Author: Badalian Vardan

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES WITHOUT ARMENIAN CHESS-PLAYERS
YEKATERINBURG, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Two tours are already over
in the chess women’s championship being held in the Russian city of
Yekaterinburg. 16 out of 64 participants of the competitions being
held by the “Knockout” contest rules will continue to play. The
representatives of Armenia aren’t among them. In the second round
grand master from Yerevan Elina Danielian was defeated by one of the
strongest Russian chess-players, Alexandra Kostenyuk, with a score
of 0 to 2. Before this, after being defeated in the first round,
the other representative of Armenia, Lilit Mkrtchian, was left out
of the competition.

BELARUS: A CASE OF ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
By Gwynne Dyer, a London-based independent journalist
whose articles are published in 45 countries
AZG Armenian Daily
15/03/2006
The ten million citizens of Belarus don’t go to the polls until 19
March, but the outcome is already certain: Alexander Lukashenko will
win a third term as president. Most other governments in Europe,
which see him as the continent’s last dictator, will express their
dismay and claim that the election was unfair.
They will be right in the sense that the opposition has been
mercilessly harassed and that the counting of the votes probably
won’t meet international standards.
But they will be wrong if they really think that Lukashenko would
have lost a fair election.
“It is necessary…to take a stand against this post-Soviet autocrat
and his efforts to totally suppress what remains of independent
initiatives in Belarus,” said former Czech president Vaclav Havel
last year, but Lukashenko does not see autocracy as a bad thing. As
he told Belarusian radio early this month: “An authoritarian ruling
style is characteristic of me, and I have always admitted it.
Why?…You need to control the country, and the main thing is not to
ruin people’s lives.”
Belarus has more policemen per capita than any other country in
the world, and a few of Lukashenko’s harshest critics have simply
“disappeared”. Opposition politicians are regularly beaten up or
imprisoned, and people can go to jail for up to two years simply for
openly criticising the president. It is an ugly, petty, oppressive
regime that is reminiscent in many ways of the old Communist tyrannies
— but Lukashenko has won two elections and a referendum in the past
dozen years, all with more than 70 percent of the vote.
He didn’t win them just by stuffing ballot boxes, and although
many people in Belarus feel intimidated by his rule, if they really
constituted an outraged majority then the tool for their liberation
is readily available. In the last five years, disciplined crowds of
non-violent protestors have overthrown similar “post-Soviet autocrats”
in several other post-Soviet states. If the problem is just unfree
elections and intimidation, why don’t Belarusians get rid of their
faintly Chaplinesque dictator that way?
The answer is to be found in the results of an international
opinion poll that was published last week by the Social Research
Institute (TARKI) in Budapest. The survey was conducted last year
in eleven central and eastern European countries that were ruled by
Communist tyrannies for at least a generation until the revolutions
of 1989-91. The only country where a majority of the people polled
preferred the “democratic” systems (some real, some sham) that they
have lived under since then was the Czech Republic, where 52 percent
actively supported democracy and only a small minority longed to have
Communism back.
In most of the former Soviet-bloc countries the nostalgia for Communist
rule was strong, peaking at 38 percent in Bulgaria and 36 percent in
Russia (where only 13 percent favoured democracy). But this is hardly
surprising when you consider that the most people’s experience, in
most of these countries, was that the end of Communist rule brought
a steep fall in living standards and a sharp rise in insecurity and
inequality. For Russia, it also brought the loss of a centuries-old
empire, the “exile” of tens of millions of Russians as minorities
in newly independent countries, and a huge decline in the country’s
power and influence in the world.
These things are not what normally accompanies democracy
elsewhere. They happened in central and eastern Europe partly because
the social and economic costs of converting from a centrally-planned
economy to a free market were bound to be very high, and partly because
the former Communist elite seized the opportunity to “privatise”
the state’s former assets (i.e. almost everything) into their own
pockets. It was an experience that has given democracy a very bad
name in the former Soviet bloc, and only time and the rise of a new
generation will erase these attitudes.
And here we have Belarus, where a former collective-farm manager who
was legitimately elected to power in 1994 halted the privatisation
process before it had properly got underway. Lukashenko has preserved
both the good and the bad elements of the Communist system almost
unchanged (except that the actual Communist Party no longer rules). So
there has not been the same crash in living standards in Belarus,
and there is none of the soaring inequality and unemployment seen in
almost all of its neighbours.
There are also no free media, and secret police everywhere, and
the drab conformity typical of late-period Communist states, and
occasional state violence against “dissidents”. But Lukashenko would
probably have won a majority of the votes honestly in every election
and referendum he has held.
Why has it happened this way in Belarus and not elsewhere? Partly pure
chance, but Belarus was also an ideal candidate because it has a very
weak national identity (most people there actually speak Russian).
There is little of the nationalism that helped most other former
Soviet countries to persevere with the changes, and many Belarusians
would be happy to be reunited with Russia. But even there they would
have to undergo many of the painful changes that they have avoided
by choosing to live in this time warp.
Sooner or later they will have to go through them anyway, but not
yet. Not in this election.

BUDAPEST COURT TO MAKE A SENTENCE IN REGARD TO AZERI OFFICER ON 13 APR
Author: E.Javadova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006
The Budapest court will make a sentence in regard to Azerbaijani
officer Ramil Safarov on 13 April, Trend reports quoting Adil
Ismayilov, the Azerbaijani lawyer of the defendant.
According to Ismayilov, the expert report was heard out at the sitting
held on 7 March. “Experts were invited to the sitting and their report
was heard out. Examination was set thrice in relation to psychological
state of Safarov and all three expert reports contradict to each
other. This time experts confirmed report of the first examination,
showing that Safarov was sane person during commitment of the
incident, as well as at present time. The expert, made the second
expert report, also participated in the sitting. In accordance with
this expert report, Safarov was regarded as medium-sane. Nevertheless,
the experts, made the third expert report, were not invited to the
sitting. In accordance with the third expert report, Safarov was
insane during the incident and at present time, but the judge did
not take it into consideration,” Ismayilov noted.
According to Ismayilov, during the last sitting the court investigated
contradictions between the reports and accepted the first one. The
judge addressed to sides with will to sum up the sitting.
“The lawyer of Safarov in Budapest informed the judge that she was
not ready for making speech and must to get some documents.
Therefore, the judge put the next sitting till 4 and 13 April. He
said that the sentence will be made on 13 April after delivery of
speeches,” Ismayilov noted.
It should be mentioned that Safarov is accused of murder of Armenian
officer Gurgen Markarian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REP. PALLONE CALLS FOR PARITY IN ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN MILITARY ASSISTANCE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006
WASHINGTON, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Congressman Frank
Pallone (D-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, took to the
floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on March 7 to criticize the
Administration’s “breach of an agreement struck between the White House
and Congress in 2001 to maintain parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia
and Azerbaijan,” reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA). The Bush Administration recommended last month, in its Fiscal
Year 2007 budget, that Azerbaijan receive significantly more military
training and hardware than Armenia. The President also proposed
cutting U.S. economic aid to Armenia from last year’s appropriation
of $74.4 million to $50 million, a nearly 33% reduction. The New
Jersey Congressman explained to his House colleagues that, “a lack
of military parity would weaken ongoing peace negotiations regarding
Nagorno Karabakh.
Furthermore, I believe that any imbalance will contribute to further
instability in the region if military parity is not achieved.” He
added that, “failing to respect the parity agreement undermines the
role of the U.S. as an impartial mediator of the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict.” Representative Pallone closed his remarks by noting that,
“in the coming weeks I will advocate to the Foreign Operations
Subcommittee to restore military parity, to increase economic
assistance to Armenia, and to provide for humanitarian aid to the
people of Nagorno Karabakh. It is incredibly important to reward our
allies and to send a message to Azerbaijan and Turkey that ethnically
charged genocides, illegal blockades of sovereign nations, and the
constant harassment of the Armenian people will not be tolerated.” “We
want to thank Congressman Pallone for his longstanding leadership in
educating his colleagues about the important U.S.
interests served by our assistance program to Armenia, direct aid to
Nagorno Karabagh, and the other Armenia-related provisions in the
Foreign Operations bill – most recently and notably – the need for
maintaining parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
“We also want to express our appreciation to Congressman Knollenberg
for his work, within the Foreign Operations Subcommittee itself,
generating vital support for maintaining military parity and other key
provisions of special concern to the Armenian American community.” The
President’s proposal for Freedom Support Act aid is $50 million for
Armenia, $28 million for Azerbaijan, and $58 million for Georgia. His
Foreign Military Financing proposals are $3.5 million for Armenia,
$4.5 million for Azerbaijan, and $10 million for Georgia.
The White House’s recommendation to Congress for International
Military Education and Training is $790,000 for Armenia, $885,000
for Azerbaijan, and $1,235,000 for Georgia. The Foreign Operations
Subcommittees of the Senate and House Appropriation Committees
are currently reviewing the President’s proposed budget and are
each drafting their own versions of the FY 2007 foreign assistance
bill. The agreement to maintain parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia
and Azerbaijan was struck between the White House and Congress in
2001, in the wake of Congressional action granting the President the
authority to waive the Section 907 restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan.

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY OPENS IN UN ARMENIAN OFFICE
Noyan Tapan
Mar 09 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition of photos and women
artists’ works dedicated to the International Women’s Day opened at
the UN Armenian Office on March 7. This was organized by the joint
efforts of the UN Armenian Office and the Association of Diplomates’
Wifes. The UN Development Program’s “Gender and Policy in South
Caucasus: Georgia and Armenia” program supported implementation of the
display titled “Creative Synthesis” of more than 30 paintings, gobelins
ann other works of women artists. 60 best works of the three painters,
Albert Babelian (Armenia), Sanan Aleskerov (Azerbaijan) and Natella
Grigalashvili (Georgia) are presented in the photo display titled
“Women of South Caucasus” presented by the UN Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM). 12 photos having been presented in the UNIFEM 2006
regional annual calendar are among the above-mentioned works. UN
Resident Coordinator Consuelo Vidal and Chairwoman of the Association
of Diplomates’ Wifes Nani Oskanian were present at the opening of
the exhibition and addressed welcome speeches to the participants.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES 100 MLN DRAMS FOR MEASURES ON PROTECTION
OF RIVER ARAX BANKS
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 9 sitting, the Armenian
government decided to allocate 100 mln drams (about 222 thousand USD)
from the 2006 state budget-envisaged governmental reserve fund in
order to take measures on protection of the River Arax banks after
spring flooding. NT was informed about it from the RA Government
Information and PR Department.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LYCOS-ARMENIA GIVES CERTIFICATES TO 35 STUDENTS OF YEREVAN STATE
UNIVERSITY AND YEREVAN STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY
YEREVAN, MARCH 9.ARMINFO. Lycos-Armenia handed certificates to 35
students of the Yerevan State University and the Yerevan State
Engineering University, today.
Robert Chaplin, general director of LYCOS-Armenia, informed that this
arrangement is held in Yerevan for the second time already. The
students learnt Java, JavaScript, Web Technology, OOP, MySQL, PHP ¨
Flash programs at the courses initiated by Lycos-Armenia. Chaplin
informed that 17 graduates of the last year’s classes are already the
employees of their company, while 20 gradutes work for Sourcia. The
officials of the company stated that LYCOS-Armenia proved to be a
succesfully working branch for LYCOS-EUROPE.
It’s worth mentioning that LYCOS-Armenia opened computer rooms at the
Yerevan State University and the Yerevan State Engineering University
with the assistance of DEG, the German Public Fund.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 10 2006
4.3 BILLION EUROS INVESTED BY EBRD IN 2005
YEREVAN, March 10. /ARKA/. European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development invested 4.3 billion euros in 2005under under 151
projects made, the EBRD press service told ARKA News Agency.
According to the press service, this amount exceeds the bank’s
previous investments and targets 27 South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus
and Central Asia countries as well as Russia.
The press release says 2.46bln euros or 58% of total amount of
investments are sent to transition-economy countries (in 2004
1.93bln), 1.12bln euros or 26% were given to Russia (1.24bln euros in
2004) and 699mln euros or 16% to successfully developing transition
countries (in 2004 964mln euros).
The EBRD investments are focused on encouraging market economy in the
region where the bank runs its activity. 85% of the bank’s new
projects were qualified in 2005 as having good and excellent
potential impact, the press release says.
The EBRD attracted 2.6bln euros from commercial banks export credit
organizations and other international financial institutions as
co-financing. Donors gave 75mln euros for preparation and
implementation of projects. The money was also given for
strengthening investment environment.
The EBRD works in 60 countries and 2 non-governmental organizations.
Its activity is focused on promotion of transfer from central
planning to market economy in Eastern and Central Europe and CIS
countries.
Armenia with its share of 10mln euros became EBRD member in 1992.
The bank allocated 39.3mln euros for 24 programs implementation in
Armenia. M.V. -0—

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
March 11 2006
Int’l conference on preparations for 14th economic forum of OSCE due in Baku
11/03/2006 08:45
An international conference dedicated to preparations to the 14th
economic forum of OSCE member-countries will be organized in Baku on
16-17 March 2006.
Baku office of the organization told Trend that the conference which
will focus on removal of risks in the sphere of transport security
within the OSCE will bring together over 100 delegates from foreign
countries.
Attending the conference will be an envoy of the OSCE
chairman-in-office, the OSCE coordinator on economic and
environmental issues and UN experts.
Baku for the first time will host a conference of such scale, which
is one of three preparatory events to be held under the 14th economic
forum of OSCE due in Prague in May 2006.
Meanwhile, Ulvi Akhundlu, spokesman for the Baku Office of OSCE,
noted that invitations for the conference had been sent to 55
ember-states of the organization, including Armenia.
`The conference is organized by the OSCE and the leadership of the
organization sent invitations to all member-countries of the
organization,’ Akhundlu, noting the absence of information on the
participation of the Armenian delegates at the event.

MERCENARY CLAIMS ACQUIRE NEW TWIST
By Graham Kirwa ( Monday, March 13, 2006)
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
March 13 2006
One Artur Sargsyan who was alleged by Langata MP Raila Odinga as
being part of mercenaries operating in the country Monday denied
the allegation accusing Raila of trying to defraud him of over 100
million shillings he lent him.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Sargasyan who claims
to be an uncle to Armenian president alleged that Raila and Kalonzo
Musyoka approached him for a loan of 3 billion shillings to finance
a vote of no confidence in the government which he and his brother
Artur Margaryan declined.
He claimed that he owns vast business empires in Dubai and various
investments in other countries.
Sargsyan said he come to Kenya last year to seeking investment in
Hotel industry upon which he was introduced to Kalonzo and Raila.
He has now threatened legal action against Raila and Kalonzo for
tarnishing his name and reputation.
He said he jetted to Kenya Monday to demand his money from Raila
Odinga and clear his name.
Meanwhile Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka have refuted Sargasyan
claims saying allegation that they had sought 3 billion shillings to
fund a vote of no confidence in the government as bassles and lacking
in authenticity.
Raila claimed that he has never met Sargasyan and has never transacted
any business with him. He has challenged Sargasyan to table prove
that he lent him 1.5 millions US dollars and where the business
was transacted.
Raila alleges that was a conspiracy to malign his name. Kalonzo Muyoka
on his part claimed that he might have met Sargasyan but has never
sought a loan of 3 billion shillings from any quarter.
Kalonzo also denied discussing the acquisition of bullet proof jacket
with Sargasyan. Kalonzo dismissed the allegation as a ploy to taint
his name.