularities every three hours. The party will get information from
its members of the precinct election commissions who will report
information which they will get from the Heritage members from local
election commissions.

Stepan Safaryan, a member of the party, said the Heritage Party has
representatives to all the 1923 election commissions except for a
few. However, the absence of members will be offset by proxies who
will report data from the polling stations. There will be a quick
response group at the office of the party led by Anahit Bakshiyan who
will react to reports of irregularities in Yerevan and the adjacent
areas and will arrive at places. The other members of parliament of
the Heritage faction will visit the regions and observe the voting
without interfering.

Stepan Safaryan also said the Heritage will cooperate closely with
those political forces to which it gave its seats in election
commissions: the All-Armenian Movement, the People’s Party of
Armenia, the Republic Party and the National Self-Determination
Union.